I Forgot Seth Rogen Was in This Trippy Sci-fi Movie (And His Reaction Is Priceless)

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Seth Rogen’s career took off with a memorable line about someone’s breasts before he became the comedian we all know today. Before rolling joints in ‘Pineapple Express’ or causing chaos in ‘Superbad,’ a 18-year-old Seth Rogen was simply the high school bully Ricky Danforth in the mind-bending cult classic ‘Donnie Darko.’ This intriguing piece of trivia resurfaced when Rogen appeared on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show.’ In the interview, it turned out that not only did Barrymore star in the 2001 psychological thriller, but she also produced it. As they reminisced about their shared history from over 20 years ago, viewers enjoyed this nostalgic moment, which showcased just how far Rogen has come.

During the show, they displayed photographs from his “Donnie Darko” era, which prompted Rogen to make light-hearted comments about his transformation, mentioning that his head has shed approximately 40 pounds and now bears a completely different form. This amusing interchange wasn’t just entertaining; it served as an endearing illustration of how major Hollywood celebrities often reflect on their early roles with a blend of nostalgia and slight mortification, having grown from those awkward beginnings.

In conversation with Barrymore, Rogen recounted some fascinating anecdotes from the set, such as accidentally encountering Patrick Swayze on a scooter, an incident he found incredibly surprising and memorable.

He too shared his feeling of predicting Jake Gyllenhaal’s future stardom, expressing it as, “I recall believing, yes, he’s going to become well-known. I recall having that thought.

One of the best aspects of this situation is how candidly Seth Rogen has been regarding the film. In an interview with Collider in 2007, he confessed that working on “Donnie Darko” was a wonderful experience for him, but he didn’t understand it at the time and still doesn’t now.

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Regarding his character’s actions, he mentioned in a relaxed manner: “We put Jake Gyllenhaal and [Jena] Malone’s characters through a lot. In the end, I push Jena Malone out onto the road, where she gets hit by a car. It’s not a particularly large role.

It seems that Rogen wasn’t alone in his confusion over the intricate plot of the film, as reports suggest that at the wrap party for Donnie Darko, Rogen, Gyllenhaal, and Swayze all apparently shared their bafflement about the movie’s meaning. Interestingly, this convoluted, challenging narrative is partly responsible for the film cultivating a devoted fanbase and earning the status of a modern classic today.

Prior to securing this movie role, Rogen had previously tried his hand at acting through the critically praised but brief-lived TV show “Freaks and Geeks,” which was produced by Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks. Rogen has shared that Spielberg himself played a significant part in casting choices, as he personally oversaw Rogen’s selection, stating that the renowned filmmaker “had to give his approval” for him.

Rediscovering Rogen’s initial film role offers an enjoyable glimpse into the unforeseeable nature of Hollywood careers. Transitioning from spitting out a crass joke as an insignificant thug to ascending comedy royalty, Rogen’s trajectory exemplifies how entertainment careers can veer off in completely unexpected directions. At the same time, Donnie Darko continues to baffle and captivate viewers even after over two decades, with both the movie and its cast maintaining an enduring popularity that no one could have foreseen during the filming of this peculiar tale about a tormented teenager and a disquieting rabbit.

You can stream Donnie Darko on Prime Video and Hulu.

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2025-04-21 03:39