The Seth Rogen/Charlize Theron Comedy ‘Flarsky’ Has A New Title, Seth Rogen Explains The Change [Updated]
Update: On Twitter, Rogen has explained the reason for the title change. Our original article follows, and you may read his explanation below.
For a long time, directorJonathan Levine’s new movie was going by its original title:Flarsky. And then someone at Lionsgate realized that calling a filmFlarskyis an invitation to make no money at the box office because it sounds like an off-brand medicinal soda only available in three states, so they’ve changed it.Flarskyis dead. MeetLong Shot.
This film has a lot going for it. The always-funny and increasingly daringSeth Rogen. The always wonderful and increasingly-aware-of-her-comedy-chopsCharlize Theron. Jonathan Levine, a skilled filmmaker whose filmography contains horror movies (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane), coming-of-age tales (The Wackness), zombie rom-coms (Warm Bodies), sensitive cancer dramas (50/50), and silly holiday comedies (The Night Before).It even made /Film’s list of most anticipated movies of 2019.
But it also had that title, which is the last name of the main character. A name that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. A name that feels like it should only be spoken by an angry authority figure while shaking his fist at the sky. It’s not a good title!
Anyway, it was announced a few weeks ago thatFlarskywas going to premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, but it no longer had a title. And now, Lionsgate has given it a new one:Long Shot. It’s a little dull and feels like it could get lost in a crowd, but hey, it’s not worse thanFlarsky. Here’s howDeadlinedescribes the film:
Rogen plays an unemployed journalist battered by his own misfortune, who decides to pursue Charlotte Field, his childhood crush and babysitter who now happens to be one of the most powerful and unattainable women on the planet.
Honestly, the most important part of this news is that it brings /Film writer Chris Evangelista’songoing battle with this movie over its title to its natural climax. Congrats, Chris. You won.Flarskyis no more.
Long Shotwill premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March. We’ll be in attendance and will let you know ifFlarskywould’ve been a better title.Update: Reporter Alisha GrausoaskedRogen about the title change on Twitter, and he responded:
Me too! And there’s no “The” which was the result of weeks of conversations.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen)July 10, 2025
It’s for sure not a movie that should only be named after my character was the thinking. I’m only half the story.
It sounds like they’re really putting some thought into this instead of just slapping a name on it and calling it a day, so you’ve gotta give them credit there.
