During the filming of "This Is The End" when Emma Watson declined to participate in a scene, Seth Rogen eventually came forward with the truth about the incident.
Back in 2013, Seth Rogen was already a well-established figure in Hollywood comedy, having written, produced, and starred in numerous successful films. However, that year marked his directorial debut with "This Is The End." Co-directed by Evan Goldberg, the movie brought together a group of prominent actors and Rogen's friends, all playing exaggerated versions of themselves in an apocalyptic comedy setting.
In the film's storyline, familiar faces like James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, and Danny McBride, among other comedians, gather at a Los Angeles party, only to have their revelry disrupted by an inexplicable apocalypse.
Amid the chaos, survivors take refuge in James Franco's house, and among them is the actress Emma Watson, who was relatively new to comedy films at the time.
Following the release of "This Is The End," rumors began circulating that Emma Watson had walked off the set, objecting to a scene that Rogen and Goldberg had initially planned for her. This particular sequence featured Channing Tatum as Danny McBride's "s-x slave," with the intention of Emma Watson appearing to join the group of survivors, only to have her belongings stolen by Tatum's character.
The scene was indeed filmed, and Emma Watson does make appearances in other parts of the movie, but according to rumors, she declined to participate in the Channing Tatum sequence.
Eight years later, Seth Rogen confirmed that Emma Watson did leave the set upon learning about her role in that scene. However, he clarified that it didn't lead to an uncomfortable or hostile atmosphere during the filming process. Rogen expressed understanding, saying, "I don't look back and think, 'How dare she do that?' I think sometimes when you read something, when it's real life, it doesn't seem to be what you thought it was. But it wasn't a terrible end to our relationship. She returned the next day to say goodbye, helped promote the film, and there are no hard feelings. I couldn't be happier with the final result of the film."
Rogen admitted that Emma Watson's decision may have been the right one, and the scene turned out to be funnier as a result of the way it was ultimately filmed compared to the original plan.
Emma Watson has never publicly discussed the incident in interviews, but during the film's promotion, she seemed enthusiastic and confirmed that it did not strain her relationship with the directors or the rest of the cast. She mentioned, "When they gave me the script, I said, 'This isn't something I'd typically do, and it's not exactly my sense of humor, but how could I pass up the opportunity to work with essentially the best ensemble of comedians in the world?"
"This Is The End" remains one of the most successful films from the Rogen-Goldberg duo, grossing over $126 million and assembling a star-studded cast rarely seen in other productions.
