When thinking about 2013's This is the End, there are a few things that come to mind. It is remembered as one of the last big collaborations between Seth Rogen and James Franco before all the controversy surrounding the latter, and as one of the last examples of comedies being more consistent winners at the box office. The film is also remembered for a slew of high-profile celebrity cameos from Rihanna to Harry Potter's Emma Watson . The cameos are all memorable in their own right, but Watson's is a particular standout, not only because of what's in the final film, but also because of the stories surrounding the actress being so upset by a particular line that she actually walked off the set. Now, with a lot of time having passed, Rogen has finally clarified why Watson was upset enough to need to take a minute and get herself together.
During a chat with GQ, Rogen explained that the actress did walk off the set after refusing to do a scene with Danny McBride and Channing Tatum as the latter was dressed in a particularly interesting thonged leather suit. Staying true to his chilled-out manner, Rogen says he wasn't upset by how Watson reacted to doing the scene as it wasn't something she initially signed on to do. Things went smoothly once the matter was worked out and Watson did her part to even promote the film, despite only being a small part of it.
"I mean, I don't look back on that and think, 'How dare she do that?' You know? I think sometimes when you read something, when it comes to life it doesn't seem to be what you thought it was. But it was not some terrible ending to our relationship. She came back the next day to say goodbye. She helped promote the film. No hard feelings and I couldn't be happier with how the film turned out in the end…She was probably right. It was probably funnier the way we ended up doing it."
Emma Watson's Cameo in 'This Is The End' Is One of the Comedy's Best Moments
Sony Pictures
Emma Watson is featured twice during This is the End, with her first scene taking place with Craig Robinson at James Franco's party as all the primary actors are playing heightened versions of themselves. Jay Baruchel is also in the scene and makes things immediately awkward, resulting in Watson referring to him as a hipster who isn't into popular things. Following the apocalypse scene, Watson is one of the characters that survives, and she returns halfway through the movie for an even more hilarious encounter.
After the gang barricades themselves inside Franco's home, Watson returns in grand fashion with an ax and some of her hair burned from the night's traumatic events. Once again, it's Baruchel who ruins the chance for her to get along with the group as he says something truly creepy that insinuates the group wants to take advantage of her. Which understandably sends the actress into ax-wielding madness. Watson ultimately steals all of their food and water with McBride putting the perfect button on the scene by exclaiming, "Hermione just stole all our sh*t," which is, of course, a reference to her character in the Harry Potter films.
It's a funny scene and probably better than the stuff they wanted her to do that caused her to walk off the set. By the way, Rogen is such a top-notch guy about all of this that he commented on GQ saying she "stormed" off set by further clarifying it wasn't done with as much anger as that word indicates.
"I want to correct a story that has emerged from a recent interview I gave. It misrepresents what actually happened. Emma Watson did not 'storm off the set' and it's sh*tty that the perception is that she did. The scene was not what was originally scripted, it was getting improvised, changed drastically and was not what she agreed to. The narrative that she was in some way uncool or unprofessional is complete bullsh*t."
Written and directed by Rogen and Evan Goldberg while also serving as their directorial debuts, This is the End is a feature film version of their short film Jay and Seth Versus the Apocalypse. In the film, the story follows fictionalized versions of the cast as they encounter an apocalypse in Los Angeles. The film also stars Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and a slew of celebrity cameos. The movie was also a financial success, grossing $126 million worldwide on a $32 million budget.
Source: GQ
