Seth Rogen Reveals He Couldn’t Stop Thanking Penélope Cruz While Filming Their Awkward Sex Scene in ‘The Invite’
Seth Rogen has revealed that filming an intimate scene with Penélope Cruz for their new movie ‘The Invite’ came with an unexpected reaction from him: he could not stop saying thank you.
The actor shared the funny behind-the-scenes story during an appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ with guest host Ike Barinholtz. While discussing the film, Rogen explained that the cast was encouraged to improvise during certain scenes, including a romantic moment between his character and Cruz’s character.
According to Rogen, the improvisation led to him repeatedly thanking Cruz during the scene, even though it was not something he planned to do.
“There’s a scene where me and her are having a romantically charged moment, and it seems like we might hook up with one another, and I just kept saying, ‘Thank you,’” Rogen said. He explained that director Olivia Wilde noticed the unusual choice and questioned why he kept saying the same thing during the scene.
“And Olivia Wilde, the director, was just like, ‘Why? What are you doing? Why do you keep saying ‘Thank you?’” Rogen recalled. The actor admitted he did not really have an explanation because it was simply his natural reaction in the moment.
“And I was like, ‘I don’t know. It’s just what’s coming out of my mouth,’” he said. Rogen joked that the response actually reflected how he would probably react in real life, especially given the situation.
“All I have is gratitude,” he explained. “I would be apologetic and thankful. I’m sorry.”
The actor also joked about feeling nervous while filming the scene because Cruz is married to actor Javier Bardem, another Oscar winner. Rogen, who has been married to Lauren Miller since 2011, said the situation made him even more aware of the unusual circumstances.
“So, you’re very worried about that,” Rogen said, before joking, “I don’t think he views me as a legitimate threat in any way, shape or form.”
Rogen also revealed that some of the film’s funniest moments came from ideas created on the spot. One example involved Cruz suggesting a surprising musical moment during a romantic scene.
“It was Penélope Cruz’s idea,” Rogen said. “There’s a scene where we’re being romantic, and she was like, ‘What if I start singing Sade to you?’ which is sort of sexy, but also kind of hilarious at the same time.”
The actor also added one of his own ideas, though it came with an unexpected downside. Rogen suggested that his character could struggle while trying to remove his pants during the scene and fall over.
Hilarious — his reaction makes the scene even funnier
“It’s funny if I’m trying to get my pants off and maybe I struggle, and I fall down in the scene,” he explained. “And I did it. Everyone’s like, ‘That was great.’” However, the joke ended up causing him an actual injury. “And then I hurt my shoulder for seven months,” Rogen joked.
‘The Invite,’ directed by Olivia Wilde, follows a married couple played by Wilde and Rogen whose relationship becomes complicated after they meet a wealthy couple portrayed by Cruz and Edward Norton.
Wilde has also previously shared her own surprising behind-the-scenes story from the movie. During an appearance on the ‘Table Manners’ podcast, she revealed that Cruz unexpectedly kissed her during filming, leaving her completely caught off guard.
“I was so shocked,” Wilde said. “I turned my head and looked directly into the lens.”
With its mix of improvisation, comedy, and unexpected moments on set, ‘The Invite’ appears to have created plenty of memorable stories for its cast long before audiences even see the finished film.
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