‘The Studio’ Guest Star Martin Scorsese Thought a Scene Was “Wrong” But Didn’t Want to Be a “Backseat Director,” Says Creator

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Martin Scorsese, who has won an Oscar for his directing skills, seems to prefer respecting the boundaries of other directors’ film sets rather than encroaching upon them.

In “The Studio” on Apple TV+, I, Martin Scorsese, stepped into a role playing myself in the pilot episode. During this encounter, I proposed an intriguing concept to Matt Remick, portrayed by Seth Rogen – a movie delving into the tragic Jonestown mass murder-suicide incident. As it turns out, Matt was enticed by the idea, believing it would fulfill his requirement to produce a film revolving around the Kool-Aid Man. However, things took an unexpected turn when Matt had to inform me that not only would my movie not be produced, but the script couldn’t be taken elsewhere due to Continental Studios owning the rights. In the end, Charlize Theron offered some solace to a disappointed Scorsese.

Despite Scorsese’s Oscar win for Best Director (for The Departed) and nine additional director nominations, he chose not to discuss his thoughts with co-creators Evan Goldberg and Rogen, who collaborated on directing the pilot alongside him, during the filming of his scenes.

Alex Gregory, a co-creator and executive producer, informed People that he only handed over the note at a later time.

Goldberg remarked: “At one point, he and Charlize Theron seemed to be having a quiet conversation, which took around 10 takes to capture. Once we finally got the shot, I asked them what they were discussing. He replied that he noticed I was making an error but chose not to intervene as a director, preferring to let us figure it out ourselves. I appreciated his restraint and acknowledged that we could have used that time more effectively.

Goldberg did not reveal what that note was in the People story.

Melissa Kostenbauder, a casting director, revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that Martin Scorsese was the “holy grail” that Rogen and Goldberg aimed to secure as a guest star.

Melissa Kostenbauder expressed that it seemed as if they had landed their great catch, which was Martin Scorsese. She explained that she knew how enthusiastic they were about him, and indeed, everyone holds Marty in high regard. Once they secured both him and Ron Howard, it became clear to people the caliber they were aiming for.

Certainly, the acclaimed show often features high-profile guest stars per episode. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kostenbauder revealed that this was part of a rather “unconventional casting approach.” Instead of supplying scripts during the initial stage of inviting talent, they followed a unique process.

Kostenbauder proposed a meeting with Seth and Evan, who always found time to converse with numerous individuals in an effort to win them over, clarify the character of our project, respond to questions, and make them feel at ease. This wasn’t done to mock anyone, but simply to share our intentions, as the scripts were sent after these discussions had taken place.

Among the stars we reached out to, “some were open to the idea, while others declined. Some even seemed keen on embracing a self-deprecating humor, though I’m not certain if it was Olivia Wilde or Dave Franco who showed this inclination.

According to Goldberg, when asked by People about Scorsese’s performance, she said, “Everyone would agree that Martin Scorsese as an actor was incredible. Surprisingly, he even showed up for us, as we kept doubting if he would because it seemed too fantastic and unique – after all, he’s the best!

It’s believed that Martin Scorsese agreed to participate due to the influence of Jonah Hill, who has worked with Seth Rogen multiple times and previously starred in one of Scorsese’s films, “The Wolf of Wall Street.

Goldberg stated, “It seemed like he may have spoken positively on our behalf, which possibly contributed to the outcome.

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2025-06-08 21:24