The Apatow gang comedy juggernaut just keeps on chugging. Over a decade after they appeared together in “Undeclared” and “Freaks and Geeks,” the Rogen-Franco-Baruchel connection brings us the latest in an emerging genre – the End Of The World Comedy (see previous efforts like “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” “It’s a Disaster” and Edgar Wright‘s upcoming “The World’s End“).
“This is The End,” which Seth Rogen co-wrote with “Superbad,” “Pineapple Express,” “Green Hornet” and “The Watch” collaborator Evan Goldberg, who also co-wrote “Goon” with Jay Baruchel, is scheduled to be in cinemas on June 14th. The gang play exaggerated versions of themselves trying to find meaning in their lives as they hide out at James Franco’s house during an escalating series of apocalyptic cataclysms. Other regulars Jonah Hill and Danny McBride will feature, as well as Rihanna, the soon to be ubiquitous Emma Watson and formerly ubiquitous Michael Cera. Rogen tells EW (print edition) that “if you like dick jokes, too, then this is your ideal scenario.”
The film originated from the 2007 short “Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse,” which the gang previously tried and failed to bring to the big screen. According to Rogen, the hiatus and the interceding period of success for all the main players has brought extra weight to the project. “I don’t think any of us were as well known a few years ago as we are now,” says Rogen. “That helps the movie a lot — everyone has much more preconceived notions about, say, Franco and Jonah and me and Danny than they did 5 years ago.” And Goldberg adds, “it took that long for us to have a good enough career for us to risk it all on this craziness.”
Two new photos dropped recently in EW (online and in the magazine), and the film’s profanity-laden red band teaser offers a taste of what to expect.