Anne Hathaway exited the cast of the 2007 film Knocked Up due to discomfort with a particularly graphic birthing scene, according to actor Seth Rogen.
Rogen, who starred in the Judd Apatow-directed comedy, shared details of Hathaway's departure on a recent episode of The A24 Podcast. Hathaway was initially slated to play the role of Allison Scott, ultimately portrayed by Katherine Heigl. The film follows an unplanned pregnancy resulting from a one-night stand between Scott, a television reporter, and Ben Stone, a slacker played by Rogen.
Hathaway's decision to leave the project stemmed from the scene depicting childbirth, specifically the visual of the character 'crowning' during delivery. Rogen explained that even though the scene was to be executed using prosthetics and without actual nudity, Hathaway felt the depiction did not align with her professional image.
"She had a sense, and she knew it was not for her," Rogen said of Hathaway. "And history will tell… she has been right about a lot more things than I have over the years."
Rogen recalled that he and Hathaway had begun rehearsals before she withdrew from the film. He acknowledged that Heigl was a suitable replacement and delivered a strong performance in the role.
Knocked Up was released in June 2007 and achieved critical and commercial success, grossing $219 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. The film also featured performances from Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, and Leslie Mann. Its success later led to the 2012 film This Is 40, which Rogen described as a quasi-sequel.
Rogen's comments emerge shortly after Hathaway announced her third pregnancy with husband Adam Shulman. The couple are already parents to two sons. Hathaway shared her pregnancy news in June via an Instagram video, showcasing her baby bump. She has previously spoken about her journey to motherhood, describing it as complex and transformative.