There are three hundred forty-nine days until the end of the world. That goes without saying. But leave it to Hollywood to think they can delay the apocalypse to better suit their production schedule. We can forgive this particular venture of armageddon-postponement, since it looks to be a really, really awesome piece of work. A lot of talk has circled the developing feature film adaptation of Jay and Seth Versus The Apocalypse, a 2007 short film directed by Jason Stone and starring Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel as fictionalized versions of themselves dealing with the trials and tribulations of a dying planet Earth while locked in a small apartment together. The feature version of the film is finally taking form, with Rogen taking the reigns as co-director, along with his frequent writing collaborator Evan Goldberg.
Sony, the production company that has backed Rogen/Goldberg films like Superbad, Pineapple Express, and The Green Hornet, is in talks to distribute this new film, which will take the more concise title The Apocalypse. The movie will mark the directorial debut for both Rogen and Goldberg, and will re-team Rogen and Baruchel as its stars. But the supporting cast is just as—perhaps even more—exciting.
Other members of the Rogen/Baruchel/Goldberg film universe, including James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride, also portraying themselves. The plot of the film is similar to that of its short source: the group is placed in Franco’s apartment as the world faces its cataclysmic end; we’re likely to see a bit of an apocalypse erupting between these longtime friends and collaborators as they are forced to spend every waking second of their last days amongst one another.
The premise is a very interesting, very exciting one. Whereas apocalyptic films have traditionally focused on larger, more epic stories, popular fiction of late has turned the genre inward. The Walking Dead is a notable example of a piece of apocalyptic fiction that really explores the human’s experience as he watches his world die. The additional feature of the actors in The Apocalypse playing themselves makes the project even more interesting and offbeat. Plus, this is probably going to be a whole lot funnier than The Walking Dead. So, if that’s what you’re into, then get on board. Plus, Rogen and co. have made mention of seeking a wide assortment of celebrities to make cameos in the film (as corpses, but still). All in all, The Apocalypse is an especially exciting development, and seems like the perfect project for fan favorite Rogen to explore his directorial prowess.
Source: THR
