Seth Rogen has opened up about an unexpected challenge while filming a romantic scene with Penélope Cruz on the set of the comedy *The Invite*. The actor recalled repeatedly thanking and apologizing to Cruz during the sequence, leaving director Olivia Wilde puzzled. “She was just like, ‘Why? What are you doing? Why do you keep saying thank you?’” Rogen recounted during an interview.
The scene, which involves Rogen and Cruz’s characters teetering on the brink of intimacy, was meant to be improvised. Rogen admitted he couldn’t control his instinctual responses. “I don’t know. It’s just what’s coming out of my mouth,” he explained. When asked why gratitude seemed appropriate for a sex scene, the 44-year-old joked that it reflected his real-life approach: “All I have is gratitude. I would be apologetic and thankful. I’m sorry.”
Rogen revealed another distraction during filming: the presence of Cruz’s husband, Oscar winner Javier Bardem. “So, you’re very worried about that,” he quipped, before adding, “I don’t think he views me as a legitimate threat in any way, shape or form.” The improvisational spirit of the production also led to unscripted moments, such as Cruz suggesting a character serenade Rogen with a Sade song—a move that blended sensuality and humor.
Meanwhile, Wilde shared her own memorable behind-the-scenes experience. During a scene, Cruz unexpectedly kissed her, leaving the director flustered. “I was so shocked. I turned my head and looked directly into the lens,” Wilde recounted. When a crew member called her name, her brain could only produce the word “Namaste.” She laughed, adding, “Everyone was like, ‘What?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.’ My mind went blank because I was so struck by this moment.”
The film follows a married couple whose relationship unravels after they invite their glamorous neighbors for a dinner party. Rogen and Wilde star as Joe and Angela, while Cruz and Edward Norton portray the enigmatic Pina and Hawk. Filming proved as chaotic as the plot, with Rogen injuring his shoulder during a comedic improvisation in which he struggled to remove his trousers and fell spectacularly.
From impromptu Sade serenades to surprise kisses and polite thank-yous, *The Invite* appears to have been as entertaining to film as it promises to be for audiences. The production’s unorthodox moments highlight the cast’s creative energy, blending scripted tension with spontaneous humor on set.
