Seth Rogen’s ‘The Studio’ Ignites Controversy in Hollywood

NEW YORK, April 2, 2025 — Seth Rogen‘s Apple TV+ comedy “The Studio” is creating a buzz within Hollywood for its stark and humorous critique of the film industry. At an exclusive screening and Q&A event at the Museum of Modern Art, Rogen revealed that he has received feedback from nearly every major studio head, many noting the show as ‘great, but very traumatic to watch.’

“The Studio” draws on Rogen and his co-creators’ personal experiences in the industry, following Matt Remick, played by Rogen, the newly appointed head of Continental Studios. The narrative explores his struggles to balance the pursuit of artistic integrity against the financial motivations behind studio decisions.

Reflecting on the series, Rogen explained, “It’s genuinely an industry we love. It comes from people who can’t deny that our dreams have come true because of this industry, but it’s also so frustrating and aggravating. You constantly see choices being made that are confounding and contrary to a love of film.”

Chase Sui Wonders, known for her role in “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” portrays Quinn Hackett, an assistant rapidly elevated to creative executive. “Women on set have said, ‘You’re talking like I wish I could talk to my boss,’ but I’d remind them, ‘Your boss is Seth,'” she remarked during the discussion.

Co-star Ike Barinholtz, who plays Sal Saperstein, Matt’s right-hand man, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. “There’s something irresistible about doing stuff in this world. I love shows like ‘Larry Sanders‘ and ‘The Player,’ and every conversation with Seth would just get crazier and crazier,” Barinholtz said.

The show is noted for its intricate long takes, particularly in the second episode which consists of an uninterrupted shot. Rogen shared, “We were always balancing the rigidity of the long take with this spontaneity of improv. If you think of something, say it, but if it’s bad, it could ruin the whole take.”

Capitalizing on this free-flowing atmosphere, Kathryn Hahn, who takes on the role of Maya Mason, head of marketing, improvised a memorable line: “Steve Buscemi is the worst-case scen-ario.” She noted, “Once we knew where the camera was, you understood how much time you had to slip something in there.”

Rogen also mentioned Bryan Cranston‘s contribution as Griffin Mill, an homage to the character in Tim Robbins’s “The Player.” Cranston pitched the line: “plastic tits of a pussy-less doll” during a discussion among executives about Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” He quipped, “I’m not proud of that, but it’s an indication of how free it was to create an atmosphere encouraging artistic expression. At a certain point, I just don’t want to work with assholes anymore. I don’t have time for them.”