A sequel to the 2007 hit Superbad never happened because the film's writers, director, and cast weren't on board. The raucous teen sex comedy about best friends trying to lose their virginity was directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (The Sausage Party producers are adapting a podcast about monster hunting.) Superbad stars Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Emma Stone, Bill Hader, and Rogen. Goldberg and Rogen began crafting the script while in their teens, and it is based on real-life events that happened to Rogen and Goldberg during their senior year at their Vancouver high school in the 90s. Superbad was both a commercial and critical success, grossing over $170 million worldwide.
In a 2015 interview with Cinema Blend, the movie's producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) revealed that his affection for the main characters was the driving force behind his desire to make another Superbad film, which would have followed Seth, Evan, and Fogell to college. However, the cast didn't share his enthusiasm. "The actors, no one with Superbad thought we should do another Superbad. But I wanted to do Superbad in college desperately, but no one would listen to me."
A hit movie like Superbad would have made for a lucrative franchise, potentially capable of providing several new installments. American Pie (1999), a similar success story, spawned eight films, but in a 2020 interview with LADbible, Seth Rogan appeared more explicitly concerned about tarnishing his creative and comedic legacy, stating "I'm so terrified of subtracting from it in any way with a bad sequel or spin-off that I'd never do it. I have so few actual good accomplishments that I'm horrified to f*** with the ones I have." Given that Superbad was a nostalgic look back at a specific time in Rogen's and Goldberg's lives, it's understandable that Rogen will never make a Superbad sequel. Despite the film's raunchy content, the main storyline focuses on Evan and Seth's mixed feelings about the future of their friendship as they prepare to head off to separate colleges, and the fact this was something deeply personal to the creators may explain why they were less inclined to cash in on its success with further movies.
While promoting his 2013 film Crystal Fairy, Michael Cera stated the idea of a Superbad sequel never came up. Cera also admitted he's not a fan of sequels in general. "I personally don’t like sequels, but the idea has never been discussed. I think it’s not really necessary for that story." Three years later - in a 2016 interview with Bustle - Cera once again shot down the idea of a sequel, saying he now also felt it was too late to add anything further to that franchise, especially as "it's such a nicely wrapped up story."
At least one member of the cast was open to Superbad 2 following its release. In October 2007, Stone told MTV News that she would love to reprise her role as Jules, claiming "They wouldn't even have to pay me to be in a sequel. I would pay them to make a sequel." Stone (who will return for MCU's Spider-Man 3) reunited with Superbad love interest Hill for the Netflix series Maniac (2018). Although Superbad fans will have to be content with one movie, in October 2020, Stone, Hill, Cera, Mintz-Plasse, Rogen, Hader, Martha MacIssac, Greg Mottola, Apatow, and Goldberg participated in a virtual script reading capitalizing on Superbad's popularity to raise money for the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
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