Is Seth Rogen’s ‘The Studio’ Based on a True Story?
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s new series “The Studio” is now streaming, and though it tells the story of employees at a fictional movie studio, it includes some really famous guest stars playing themselves, and pokes fun at how Hollywood actually works. So you might be wondering: is it based on a true story?
Now on Apple TV+, the series centers on Matt Remick (Rogen), a longtime cinephile and movie executive who gets bumped up to his dream job of studio head. All he wants is to make true “cinema” and earn the love and support of every actor he can.
Granted, that’s a little hard when he has to make decisions more from a business perspective, rather than a creative one. But he’s doing his best, and what follows is 10 episodes of seeing the Hollywood machine from his eyes.
Is that how the industry actually works though?
Is it based on a true story?
In the grand scheme of things, no, “The Studio” isn’t based on any one story or any one studio executive. Continental Studios is entirely fictional too. However, the series definitely draws inspiration from real life.
As Rogen explained to TheWrap, Catherine O’Hara’s character in the series is indeed based on former Sony head Amy Pascal.
“We sent her the show as soon as it was finished, so she could watch it. We really came up at Sony under her leadership, and she was someone who taught us a ton about the industry and who was a really inspirational figure to us in a lot of ways,” Rogen explained. “She took huge risks and huge gambles, and she’s essential to me and Evan having the careers and lives that we currently have.”
Rogen has also noted that Bryan Cranston’s character takes after Warner Bros. Discover head David Zaslav.
So yes, the series borrows from real-life people and experiences — the entire first episode details how IP is the hot thing right now, and Matt has to make a Kool-Aid movie because the studio has the rights — to tell a realistic story.
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