Fans have wondered whether Michael Cera was fired from the lead role of Ben Stone in Knocked Up ever since a video supposedly depicting it was released in 2007. They also wish to know if Cera’s firing was real or staged.

Here is what we know on the topic.

Was Michael Cera fired from Knocked Up?

Michael Cera was not fired from Knocked Up. He was never officially part of the movie in the first place.

However, it’s unsurprising that several fans actually believed he had been fired. This is because of a staged comedy video released in May 2007 that showed Cera getting “fired” from the role of Ben Stone by director Judd Apatow after they get into an argument over a take, and Cera insults him. This video is a mockery of an intense filming incident from David O. Russell’s I Heart Huckabees, where Russell blew up in fury and got into an argument with one of the film’s actresses, Lily Tomlin.

Ben Stone’s part was always meant for Seth Rogen.

Moreover, Judd Apatow made and released a mockumentary for Knocked Up’s DVD titled “Finding Ben Stone.” This mockumentary showed Apatow having a fake hard time finding the right actor for Stone. Cera, James Franco, and Orlando Bloom were featured in this mockumentary. In this mockumentary, Apatow claimed that Bloom could not do an American accent and lied about being able to. Bloom and Apatow were also seen arguing about the former’s English accent. Bloom also stressed his involvement in The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, but Apatow was dismissive of it as it did not concern the movie. Katherine Heigl appeared to be supportive of Bloom during his and Apatow’s argument.

Furthermore, Apatow also talked about trying to get Franco for the lead role, but it did not work. Franco ultimately appeared in the film in a cameo role as himself.

Despite the satirical nature of this mockumentary video, many people believed what happened to be true.