Seth Rogen recently shared new thoughts on a possible Pineapple Express 2, giving fans a small hope. The actor and writer said a sequel could happen “maybe one day,” but there are big problems in the way. The original 2008 stoner comedy was a hit, but budget issues and personal conflicts have stopped a follow-up for years.
Seth Rogenโs Latest Comments On A Sequel
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Rogen was asked by host Andy Cohen if Pineapple Express 2 could happen. Rogen replied:
โMaybe. We can probably sell it to streaming or something.โ
When Cohen said fans really want a sequel, Rogen added:
โThere could be. You never know. I donโt know. Iโm not great with sequels. Itโs not where my mind goes, but maybe one day.โ
These comments are the most open Rogen has been about a sequel in years. However, his words also show he is not fully committed to the idea.
Why A Sequel Has Not Happened Yet
Pineapple Express was a big success in 2008, making over $100 million worldwide on a $26 million budget. After this, plans for a sequel started but were later dropped.
In 2020, Rogen explained on The Howard Stern Show that Sony Pictures rejected the sequel due to budget concerns. He said:
โWe tried to make one. Thanks to the Sony hack, you can actually find the email when Sony decided to kill the movie and not make it. It was something we were very open to several years ago, but Sony was not that interested in it.โ
Leaked emails from the 2014 Sony hack showed that producer Judd Apatow and Rogen were excited about a sequel. However, Sony executives did not believe the movie had the same potential as other comedy franchises like Austin Powers or Anchorman.
The James Franco Problem
Another major issue is the relationship between Seth Rogen and James Franco, who played drug dealer Saul Silver in the original film. The two were close friends and worked together on many projects, but their friendship ended after Franco faced multiple allegations of inappropriate se*ual behavior in 2018.
In a 2024 interview with Variety, Franco confirmed they are no longer friends:
โNo. I havenโt talked to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess itโs over. And not for lack of trying. Iโve told him how much heโs meant to me.โ
Rogen initially supported Franco but later distanced himself. In 2021, he told The Times:
โI also look back to that interview in 2018 where I commented that I would keep working with James, and the truth is that I have not and I do not plan to right now.โ
This makes a Pineapple Express 2 much harder to happen, as Francoโs return is unlikely.
Past Attempts And Fake Trailers
In 2013, Sony released a fake Pineapple Express 2 trailer as an April Foolโs joke to promote Rogenโs movie This Is the End. The trailer fooled many fans, but no real sequel was in the works.
Franco had previously said he wanted a sequel, telling GQ in 2013:
โAs far as why โPineapple Express 2โ has not been made for real, I don’t know what the holdup is. I would do it, Danny [McBride] would do it, Seth [Rogen] would do it.โ
However, that was before the allegations against Franco and the breakdown of his friendship with Rogen.
Could A Sequel Still Work Without Franco?
Some fans have wondered if a sequel could happen with a new cast or without Francoโs character. However, Saul Silver was a key part of the original film, and replacing him would be difficult.
Rogenโs recent comments suggest he is open to the idea but not actively pushing for it. With streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon willing to fund comedy sequels (like Happy Gilmore 2), there is still a small chance.
For now, fans will have to wait and see if Pineapple Express 2 ever becomes a reality.
Credits: Deadline, Newsweek, Yahoo Entertainment
