The Studio

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The primary viewers for Hollywood movie portrayals have traditionally been Hollywood itself. The Apple TV+’s series, “The Studio,” which satirically depicts a mid-level executive (portrayed by co-creator Seth Rogen) promoted to studio chief and grappling with the conflict between art and profit, serves as the ultimate insider’s guide. It is widely speculated among industry professionals that they are scrutinizing every scene to identify who is being represented, and fearing that they might be the ones being made fun of. And if they aren’t, one can’t help but ask, why not?

Warner Bailey, who runs the well-known Instagram account Assistants vs. Agents, attended the glitzy L.A. premiere of the show in March and still remembers the palpable tension in the air. “It was as if a wave of discomfort swept across the crowd,” he said. “People were laughing, but at times they’d also let out surprised gasps when things got absurd. It soon became apparent that many viewers recognized their own experiences reflected on the screen.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve always been intrigued by the complex characters in The Studio. Delving into theories based on hints dropped by the creators and some good old-fashioned speculation, I embarked on an adventure to unravel the Hollywood DNA of The Studio’s key figures.

MATT REMICK (SETH ROGEN)

It can be reasonably deduced that the leader of Continental Films bears a resemblance to every troubled executive Rogen has interacted with since his fame at 17 from Freaks and Geeks, where his mentor Judd Apatow is said to have cautioned him that studio executives were “acting out of sheer panic.” Considering how significantly Rogen and co-writer Evan Goldberg appear to have based their characters on their Sony experiences during the mid-2010s, it’s intriguing to draw parallels between Matt Remick and individuals like Matt Tolmach and Doug Belgrad, who worked under Amy Pascal as co-presidents of production at Sony. Notably, the current CEO of Sony, Tom Rothman, has referred to himself as “Seth Rogen” during CinemaCon. The only individual Rogen has openly acknowledged is Steve Asbell from 20th Century Fox, who once teased him by saying, “I got into this because I love movies, and now it’s my job to spoil them.

SAL SAPERSTEIN (IKE BARINHOLTZ)

Bailey, from the Instagram account Assistants vs. Agents, points out that in many offices, there’s someone who frequently takes loud phone calls in the hallway for all to hear – a figure they call Sal. However, Bailey is unsure if this fictional Sal, Saperstein, is based on any specific person. Barinholtz isn’t providing much information about the character’s true identity. Instead, he suggests that the character is composed of various studio executives he has encountered throughout his career. When asked about the show, he commented that those watching might recognize a line or two as something they themselves have said at some point.

MAYA MASON (KATHRYN HAHN)

Hahn has been rather elusive about the influences behind her energetic, profanity-laden marketing head character, referred to as Maya during a recent interview. She mentioned that Maya was inspired by “a variety of women.” This assortment could potentially encompass elements of Blair Rich, the marketing executive at Legendary, and Sue Kroll, the marketing leader at Amazon MGM, both of whom share similar professional backgrounds (and temperaments) with Maya. However, there may also be traces of Sue Mengers in the mix. Rogen might have met the late, notoriously flamboyant agent when he worked on the film “The Guilt Trip” in 2012, as Barbra Streisand, one of Mengers’ clients, was involved in that production.

QUINN HACKETT (CHASE SUI WONDERS)

Despite not explicitly stating a particular influence, Wonders has offered an insightful remark about Quinn, the assistant who rose to junior executive: “Quinn is essentially a beneficiary of nepotism,” Wonders says to The Hollywood Reporter. “Her apartment is extraordinary. I walked onto set and thought, ‘Wow, Seth and Evan, her nepotism is clearly evident.’ ” It’s hard not to compare her with other executives who share familiar surnames, such as Courtenay Valenti at Warner Bros., Brian Chapek at Marvel, and Hannah Minghella of Netflix, who is a protegee of Amy Pascal and the daughter of Anthony Minghella.

GRIFFIN MILL (BRYAN CRANSTON)

Seth Rogen revealed that the eccentric billionaire character was inspired by David Zaslav, although initially he had envisioned a more reserved and formal personality, similar to Michael Lynton. However, some of the original character traits may still be present. The flamboyant dandy with a fondness for ascots bears a resemblance to the late Bob Evans, whose Beverly Hills mansion is now owned by Warner Bros.’ current chief. In essence, the character has evolved into what Tim Robbins’ character in “The Player” might have become 33 years later.

PATTY LEIGH (CATHERINE O’HARA)

As a gamer, it’s clear that Pascal’s character isn’t shrouded in secrecy – just take a look at the hairstyle! Seth Rogen himself has been open about the inspiration behind this role, referring to Pascal as someone who was a significant mentor. During his tenure with Sony, he held a pivotal position in their studio when Rogen had his overall deal with them. Interestingly, it seems only the actress playing Patty isn’t entirely clear on whom her character is modeled after. “I didn’t delve too deeply into researching her,” she’s said, “I didn’t want to be accused of portraying a specific individual.” Intriguingly, there are whispers that the recently ousted Amazon chief Jen Salke might have influenced the character, making it feel more relevant to today’s times.

In the April 16 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine, this story was published. To stay updated like this, consider subscribing by clicking here.

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2025-04-18 19:56