Seth Rogen Leaves Door Open for ‘Pineapple Express’ Sequel

I cannot overemphasize how much I was into Seth Rogen in the late aughts. I still love him now, but 19-year-old me was convinced that I was destined to meet him and hang with him and that he’d totally like me. Not only was I a schlubby, curly-haired guy who loved weed and was told I sounded like Rogen when I laughed, but I was an actor who could be an unconventional leading man. Rogen was an inspiration to me, and, as I assume is quite obvious, everything I wanted happened, and I’m just here to remind you to watch The Studio on Apple TV+. Seth and I worked really hard on it.

Okay, I have not met Seth Rogen, and acting isn’t my main focus anymore. But when my days consisted of zip zap zop and Arthur Miller scenes, Rogen was my North Star. So, I could not have been more excited when Pineapple Express came out. My favorite dude made a movie about my new favorite pastime. I got extremely baked with some good friends, went to what would become my favorite place to watch movies in NYC (the front balcony of the Lincoln Square 13 AMC), and watched one of the most unremarkable movies I’ve ever seen.

Everything about Pineapple Express felt tailor-made for me. Huey Lewis, who led one of my favorite bands, made a new song for the film (which is better than the movie itself). The supporting cast sports actors like Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Craig Robinson, and Danny f***ing McBride. It’s supposed to be a throwback to older comedies of the ’80s, where characters would inexplicably end up running for their lives by act three, which is what I was raised on, and it hit like a joint your friend slobbered on before they handed it to you.

Maybe there are more redeeming qualities to the flick. I remember cracking up at Bill Hader opening the movie as a stoned military guy or something. But I have felt zero desire to revisit it in the years since. So, I was pretty surprised to learn this morning that Rogen once toyed with the idea of a sequel (Pineapple Express made an ass-ton of money compared to its budget). However, Sony was not interested, and plans were shelved. Rogen had a public falling out with his co-star, James Franco, because Franco is a creep, and it would seem like that would be the end of it. Then an Andy Cohen fan came along.

Rogen was on Watch What Happens Live, and Cohen read a fan question to Seth, asking if a sequel would ever materialize. “Maybe,” Rogen answered. “We can probably sell it to streaming or something.” Cohen claimed that there was demand for a sequel, which I doubt, but Rogen didn’t kick the idea out of bed. “There could be. You never know. I don’t know,” Rogen explained. “I’m not great with sequels. It’s not where my mind goes, but maybe one day.” The Knocked Up star was just being his affable self and playing along, but I highly (nailed it) doubt a sequel would ever come to pass, though Netflix seems like a perfect place to dump it.

Even if there is fan demand, I doubt a sequel would happen, even if you (easily) remove James Franco. You can swap James for Dave and move on. The film could write him out entirely in favor of a new obnoxious drug dealer. But all of it sounds like the sideplot to an episode of The Studio. Just leave Pineapple Express where it is, firmly placed in 2008.