Seth Rogen has revealed that Anne Hathaway departed the cast of the 2007 comedy "Knocked Up" due to discomfort with a graphic birthing scene. Rogen shared this recollection on "The A24 Podcast," explaining that Hathaway felt the scene, which depicted the "crowning" of a baby during delivery, was not in line with her personal brand.
Rogen stated that while he couldn't be certain of all Hathaway's motivations, the crowning scene was what he was told led to her decision. The film used a prosthetic to simulate the birth, as California labor laws prohibited filming a real delivery. Rogen added that Hathaway may have also realized during early rehearsals that the film was not the right fit for her.
Katherine Heigl was ultimately cast as Alison, the character who becomes pregnant by Rogen's character. "Knocked Up" became a commercial success, grossing over $219 million worldwide. The film featured an ensemble cast including Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, and Jonah Hill.
Years later, Heigl publicly criticized the movie in a 2008 interview with Vanity Fair, describing it as "a little sexist" and that it exaggerated its female characters. Rogen admitted in a 2016 interview that these comments had been hurtful. However, Heigl later expressed that there were no hard feelings, acknowledging Rogen's handling of the situation and stating she felt nothing but love and respect for him. Rogen concluded that Hathaway made the correct decision for herself, noting her good judgment over the years and that "she had a sense, and she knew it was not for her."