Seth Rogen Interview, Green Hornet

We caught up with Seth Rogen today at the L.A. press day for his new movie, “Monsters vs. Aliens.” Seth is looking very buff these days in preparation for his crime-fighting adventures in the upcoming “Green Hornet,” so of course we asked him for the latest scoop. Here’s what he had to tell us:

Q: You have two new movies opening close together – “Observe and Report,” which is one of your adventures in adolescent raunch, and “Monsters vs. Aliens” which is family fare – do you have a preference?

SETH ROGEN: Honestly, I’m very thankful that people are allowing me to do this. I’m kind of shocked that I’ve gotten away with it, that I can do a movie like “Observe and Report” and a movie like “Monsters vs. Aliens,” one which has been described as transgressive and the other is a delightful family romp. I do like both those kinds of movies. I try to do the types of movies that I like to go see. I genuinely like to go see both those types of movies. Being responsible for the writing of the majority of my movies, I don’t feel typecast and, if I did, I would probably write myself a different role. (Laughs)

Is “Green Hornet” going to be an infusion of both?

As far as “Green Hornet” goes, it will be a PG13 movie. I think it has a lot of the humor that people are used to from us but obviously finessed in a way so that more people can enjoy it. It’s a big action movie also so that kind of helps it round itself off.

Q: Can you bring us up to speed on Green Hornet? What’s the deal?

SETH ROGEN: Yeah, sure. Michel Gondry is going to direct it. Me and Evan (Goldberg) are in the process of rewriting it with him right now. We should start shooting it in the end of June or around then.

Q: How is it changing from what it was before?

SETH ROGEN: Well you can’t have a guy like Michel around and not get a bunch of new ideas thrown at you. That guy, as soon as he’s in the room, anything seems possible. It’s really exciting to work with a guy like that. You know, we hire directors specifically who we think are smarter than us who can do things that we can’t do and he more than fits that criteria.

Q: Who are your comedic influences?

SETH ROGEN: All the funniest guys ever, you know, Bill Murray, Jerry Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Jim Brooks and those guys, Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, The Kids in the Hall, everyone who’s funny, you know.

Q: Which of the big summer movies are you looking forward to seeing?

SETH ROGEN: That’s a good question. What’ve we got? We’ve got “Wolverine Origins” that’s coming, I’m in. “Transformers,” I’m in. “Star Trek,” I’m in. I’ll see everyone. JJ Abrams’ “Star Trek” will be good. I’m excited about that.

Check back later this weekend for our full interview with Seth Rogen when he tells us all about his new movie, “Monsters vs. Aliens.”