Credit: Alamy & Sony Pictures
Jonah Hill ‘Immediately Hated’ His Superbad Co-Star And Asked Producers Not To Hire Him
Jonah Hill is said to have ‘hated’ one of his co-stars on the 2007 hit comedy Superbad.
Despite its legacy as one of the most beloved comedies of the 2000s, Superbad wasn’t entirely smooth sailing behind the scenes.
Released in 2007, the film quickly became a cultural phenomenon, widely regarded as one of the greatest high school comedies ever made.
With its sharp writing, quotable dialogue, and breakout performances from Hill and Michael Cera, Superbad helped define a generation of millennial humor and remains a staple of coming-of-age cinema.
But while the on-screen chemistry between the cast felt effortless, the reality off-camera told a slightly different story.
A different story off-camera
Directed by Greg Mottola, Superbad follows best friends Seth and Evan – played by Hill and Cera – as they navigate the final days of high school before heading off to college.
Determined to make their last stretch memorable, the pair set out to attend a party and lose their virginities – plans that quickly spiral into a chaotic and hilarious series of misadventures.
The film also features a standout supporting cast, including Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Martha MacIsaac, and Emma Stone – many of whom have said working on the film was ‘a blast.’
Reflecting on the movie’s legacy during its 15th anniversary, the cast and crew reunited with Variety to look back on its creation.
Stone, who made her big-screen debut in the film, spoke warmly about her experience – particularly working alongside Hill.
The actress said: “It was all about making each other laugh, and who could kind of one-up each other and say something that’s just going to make everybody break.
“Jonah was beyond sweet to me from the very beginning. And he’s such a fun and loving person to work with.”
However, Hill didn’t share that same instant connection with everyone on set.
Rogen – who both starred in and co-wrote the film – revealed that Hill ‘immediately hated’ one of his co-stars, though the tension ultimately worked in the movie’s favor.
The Knocked Up star recalled: “Jonah immediately hated him. He was like, ‘That was f***ing with my rhythm. I couldn’t perform with that guy.'”
Producer Judd Apatow remembered a similar reaction from Hill, but saw it as a creative advantage.
He said: “Jonah said, ‘I don’t like that guy. I don’t want him doing it.’ And I said, ‘That’s exactly why we’re hiring him. It couldn’t be more perfect. The fact that it bothers you is exactly what we want.'”
Looking back, Hill has since softened his stance, admitting his initial reaction was more about adjustment than genuine dislike.
He explained that his co-star was just ‘really annoying to me at that time’ but was ‘really amazing off the bat.’
An awkward start that paid off
The co-star Hill struggled to connect with was Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who played Fogell—better known as the unforgettable McLovin.
At the time, Mintz-Plasse was a complete newcomer. He later described himself as a ‘scrawny kid’ who was ‘super stoked’ just to be at the open casting call.
“It was my first movie, and I was nervous,” he added.
But that raw, unfiltered energy is exactly what set him apart. According to Apatow, the young actor didn’t hold back during auditions.
The producer recalled that Mintz-Plasse was ‘very caustic and attacked Jonah and did improvs insulting Jonah’ during his third callback – an approach that clashed with Hill’s rhythm, but ultimately embodied the awkward unpredictability the film needed.
In hindsight, that tension became a defining ingredient of Superbad’s success. The uneasy dynamic between Seth and McLovin translated perfectly on screen, adding to the film’s chaotic charm and quotable humor.
And any early friction didn’t last.
In the years since, Hill and Mintz-Plasse have reunited on multiple projects, including How to Train Your Dragon and This Is the End – a sign that what once felt like a mismatch ultimately evolved into a lasting creative partnership.
Sometimes, the magic of a comedy classic comes from the very tension that almost derailed it – and in Superbad’s case, that spark helped turn an awkward audition into an iconic piece of film history.
Related Article: Jonah Hill Has Legally Changed His Last Name
Related Article: Seth Rogen Says He Doesn’t Want Kids Because It ‘Does Not Sound Fun’
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