efore the summer of 2007 Seth Rogen was simply a cult comedy writer/actor beloved by a select and loyal cult audience. The young Canadian had appeared in both of Judd Apatow’s unjustly canceled TV shows(Freaks And Geeks and Undeclared), written for Da Ali G Show, and stolen a variety scenes in The 40 Year-Old Virgin. But despite his success, the writer/actor had yet to find a break-out role that would capture the imagination of the general public. Then came the summer of 2007 and with it the release of Rogen’s first starring role (Knocked Up) and his long gestating high school comedy (Superbad). They both received rave reviews and were the top grossing comedies of the summer. Within a matter of months Rogen had become a star. Normally this instant success would lead to an actor taking a much-needed rest before returning to the big screen, but not Seth. He already has two movies lined up for 2008, both of which look like they will be ideal extensions of his established comedic persona.

The first title set for release is The Pineapple Express, another project that Rogen wrote with childhood friend Evan Goldberg and comedy guru Judd Apatow. As has been well documented, Rogen and Goldberg began working as a writing team in high school with a script that would ultimately become Superbad. Once Judd Apatow read a early draft on the set of Freaks And Geek he told the then 18 year-old writers that he would help them complete the script and get the movie made. They then struggled for 8 years to get the film produced, a period in which the script was rejected by every major studio (who must have all been kicking themselves after the $33 million dollar opening weekend). During that time Judd Apatow suggested that the writers should try creating a more commercial screenplay that they could make before Superbad. The result was the Pineapple Express, a script that was even more difficult to get produced…well that is until the Apatow brand became the most marketable comedy force in Hollywood.

The Pineapple Express was actually filmed before the summer of 07 and was initially going to be released during the fall, but was pushed back until this summer after the success of Knocked Up and Superbad. The movie is a fusion of a stoner comedy and a action movie. Rogen stars alongside James Franco as two potheads who accidentally witness a murder and become inadvertently involved in a manhunt. It should be the first film ever made to alternate between munchies jokes and slow motion gun fights. The advanced reviews have been strong the trailer is undeniably hilarious, and it looks as though the movie could be the comedy hit of the summer.