Seth Rogen Reveals Shocking Argument That Contributed to Green Hornet's Failure

Seth Rogen recalls a heated argument he had with The Green Hornet producer Neil Moritz. The 2011 action-comedy remake of the 1960s show, directed by Michel Gondry, starred Rogen and Jay Chou as masked crime-fighters who join forces after Rogen's character's father passes away. Despite its star-studded cast and renowned director, The Green Hornet was widely panned.

On Earwolf's How Did This Get Made? Podcast, Rogen recounts a memorable exchange between him and Moritz on the set of The Green Hornet. The two long-time collaborators were in the middle of a creative disagreement with other crew members when Moritz offered an unexpected argument for keeping a particular scene in the film. As Rogen explains:

Neil Moritz, who produced The Green Hornet alongside me, is someone I've worked with extensively over the years. During the production of the film, there was a disagreement amongst the team over a certain aspect of the movie. Michel Gondry, Evan, my partner, and I were all voicing our opinions, but it was Neil who ultimately made a decisive statement. He hit the table and exclaimed, 'Listen, there's logic and there's cool, and cool wins every time!'

This comment from Neil Moritz sheds light on some of the shortcomings of The Green Hornet.

Rogen's retelling of the Moritz arguments highlights a couple of significant aspects of The Green Hornet’s undeniable flop. Firstly, Moritz's disregard for logic in favor of what he perceives as "cool" explains the film's inability to present believable plotlines and characters. The inclusion of scenes featuring feigned emotional honesty, such as the infamous "Wanna See Something Cool?" scene, combined with forced action sequences, is evidence of The Green Hornet's desperate attempt to be different and cool but ultimately failing in its execution.

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Secondly, The Green Hornet's failure did not define the successes of those behind it. Michel Gondry had already directed the critically acclaimed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in 2004, which is still celebrated as one of the greatest independent films. Seth Rogen had already showcased his comedic talents in hits such as Freaks and Geeks, Knocked Up, Superbad, and Zack and Miri Make a Porno, prior to The Green Hornet. And producer Neal Moritz has continued to produce major films, including this year's Fast X.

While Moritz's attempt to be "cool" with The Green Hornet may have failed, he and Rogen have maintained a working relationship. The two have collaborated on numerous successful projects, such as the anti-hero show The Boys. They may never live down The Green Hornet's shortcomings, but at least they have bounced back from the disappointment of Britt Reid's big screen debut.