Seth Rogen Assembles Hollywood’s Comedy Powerhouses In ‘The Studio’
What’s it like to be the head of a massive movie studio, dealing with diva actors and impatient directors? That’s the idea behind Apple TV+’s new comedy series, titled simply The Studio, which follows a fictional studio head as he tries to keep a lid on things in the film business.
Starring Seth Rogen (Dumb Money), Kathryn Hahn (Agatha All Along) and a host of guest celebs playing themselves, it arrives on the streaming service today [26th March]. Here’s everything you need to know:
What is The Studio about?
Created by Rogen and his frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg, The Studio takes a humorous look at the ins and outs of the filmmaking business, not unlike Amazon’s recent effort The Franchise. Matt Remick (Rogen) is appointed at the top of Continental Studios, which may have some old-fashioned prestige but is struggling in the modern age. The changing landscape of entertainment means that Continental isn’t as successful as it used to be, and with corporate suits breathing down their necks, Matt and his team have their work cut out for them to survive. Matt might love movies, but the process of being in charge of making them isn’t as easy as it looks. “I love movies… … but now I have this fear that my job is to ruin them,” he ponders as he wonders if he can keep everyone happy (or at least, keep everyone from deserting his studio).
In the show’s first trailer, we’re shown some of the famous faces who’ll be popping up in various episodes, and Matt is often at the receiving end of their rants and exasperations. Legendary director Martin Scorsese tells Matt he’s talentless, and Charlize Theron tells him to “get the fuck out”. They’re all fictionalised versions exaggerated for comedic effect of course, but the show gives a glimpse at the unglamorous side of the business of Hollywood. Other names set to appear as themselves include Olivia Wilde, Anthony Mackie, Zac Efron and Zoe Kravitz– all of whom Rogen’s Matt is keen to impress. In a recently released clip, the series delves into other areas of satire as Matt watches with bewilderment as social media influencers flood the red carpet at the Golden Globes.
Who else stars?
More recognisable faces in the show (who are playing fictional characters rather than themselves) meanwhile include Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), Ike Barinholtz (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), Chase Sui Wonders (Bodies Bodies Bodies), and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), who plays a higher up at the studio and is uninterested in, as he puts it, “artsy fartsy films.”
Watch the trailer
The Hollywood send-up arrives today [26th March] on Apple TV+, and you can watch the trailer for it below.
