As has been seen several times over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, studios have been trying to figure out how to release their films with no theaters and that has resulted in some features being sold off to streaming services. That is exactly what happened with Seth Rogen’s new film “An American Pickle,” which arrives on HBO Max after Sony decided to forgo a theatrical release. And now, with the film around the corner, we have our first look at Rogen’s new comedy which finds the actor not only portraying the lovable loser he’s known for but also in a dual role as the character’s great-grandfather.
If you have yet to hear about “An American Pickle,” the film follows the story of a Brooklyn-based app developer who is shocked to find out that his great-grandfather, the 1920s immigrant Herschel Greenbaum, has been found a hundred years later after brining himself in a vat of pickles. Now, the app developer has to navigate the modern world alongside his great-grandfather that has been pickled for nearly a century.
As seen in the first-look photos from the film (via USA Today), the dual-role aspect of the film finds Rogen looking fairly normal as the modern-day character while also looking ripped from the history books as Herschel, complete with a very bushy (real) beard.
And according to Rogen, playing the 1920s character has given him the opportunity to break from the normal role that audiences have grown accustomed to seeing him in. As Herschel, he’s able to be macho and actually kick some ass.
“I’m actually not incredibly incapable physically, but every character I’ve ever played is a disaster,” said Rogen. “Herschel might be the first time I played someone who runs normally and beats the (expletive) out of people.”
And before everyone asks, Rogen was quick to point out that no, he didn’t eat a ton of pickles while making the picture. He said, “What’s funny is, I didn’t eat one pickle throughout the entire movie. Herschel doesn’t get high on his own supply. Those pickles are for selling.”
“An American Pickle” arrives on HBO Max on August 6. You can see the first-look pictures below.
