‘An American Pickle’: Meet Seth Rogen, Sarah Snook and rest of the cast of HBO Max comedy-drama
'An American Pickle' is based on the 2013 New Yorker short story 'Sell Out' written by Simon Rich, which he has adapted for the screen. It is also Brandon Trost's directorial debut and premieres on August 6. The story starts off with Herschel Greenbaum, a struggling Jewish "ditch digger" from the Eastern European country of "Schlupsk", who immigrates to America in 1919 with his wife, Sarah, to build a better life.
One day, while working at his factory job, he falls into a vat of pickles and is immersed in the pickle brine for a hundred years. The brine preserves him perfectly and when he emerges in present-day Brooklyn, he finds that he hasn’t aged a day. Understandably, Herschel is adrift in the world since everyone he knows has died, including his beloved wife Sarah.
But when he seeks out his family, he learns that his only surviving relative is his great-grandson, Ben Greenbaum, a mild-mannered computer coder. When they meet and get better acquainted, he is disappointed that Ben has no ambition. Herschel decides to start a pickle business to make the Greenbaum name a mighty and prosperous one as he had once promised Sarah. The screenplay makes adjustments to the original story like making Ben a computer programmer instead of a "script doctor" and gets Herschel to meet Sarah in the "old country" rather than the "new" one.
Through this unlikely story of a 1920s Jewish immigrant who survives into the modern age, the story in part explores the universal Jewish immigrant story in the US but also the difference between generations in immigrant families. Meet the cast of the comedy-drama that sees Seth Rogen take on Seth Rogen across a two-generation divide.
Seth Rogen as Herschel and Ben Greenbaum
Playing both "pickled" Herschel Greenbaum and his great-grandson, Ben, Seth Rogen plays both central roles in the film. As Herschel, he is a rough-around-the-edges Jewish immigrant, who is deeply religious and connected to his feelings and passions and doesn't mind a spot of violence. As Ben, he is complacent, mild-mannered, and has never thrown a punch in his life.
Rogen is an actor, writer, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. With longtime collaborators Evan Goldberg and James Weaver, Rogen produces film and television projects through their production company, Point Grey Pictures. On the heels of 'An American Pickle', Rogen and Point Grey Pictures will release Santa Inc., a Christmas-themed adult animated comedy series for HBO Max. The series will feature voice performances by Rogen and Sarah Silverman. He got his first break on Judd Apatow's TV series 'Freaks and Geeks' and also tasted film success on Apatow's film 'Knocked Up' and 'Funny People'. He has with Evan Goldberg co-written scripts for hit films like 'Superbad', 'Pineapple Express', and 'This Is the End'.
Sarah Snook as Sarah Greenbaum
Sarah Snook plays Herschel's beloved wife whose greatest ambition is to be rich enough to buy her own gravestone one day. She marries Herschel after realizing that they are both ambitious enough to want to better their lives and comes with him to America. She has died by the time Herschel wakes up and he grieves her loss, visiting her gravestone. Snook, an Australian actress is known for her starring role as Siobhan "Shiv" Roy in the HBO satirical comedy-drama series 'Succession'. She received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2020 for the part. She is also known for film roles in 'Predestination', 'The Dressmaker' and 'Steve Jobs'. For her performance in 'Predestination', she won the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Sean Whalen as the Scientist
Sean Whalen plays "The Scientist" who drives the plot forward at a critical point. He is the one who runs tests on Herschel when he first emerges from the brine and calls a press conference about his miraculous story. He also helps Herschel find Ben, his only living relative. Sean Whalen is an actor and writer, known for his work in numerous TV shows, including 'Shannon's Deal' and 'Grace Under Fire', as well as movies, including 'The People Under the Stairs' and 'Doppelganger'. He is also known for appearing as a hapless history buff in the first commercial of 'Got Milk?' directed by Michael Bay.
Kalen Allen as Kevin
Kalen Allen plays Kevin who realizes that Herschel is a man who knows his pickles after encountering him one day selling them on a street corner and helps him set up his pickle business. Kalen Allen was once a YouTuber reacting to strange recipes when he got his big break to come on Ellen DeGeneres' show. He was later invited to use her platform for his recipe-reaction video series, 'Kalen Reacts', and host on and off site segments. Allen is making his film debut in 'An American Pickle'.
Eliot Glazer as Christian
Christian is Kevin's partner and a YouTube blogger. He and Kevin help Herschel get the right publicity and contacts to set up his pickle business. Eliot Glazer is a producer and writer, known for starring in 'Broad City' and writing for shows like 'Younger' and 'New Girl'. He appeared on 'House Hunters: Comedians on Couches' in June 2020. 'An American Pickle' is his debut as a film actor.
'An American Pickle' premieres on HBO Max on August 6.