Written and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, The Studio is a star-studded comedy arriving on Apple TV+ on March 26, 2025.
This insanely funny comedy series follows Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) as he gets promoted to head of Continental Studios. Along with his team, they endure the daily struggle of overcoming personal fears and managing greedy men in suits on one hand and overly dramatic, narcissistic actors on the other. Matt’s biggest weakness is his never-ending desire for acceptance. He doesn’t get the party invite or any type of notoriety whatsoever… until he becomes the head of the studio. Egos are checked and boots are licked in this wild Hollywood comedy.
The principal cast is perfect for this environment and everyone’s chemistry flows well. Alongside Seth Rogen are Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Bryan Cranston. The series premiered tonight at SXSW, the opening night of the festival.
Every episode is loaded with celebrities, making no episode the same. In one, you might find a set fighting for their lives to get a “oner” before sunset. In another, you may see Matt effectively stiff-arm Martin Scorsese and look elsewhere for the direction of his thirst-inspired film. Aside from the nonstop laughter that each episode delivers, part of the fun is anticipating who you’re going to see next. If not Ron Howard or Charlize Theron, then make room for a hysterical Anthony Mackie. This satirical attack on the Hollywood machine, featuring contributors to said machine, is never-ending and laugh-out-loud funny.
Finding comedy in expletives is weak and takes little effort. Where the series shines brightest is when dark, self-deprecating humor is let loose. One of the more memorable lines came from guest star Greta Lee as she tries to convince Matt to upgrade her to a private jet for a press tour. She jabbed at studio A24 and the film Past Lives (in which she starred) for their lack of budget essentially forcing her to “carve her own boat.”
The funniest character of them all is Kathryn Hahn’s Maya. Equipped with the trending topic of the day and the buzzword of the hour, her marketing prowess is what makes her invaluable. With her insanely long ponytail braid and her abrasive mouth, she keeps her coworkers on their toes and her eyes on making money.
It’s satire. It’s somewhat predictable. But it’s uproarious humor of the likes rarely seen on television. In typical Seth Rogen fashion, the humor knows no bounds. Explicit language is always expected whenever he’s involved and there’s no shortage of that here. If not for “F-bombs” falling like raindrops every 10 minutes, then it’s the copious usage of “dicks” whenever possible. Mix in some hard drugs and alcohol and you have a Seth Rogen amalgam. With each episode standing on its own, the series lacks the flow that you would expect from this type of comedy. There are a handful of episodes where you’re left wondering “What happens next?” but never receive an answer. Even so, this humorous take on studios making movies will no doubt impress the masses and earn a hardcore following. It’s the perfect binge-able series and a welcome distraction from the reality that is our government.
The Studio gets a 9 out of 10. Apple TV+ wins yet again. The streaming wars are leaning heavily in their favor as they deliver knockout after knockout. If it’s not this, it’s The Morning Show. Then there was Ted Lasso, Shrinking, and of course, Mythic Quest. With new episodes streaming weekly, the series is already primed to be a hot topic for the next three months. The only thing that could outdo the series’ humor is seeing how fans use it online. The clips on Instagram and the memes will for sure be worth the wait.
The Studio premieres on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, March 26, with new episodes available each week.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Apple TV+
Genre: Comedy
Rating: Not yet rated but contains explicit language
Runtime: 10 Episodes | 30 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: First two episodes, March 26, 2025 | Final episode, May 21, 2025