TIFF Premiere: 'Babies' Tackles Couple's Parenting Choice

The Toronto International Film Festival is set to premiere "Babies," a comedy exploring the profound question of whether to become parents. The film stars Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick as a couple at the center of this deeply personal dilemma.

Written, produced, and directed by Lauren Miller Rogen, Seth Rogen's wife, "Babies" was partly inspired by a year when a friend's young child lived with the couple. This experience, while not the sole reason for their own decision not to have children, offered significant insight into the complexities of parenting. Miller Rogen stated that she wanted to contribute to the ongoing conversation about having children from her unique perspective.

"Babies" features a supporting cast including Dan Stevens, Kate Berlant, Issa Rae, Ed Helms, Zach Cherry, and Sharon Stone. The story follows Eliza (Berlant) who, after breaking up with her husband (Stevens), stays with Annie (Kendrick) and Aaron (Rogen), prompting them to confront their own ambivalence about parenthood.

Seth Rogen noted that the film's focus is not on a difficult child, but rather on the couple's internal conflict and self-doubt regarding their readiness for parenthood. He shared that having a child live with them for an extended period was "informative," revealing that they were capable of parenting, yet still uncertain about whether it was the right path for them.

Roadside Attractions and Vertical have acquired the distribution rights for "Babies," with a planned release in 2027.