‘I don’t understand’: Seth Rogen drops major hint about Zac Efron reunion

Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne have expressed strong interest in reuniting with their Neighbors co-star Zac Efron on their Apple TV+ series Platonic. The duo, who starred alongside Efron in the 2014 comedy hit, discussed the possibility during the season 2 premiere of their show at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles on July 30.

According to People, the actors appeared enthusiastic about bringing Efron into their current project, with both suggesting it would be a natural fit for the series. Their comments came as they reflected on their successful working relationship and the chemistry they developed during their previous collaboration in the comedy film.

“I don’t understand why that hasn’t come to fruition yet. Now, I have it in my head that’s what we need to do,” Byrne told The Hollywood Reporter during the premiere event. The 46-year-old actress seemed genuinely puzzled about why the reunion had not already happened, suggesting she viewed it as an obvious next step for the show.

Rogen and co-creator discuss potential casting plans

Rogen, 43, echoed his co-star’s sentiments and expanded on the idea by suggesting they bring in another Neighbors cast member as well. He proposed including Ike Barinholtz, who also appeared in the original film, telling the outlet that they should get both actors to join Platonic. The suggestion indicates that the reunion could potentially involve multiple cast members from their previous collaboration.

Francesca Delbanco, who co-created Platonic alongside Neighbors director Nicholas Stoller, also weighed in on the possibility. She described the potential casting as “amazing stunt casting” if the show receives another season and if Efron agrees to participate. Delbanco emphasized that such a reunion would be particularly entertaining for viewers familiar with the actors’ previous work together.

The original Neighbors film proved to be a significant commercial success, grossing over $270 million worldwide against an $18 million budget, leading to the sequel ‘Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising’ where Efron returned alongside Rogen and Byrne. In the movie, Efron played the head of a fraternity determined to drive out his neighbors, Mac and Kelly Radner, who were portrayed by Rogen and Byrne, respectively. The film showcased Efron’s comedic abilities and established strong on-screen chemistry between all three leads.

Rogen and Byrne’s partnership has continued to flourish since their first collaboration. In Platonic, they play co-dependent best friends Will and Sylvia, and their working relationship has proven so successful that they convinced the creators to continue their roles beyond the originally planned single season. The show was initially conceived as an anthology series with different cast members each season, but the duo’s chemistry led to their return for season 2.

When discussing their working dynamic, Rogen noted that on-screen chemistry can be unpredictable and that he feels fortunate to have good chemistry with someone he genuinely likes. Byrne complemented these comments by describing Rogen as “funny on a molecular level” and noting that they have an easy time working together, which helps explain their continued collaboration across multiple projects.