Seth Rogen Auditioned for Controversial ‘Gigli’ Role: ‘I Saw Myself at the Oscars’ If I Got It, but the Tape Would ‘End My Career’ Today

Seth Rogen was almost portion of nan infamous “Gigli” container agency disaster. “The Studio” prima and co-creator said during “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (in nan beneath video) that he auditioned for nan 2003 film. The characteristic Rogen publication for had a “cognitive disability” and was later played by “The Hangover” character Justin Bartha.

Now, Rogen is saying that if nan audition portion ever leaks, his profession could beryllium over. “It has been a agelong time,” Rogen said. “And convey God it was mostly beingness VHS tapes and worldly for illustration that that was being utilized erstwhile I was auditioning for things, because nan things I auditioned for, successful retrospect, if they were retired location successful nan world, they would extremity my profession very, very fast, I believe. […] Truthfully, if that portion was retired [in] nan world today, this would beryllium nan past question and reply you ever saw maine do. Other than, like, my apology tour. Please, if you person it, pain it. Please waste it to me. I will bargain it.”

At nan time, “Freaks and Geeks” alum Rogen believed nan “Gigli” domiciled could beryllium Oscar-worthy, and he gave it his each for nan audition. “I don’t deliberation nan book was written successful what, by today’s standards, would beryllium nan astir delicate portrayal of a boy pinch a cognitive disability. […] I don’t deliberation I wore a helmet successful to nan audition itself, but it was astatine play,” Rogen said. “And I’m tempted to do an belief of what I did, but I can’t moreover do it. I can’t. That’s really bad it was. It’s truthful bad. I situation not moreover represent what I did successful this audition. Because I went for it. I saw myself astatine nan Oscars.”

“Gigli” was led by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Martin Brest directed. Affleck starred arsenic nan title characteristic Larry Gigli who is tasked pinch kidnapping nan relative (Bartha) of a territory attorney. The characteristic made only $7 cardinal disconnected a accumulation fund of $75 million.

Affleck later reflected connected nan film, telling Entertainment Weekly successful 2022 that it was a “perfect storm” of a disaster, yet 1 that successful portion led to him directing instead. “It engendered a batch of antagonistic feelings successful group astir me,” Affleck said. “There’s that facet of group that I sewage to spot that was sad and hard, it was depressing and really made maine mobility things and consciousness disappointed and person a batch of self-doubt. But if nan guidance to ‘Gigli’ hadn’t happened, I astir apt wouldn’t person yet decided, ‘I don’t really person immoderate different avenue but to nonstop movies,’ which has turned retired to beryllium nan existent emotion of my master life. So successful those ways, it’s a gift. And I did get to meet Jennifer, nan narration pinch whom has been really meaningful to maine successful my life.”