Dave Franco Reveals Wild Finale Secrets and Hilarious Moments with Bryan Cranston!

Warning: This tale reveals plot points from the Season 1 finale of “The Studio,” currently available on Apple TV+.

A few months following the shooting of his last scenes in “The Studio,” Dave Franco received a spontaneous call from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, which eventually led to a plot twist involving a reference to the movie “Now You See Me.

Franco recounts: ‘They suggested that I should summarize Episode 9 in a disheveled state tomorrow, as filming is scheduled for then. They thought it was a brilliant idea instead of a conventional recap. There’s something amusing about getting the rundown from the most chaotic partygoer.’ ”

“Franco remembers being told: ‘Tomorrow, you need to provide a summary of Episode 9 while looking disheveled. We plan to film it then. You’re in town, right? We’re about to finalize the edit,’ Franco recalls. ‘I think it was a stroke of genius to do something unconventional rather than a standard recap. It’s entertaining to hear what transpired from the viewpoint of the most disorganized party guest.’

The final scene picks up immediately after Episode 9 ends, with the Continental Studio bosses, including Patty Leigh (Catherine O’Hara), having to deal with Matt’s (Rogen) chaos. Their task? To prepare Franco and Zoë Kravitz for their CinemaCon presentation. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Franco and Kravitz aren’t planning on slowing down any time soon.

Franco joined the group towards the finale of an extended filming period, including two weeks on set in Las Vegas. He shares with EbMaster that “everyone was feeling a bit drained and a bit out of sorts, so we decided to embrace that vibe.” Since he hadn’t been there as long as everyone else, only dropping by for a few days, Franco could bring a slightly renewed energy to the scenes.

The Studio” represents the most recent project by Franco in conjunction with Rogen and Goldberg; their partnership dates back to 2007’s “Superbad.” According to Franco, they aim for a collective effort, with the golden rule being that the best idea prevails, regardless of its originator. This collaborative approach is one that Franco also implements when directing his own films.

Below, Franco discusses the topic of smoking with Bryan Cranston, capturing the turbulent CinemaCon scene involving a live audience on camera. Additionally, he shares that the “Together” team worked tirelessly and made numerous sacrifices to bring the movie to life.

You are at an 11 from start to finish these last two episodes. When you first read the script, how did you approach filming the physical comedy?

The creative process involved crafting my character’s portrayal for the later episodes. Prior to filming my initial scenes, I had discussions with Seth and Evan about how over-the-top distressed my character should appear. We soon understood that there were no boundaries, in fact, the more eccentric I was, the better. However, it was crucial to emphasize an intense optimism and enthusiasm in every scene, which would create a stark contrast with the mental states of other characters in the episode. They were all under immense pressure, and my scenes filled with this exaggerated positivity served to exasperate their tension.

When I spoke with Zoë Kravitz, she discussed how she approached playing the exact opposite of your energy.

She’s exhibiting behavior that isn’t typically associated with her, acting wildly and enjoying herself immensely while being as absurd as possible. In that instance, she’s petrified due to consuming an excessive amount of mushrooms, but I’m thrilled since it seems someone might be on the same level as me. Discovering that she is about to embark on a journey fills me with joy because I’ll have another accomplice for the night.

And getting high alongside Bryan Cranston — I’ve got to imagine that was a highlight for you.

I find it entertaining when he delves deep into his “Malcolm in the Middle” persona, openly expressing his zaniness and pushing the boundaries, just like I do. It’s captivating to witness a legend act so uninhibitedly.

Have you been to any Hollywood parties or events similar to this? Were you able to tap into any past experiences?

Our definition of an exciting evening involves retiring to bed by 8 p.m., accompanied by our two cats, while enjoying a documentary together!

How did you keep that energy up through the finale with the scene where you present at CinemaCon?

During breaks between scenes, I was making an effort to conserve my strength. Nicholas Stoller was present – we’ve known each other for a while and I hold him in high regard. I recall him attempting to improvise with me during these breaks. Eventually, after a few takes, he noticed: “Oh dear, Dave looks exhausted. I’ll give him some space.” It’s all about locating those moments to rejuvenate during filming.

How much of the CinemaCon set was practically done? Was that a live audience?

In simpler terms,

Performing live was genuine; it was indeed a real auditorium in Las Vegas with an actual audience. Performing for a real crowd makes it much easier because I could sense their energy and feel more engaged. The difficulty of that scene was switching from being heavily drugged to swiftly transforming into my character from the Ron Howard film, adjusting my accent, and adopting self-assurance in front of hundreds of people.

I love the bloody suit that you’re viewing, it’s a very “Sunset Boulevard”-esque image. What was it like putting on that costume for the first time?

Initially, we agreed that applying the gory makeup should make me appear more battered and bruised, as it would enhance the humor in the end. Despite having just been through a brutal beating, I maintained my usual optimistic demeanor. It was amusing to keep up this positive attitude, given how close I was to needing hospitalization.

Seth Rogen has been very open about how “The Studio” stems from his own experiences in the industry and working with Sony. Are there particular storylines or moments from the season that you’ve really connected with on a personal level?

The question at hand is challenging to address. Essentially, Seth’s character is grappling with a dilemma: on one side, he yearns to produce art that stands the test of time and maintains integrity; on the other, he must consider the financial aspect and commercial viability of his work. This conflict is what he’s dealing with, and when pondering my own methodology for this task: I prefer not to dwell excessively on it. My goal is to develop projects that feel fresh, unlike anything we’ve seen before. Admittedly, creating projects like these can be more challenging, often requiring minimal resources and immense effort to bring them to fruition. However, this is the kind of work that truly excites me. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to keep producing pieces that seem to challenge conventional boundaries.

I know you have “Together” with your wife, Alison Brie, coming up.

This instance is incredibly detailed, and at each stage, we faced numerous challenges. But now, as it’s starting to gain some momentum, it’s truly rewarding to witness its impact. I hope all our efforts were justified.

Now that the show is almost done airing, are there any big takeaways from the show or Seth Rogen’s own experiences that you hope people in the industry or studio heads will hear out?

In essence, the final episodes seem to be serving as a reminder to many that our passion for cinema is what drives us. Personally, my initial job was at a small store when I was just 14 years old, though technically I shouldn’t have been working there. Instead of paying me with money, they allowed me to take home an abundance of movies. This humble video store became my film school, where I discovered the classics and ignited the passion that led me to pursue this career.

I didn’t begin my acting career until I was around 18 or 19 years old, and initially, it wasn’t something I had a deep passion for, but rather saw it as a possible avenue into the entertainment world. Now, I consider myself incredibly lucky to be able to explore various aspects of it through directing, writing, and producing.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

2025-05-22 00:54