Seth Rogen admitted he couldn’t stop thanking and apologizing to Penelope Cruz while filming a sex scene for their new film The Invitation.
The 44-year-old “Superbad” and “Pineapple Express” star shared a behind-the-scenes story on Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, revealing that he instinctively kept saying “Thank you” while improvising an intimate scene with the 52-year-old Oscar-winning actress.
“What’s really funny about that scene is that we were forced to improvise,” Rogen told guest host Ike Barinholtz.
Seth Rogen attends the premiere of “The Invitation” in Los Angeles on June 24, 2026. REUTERS
“There’s a scene where she and I are having a romantic moment and it feels like we could run into each other, and I just kept saying, ‘Thank you.’
“And Olivia Wilde, the director, was like, ‘Why?’ What are you doing? Why do you keep saying ‘Thank you?’” he continued.
“And I was like, ‘I don’t know. It’s just something that comes out of my mouth.”
Rogen said the reaction reflected how he would feel in real life.
“All I have is gratitude,” he said. “I would apologize and be grateful. I’m so sorry.”
Penelope Cruz as Pina in the film “The Invitation.” A24 via access point
The actor, married to Lauren Miller since 2011, joked that he was nervous about filming the scene because Cruise is married to Oscar winner Javier Bardem.
“So you’re very concerned about that,” Rogen said, before adding with a laugh, “I don’t think he views me as a legitimate threat in any way, shape or form.”
Rogen also revealed that some parts of the film were improvised. He said Cruise suggested singing to Sade during one romantic scene.
Lauren Miller and Seth Rogen attend the premiere of “The Invitation” in Los Angeles on June 24, 2026. Getty Images
“It was Penelope Cruz’s idea,” he said. “There’s a scene where we’re being romantic and she’s like, ‘What if I start singing Sade to you?’ It’s kind of sexy, but it’s fun at the same time.”
Rogen also came up with his own idea for the scene, but it didn’t end well for him.
“It’s funny when I try to take my pants off and I might struggle and fall on stage,” he said. “And I did it. Everyone was like, “That was great.”
Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton in The Invitation. A24 via access point
“And then I had a bad shoulder for seven months,” he joked.
In The Invitation, Wilde plays Angela and Rogen plays her husband Joe, whose marriage is rocked when they are proposed to by wealthy couple Pina, played by Cruise, and Hawke, played by Edward Norton.
Wilde recently shared another impromptu moment from filming The Invitation, revealing on the Table Manners podcast that Cruise unexpectedly kissed her during a scene.
“I was so shocked,” Wilde said. “I turned my head and looked straight into the lens.”
Wilde recalled the cameraman calling her name, prompting her to blurt out, “Stop, Namaste!”
“That’s the only thing that came to my mind: ‘Namaste,’” she said. “And everyone was like, ‘What?’ And I was like, “I don’t know.”
“My mind went blank because I was so overwhelmed by that moment,” Wilde added. “I lost control. I was so madly in love with her.”