In a recent interview with Polygon, actor, writer, and producer Seth Rogen discussed his reasons for being turned off from working on major movie franchises like Marvel and DC. While Rogen is always on the lookout for indie comics to adapt for the screen, he revealed that it’s a “fear of the process” that has kept him from teaming up with these massive franchises.
Rogen, along with his writing partner Evan Goldberg, has been in the industry for two decades and has a specific approach to their work. He admitted that he doesn’t fully understand the inner workings of the Marvel and DC systems, but the fear of how they would fit into those established structures has deterred them from pursuing projects in those realms.
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“There are a lot of Marvel things I love,” Rogen shared, acknowledging his appreciation for the content. However, he emphasized that he and Goldberg prefer to have creative control and freedom over the projects they take on. This control is something they have enjoyed as producers on their latest animated movie, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” which is set to be released on August 2.
“What’s nice about [‘Mutant Mayhem’] is that we’re the producers of this,” Rogen explained. “So we dictated the system, and we dictated the process in a lot of ways. And that’s what’s also appealing for us about ‘The Boys’ and the other bigger franchise-y type things we’ve done, is that we are creating the infrastructure and process for them, not plugging into someone else’s infrastructure and process. We’re control freaks!”
While Rogen credits the Marvel Cinematic Universe for making “The Boys” possible and acknowledges the brilliance of Kevin Feige and the hired filmmakers, he admits that much of the content is geared towards children, which doesn’t always align with his personal preferences.
When it comes to finding comics that pique his interest, Rogen takes a deliberate approach. He looks for anything outside the Marvel and DC universes, eliminating a significant portion right away. Then, he seeks comics with the potential for expansion and finds inspiration in the ones that catch his eye and make him feel like he has something valuable to add.
“There are a lot of comic books I love and things I love, but I’m like, ‘What would I add?'” Rogen mused.
For Rogen and Goldberg, it’s not just about finding a comic to adapt; it’s about finding one that sparks their creativity and allows them to shape the project to their vision.
As Rogen continues to explore the world of comic book adaptations, his desire for creative control and unique storytelling remains at the forefront of his decision-making process. While he may not be taking on a Marvel or DC project anytime soon, fans can expect the same passion and dedication to storytelling that Rogen brings to all his endeavors.
