New trailer for The Studio looks like Apple TV Plus’ star-studded, cringe comedy based on HBO’s superhero satire series The Franchise
- Apple TV Plus has released the first teaser for a new tragicomedy series called The Studio
- The show, starring Seth Rogen, will be released in March 2025.
- Rogen plays the new CEO of a fictional film studio struggling to survive in the cutthroat world of filmmaking
Have you ever heard of “twin films” or “copycat films”? It’s a term used to describe two films with nearly identical stories released by different studios in close proximity to each other. Think back to 1998, when Pixar’s The life of an insect and DreamWorks’ Antz came out. Or, more recently, two new films Spotless and the First omenwith the two horror films being released within weeks of each other earlier this year.
Why am I telling you about this? Because this phenomenon is no longer limited to movies. In fact, just two months after the satirical superhero series The franchise debuted on Max and HBO, Apple has produced its own comedy-focused take on the corporate world of filmmaking with a new show called The studio. Co-created by and starring Seth Rogen, it will debut on Apple TV Plus in March – and the first trailer, which you can watch below, makes it look like a more star-studded offering to come. The franchise‘s cringe comedy TV crown.
Have you seen every A-lister who comes in? The Studio? I’m guessing you’ve noticed Marvel stars like Kathryn Hahn (Agatha all the time, WandaVision) and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: Brave New World), as well as other esteemed actors including Catherine O’Hara, Bryan Cranston, Paul Dano and Charlize Theron. I bet you haven’t seen legendary director Martin Scorsese or actor-director Zoe Kravitz. All the more reason to go back and watch it, especially if you’re a fan of proverbially curling up in a ball and dying while laughing your ass off.
What is Apple TV Plus’s The Studio series all about?
As tragically funny as The Studio Look, I imagine you’re wondering what it’s actually about. Fear not, because I – or rather, Apple will – answer that question with a short storyline in a press release.
“In The studioSeth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of the embattled Continental Studios,” reads the plot synopsis. “As films struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of warring executives battle their own insecurities while arguing with narcissistic artists. and dastardly corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films.
“With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting, and awards ceremony offers them an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes movies, It’s the job Matt has followed his entire life, and it could very well destroy him.”
First Look at Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, Anthony Mackie and Bryan Cranston in ‘THE STUDIO’ Also starring Catherine O’Hara, Zac Efron, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, Bryan Cranston, Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron and Ron Howard. Released March 26 on Apple TV+ pic.twitter.com/nDK15jTnIZNovember 19, 2024
As I mentioned, the ten-episode half-hour comedy was co-developed by Rogen, along with his frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg (The boys, Sausage party) who co-created the series with him. The pair are also part of the show’s five-person executive production team, with Rogen also directing a number of episodes. Multi-Emmy award winners Peter Huyck, Frida Perez and Alex Gregory also helped write the scripts.
Rogen joins the main cast of his second Apple series – the first being Platonic – his Hahn, O’Hara (The last of us season 2), Ike Barinholtz (The unbearable weight of enormous talent), and Chase Sui Wonders (Bodies Bodies Bodies). Expect plenty of other world-renowned actors, directors, and other entertainment industry gurus to appear in what I think will be one of the best Apple TV Plus shows we’ve seen in a while.
The studio will kick off with a two-episode premiere on March 26, 2025. After that date, new episodes will air weekly until the finale on May 21.
