Seth Rogen’s Funny Behind-the-Scenes Stories From Filming “The Invite”

What Happened on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Seth Rogen, a famous actor known for funny movies like Superbad and Pineapple Express, went on the TV show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday. He was interviewed by guest host Ike Barinholtz. During the chat, Seth told some silly and sweet stories about making his new movie called The Invite.

The Sex Scene Where Seth Kept Saying “Thank You”

In the movie, Seth and Oscar-winning actress Penélope Cruz (who is 52, Seth is 44) have a romantic and intimate scene — kind of like a pretend boyfriend-girlfriend moment that could lead to kissing or more.

The director, Olivia Wilde, told the actors they could make up words as they went (this is called improvising — just saying things not written in the script).

Here is what Seth said happened:

• Seth kept accidentally saying “Thank you” while acting the romantic scene with Penélope.
• Olivia Wilde asked him, “Why? What are you doing? Why do you keep saying ‘Thank you?’”
• Seth replied, “I don’t know. It’s just what’s coming out of my mouth.”
• He explained that in real life, he would feel super grateful and a little sorry: “All I have is gratitude. I would be apologetic and thankful. I’m sorry.”

Important Point: Seth said the funny “Thank you” was not in the script — it was just his real feeling slipping out while they were making stuff up!

Why Seth Was a Little Nervous

Seth has been married to Lauren Miller since 2011. He joked that filming a love scene with Penélope Cruz made him nervous because she is married to another Oscar-winning actor, Javier Bardem.

• Seth said, “So, you’re very worried about that.”
• Then he laughed and said he didn’t think Javier sees him as a real romantic rival: “I don’t think he views me as a legitimate threat in any way, shape or form.”

More Fun Improvised Moments

Many parts of The Invite were made up on the spot! Here are a few:

• Penélope’s idea: In a romantic scene, she suggested singing songs by a musician named Sade to Seth. Seth said it was “sort of sexy, but also kind of hilarious.”
• Seth’s idea: He thought it would be funny if his character tried to take his pants off, struggled, and fell down.
  1. He tried the fall during filming.
  2. Everyone said, “That was great!”
  3. But then Seth joked he hurt his shoulder for seven months from the fall.

Important Point: Improvising means actors create dialogue or actions in the moment instead of following a strict script — and it led to lots of laughs (and one sore shoulder) in this movie.

What “The Invite” Is About

The movie stars:

• Olivia Wilde as Angela
• Seth Rogen as Joe (Angela’s husband)
• Penélope Cruz as Pína
• Edward Norton as Hawk (Pína’s partner)

The story: Angela and Joe’s marriage gets shaken up when a wealthy couple (Pína and Hawk) ask them to join in a romantic or partner-swapping situation.

Olivia Wilde’s Shocked Moment With Penélope

Olivia Wilde (the director and actress) also shared a story on a podcast called “Table Manners”:

• During a scene, Penélope Cruz suddenly kissed Olivia without planning it.
• Olivia said, “I was so shocked. I turned my head and looked directly into the lens (the camera).”
• A camera operator said Olivia’s name, and Olivia blurted out, “Cut. Namaste!” (Namaste is a friendly greeting often used in yoga.)
• She explained: “My mind went blank because I was so struck by this moment. I lost control. I was so madly in love with her.”

Summary

Seth Rogen shared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that while filming The Invite, he kept saying “Thank you” during an improvised romantic scene with Penélope Cruz because he felt grateful and apologetic in real life. He was a bit nervous since Penélope is married to Javier Bardem, but joked he’s no threat. Many movie moments were improvised — like Penélope singing Sade and Seth falling and hurting his shoulder. Olivia Wilde also revealed Penélope surprised her with an unscripted kiss that left her saying “Cut. Namaste!” The movie is about a married couple whose relationship is tested by a wealthy pair’s unusual proposition.

FAQ

Q1: What does “improvising” mean in acting?
A: It means actors make up words or actions in the moment instead of using a script written beforehand.

Q2: Why did Seth Rogen keep saying “Thank you” in the scene?
A: Because he felt real gratitude and a bit sorry to be in that situation, and the words just slipped out of his mouth while they were making things up.

Q3: Is “The Invite” a real movie?
A: Yes, it is a movie starring Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton about a marriage challenged by a wealthy couple’s invitation.

Q4: What happened when Penélope Cruz kissed Olivia Wilde unexpectedly?
A: Olivia was so shocked she looked at the camera, then said “Cut. Namaste!” and explained her mind went blank because she was struck by the moment.