Seth Rogen Reveals How He Got Directors to Play ‘Assholes’ on ‘The Studio’

by

As Matt Remick, Seth Rogen’s character, takes over as head of Continental Studios on The Studio, it’s clear that he regularly interacts with Hollywood’s creative elite, such as Charlize Theron and numerous directors. Ron Howard, Sarah Polley, and Olivia Wilde are some directors featured in the 2025 TV lineup, and Alex Gregory, who collaborated with Rogen to create the Apple TV+ exclusive series, has shared the story of how he brought these three talents on board. Interestingly, Gregory also revealed Howard’s reaction to his “ruffian” persona.

Ron Howard In The Studio

We’ll begin with the initial matter. During “The Note,” Matt Remick found it challenging to discuss a director’s note about his movie, “Alphabet City,” due to a traumatic incident over two decades ago involving Howard mocking Matt regarding a suggestion for “A Beautiful Mind.” At first, it seemed that Howard from The Studio was amiable, but later, his rude side emerged. Gregory shared with me that the filmmaker appreciated the chance to portray himself in this manner, as expressed by him:

It seems Ron Howard enjoyed the idea that Seth and Evan wanted to portray him as less than perfectly nice. After all, on talk shows he’s often referred to as “The nicest guy in Hollywood,” but I’m guessing he sometimes feels like he’s not always so angelic. So, it was likely quite entertaining for him to let loose the tiny fraction of himself that feels this way, and he was game for it.

In a meeting, director Ron Howard revealed his temperament when informed by Kathryn Hahn’s character Maya Mason that Matt Remick had feedback for ‘Alphabet City’. Howard publicly humiliated Matt in front of everyone by reminding them of Matt’s past suggestion that viewers of ‘A Beautiful Mind’ would immediately understand that Paul Bettany’s Charles Herman was just a figment of Russell Crowe’s John Nash’s imagination from the start. An upset Matt retaliated by criticizing Howard for the dull motel sequence in ‘Alphabet City’, leading to an argument.

Experience the latest episodes of “The Studio” and other award-winning originals such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” and “Slow Horses” by subscribing to Apple TV+. Right now, you can enjoy a special offer: 3 months for $2.99 per month. Don’t miss out on this limited-time deal!

In the world of the film studio, Ron Howard reluctantly consented to eliminate the motel scene and warned Matt that if the executive ever crossed him again, he would retaliate severely. This suggests that Howard in the movie world is far from a pleasant individual, and in this fictional role, he enjoyed portraying a ‘jerk.’ As Alex Gregory pointed out, it doesn’t necessarily mean he behaves this way off-screen, but the character may not always feel like a nice guy.

Sarah Polley In The Studio

Previously to Ron Howard’s visit, Sarah Polley, renowned from Ramona, made an appearance in the highly praised The Studio as herself in “The Oner,” also known as the single-take episode. She and Seth Rogen had collaborated on 2011’s Take This Waltz, with Polley serving as director, and this Apple TV+ show was her return to acting after a decade and a half. However, Alex Gregory mentioned that Rogen felt Polley was the perfect fit for this episode.

Sarah Polley had previously collaborated with Seth, which made him familiar with her. When asked about her suitability for a role, he remarked that she was incredibly humorous and believed she’d excel in it. After retiring from acting, she was approached for the part, likely as a favor, and agreed it could be enjoyable. To everyone’s amazement, she delivered an exceptional performance. It seemed like an intuitive decision to cast her, and she certainly exceeded expectations.

In the scene at sunset, it was evident that Polley was growing increasingly frustrated as Matt Remick seemed to constantly interrupt the shot she was trying to capture. Since only that moment of the day would work for the intended effect, each setback only added to her struggles. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, they couldn’t manage to get the shot by the end of the episode. This continuous string of mishaps made for an amusing spectacle for the audience, and both Rogen and Gregory found Polley’s portrayal of this fictionalized version of herself quite entertaining.

Olivia Wilde In The Studio

Additionally, we have Olivia Wilde, who starred in the mystery-filled “The Missing Reel.” As suggested by the title, the plot centered around a reel from Wilde’s film being stolen, and it turned out that Wilde herself was behind the theft. This role allowed Wilde, recognized for her work in shows like House, films such as Tron: Legacy and Drinking Buddies, among others, to portray a wilder version of herself, which she seemed eager to embrace. According to Alex Gregory, this was his description of the situation.

Many roles require directors who are also skilled actors, and there are plenty of such individuals in the industry. Olivia Wilde, in particular, excelled in this dual role. I found it fascinating that she chose to direct a noir film, fully embracing the style. Moreover, she seemed to understand the humor behind portraying a difficult, auteur director who made life challenging for everyone involved. To me, her willingness to take on this challenging character was incredibly impressive.

In the show, Olivia Wilde, from The Studio, took that reel because she wasn’t satisfied with the scene on it and wanted to arrange reshoots. By the end of the episode, she damaged the reel, which led Matt Remick to sell his $2 million car to Zac Efron, one of the movie’s stars, in order to cover the costs of reshoots. Although her behavior in this series might be questionable, those working with her can find solace knowing that she likely won’t react impulsively like she did on this set… or at least that’s what it seems like.

We’ve reached the midpoint of the first season for “The Studio”. Catch the remaining five episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+. If it comes back for a second season, I’m excited to see which directors might satirize themselves, like maybe Greta Gerwig given her work on “Barbie” and its impact on the series. I’d also be interested in seeing Ron Howard getting his revenge on Seth Rogen’s character.

Read More

2025-04-21 16:38