Anne Hathaway turned down ‘Knocked Up’, Seth Rogen says she ‘had a sense’ it wasn’t for her

Turns out one of Katherine Heigl’s most famous roles was almost someone else entirely. Seth Rogen just revealed why Anne Hathaway walked away from ‘Knocked Up’ before filming even began, and it comes down to one very specific scene.

Rogen shared the story while appearing on The A24 Podcast alongside Olivia Wilde, his co-star and director on The Invite. The two got talking about how they first met, and that conversation led straight into some old Hollywood history.

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Wilde revealed she had actually auditioned for the female lead in Knocked Up years ago, but did not land the part. That is when Rogen dropped a bigger reveal. He said it was Anne Hathaway who was originally cast, and she is the one who quit the movie.

Wilde guessed it immediately

Wilde did not need much explanation. She asked Rogen directly if it was because of the crowning scene, referring to the moment during childbirth when the baby’s head first becomes visible.

Rogen confirmed that was the reason he remembered being given. He said it could have been a hundred million different reasons behind the scenes, but the crowning scene was specifically what he recalled being told.

What the scene actually involved

‘Knocked Up’ features a graphic birth scene near its climax, showing Katherine Heigl’s character giving birth on screen. Rogen clarified that Hathaway would not have actually been filmed for that portion. Director Judd Apatow used footage of someone else entirely for the crowning shot.

Rogen said he respected her decision. Even joking that the level of realism required was something even a famously committed actor like Daniel Day-Lewis would not attempt. He pointed out the obvious, that the scene clearly was not real footage of any of the actual actors.

Not her brand

According to Rogen, Hathaway did not just find the scene uncomfortable. He said she felt it simply was not her brand.

Also, he added a bit of uncertainty to the story too, mentioning that rehearsals had already begun before she stepped away. He speculated she may have just realized partway through that the project was not right for her, though he admitted he could not say for certain beyond what she had told the team at the time.

Wilde credited Hathaway for trusting her instincts and recognizing early that the role was not a fit. Rogen agreed wholeheartedly, saying history has shown Hathaway has been right about a lot of things over the years.

He also had kind words for Heigl, who ultimately took on the role instead. Rogen called her performance great and said she clearly knew what worked for her as an actor.