Bryan Cranston returns to comedy roots in The Studio, the Apple TV+ series that brings together a remarkable ensemble of guest stars, including Ron Howard, Sarah Polley, and Dave Franco, each sharing unique insights and candid stories from production. As the show garners Emmy buzz, these actors reflect on their comedic journeys and the collaborative energy fostered by creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, offering a vibrant look into the challenges and rewards of making comedy in Hollywood today.
Inside the Creative Process: Guest Stars Embrace Improvisation
Ron Howard, stepping in front of the camera for a rare comedic acting turn, found himself both the subject and source of spontaneous humor on The Studio set. Seth Rogen’s portrayal of studio head Matt Remick is depicted as hesitant to offer the famously genial Howard tough feedback, expecting an outburst from the always-baseball-capped director.
In reality, Howard welcomed new ideas contributed by Rogen and Goldberg.
“They said, ‘Keep it in!’ because that was just an improv thing I tried in rehearsal, and so I appreciated that,”
recalled Howard, describing the encouragement he received after experimenting during a rehearsal. At a recent FYC event, Howard expressed gratitude for the creative freedom offered by the show‘s team, calling out the openness he encountered from the series creators and their willingness to let actors explore.
Still renowned for his early acting roles on The Andy Griffith Show, American Graffiti, and Happy Days, Howard shared his intentions going into the comedy.
“I had told them ahead of time, really pay attention to me: ‘I don’t want to get too broad. I want to keep this real. I see the tone,’”
he explained of his approach, emphasizing authenticity even while playing a heightened version of himself.
Creative input was abundant, but never restrictive.
“It was more just encouraging or timing ideas or throwing in a line, pitching a joke and refinement on something,”
Howard described.
“They also allowed for little ad libs and things that they were wide open to, so it was really a pleasure.”
—Ron Howard, Filmmaker and Actor
Howard enjoyed leaning into the unexpected, playing a comedically volatile version of himself—an inside joke given his reputation as one of Hollywood’s genuinely nicest figures, though he admitted at times colleagues are hesitant to confront him with criticism.
“I feel like I’m so approachable that I’m always surprised when everybody doesn’t just tell me flat out everything that they think,”
Howard recounted.
“Sometimes I’ll find out no, they actually do have a note; they do have a problem and they want me to know about it, but they just don’t know how to tell me. Which on one hand, I appreciate — they’re being gracious — but on the other hand, I do seek the truth about the project. I’ll make tough decisions, which might mean not taking the note and I have final cut in those kinds of controls — but I want to know what people think!”
—Ron Howard, Filmmaker and Actor
Taking his return to acting seriously, Howard noted that his time on The Studio reignited his interest in performing.
“It made me want to think about doing a little acting again someday,”
Howard shared.
“I came away feeling pretty good about it, because I had put the work in ahead of time and I had a little window where I really wasn’t shooting anything else — I had finished post on Eden, so that was put to bed and I could really focus on this.”
—Ron Howard, Filmmaker and Actor
Sarah Polley Finds Joy in Comic Performance
Sarah Polley, celebrated for her acclaimed directing work such as Take This Waltz and Women Talking, also found unexpected satisfaction returning to acting for her guest spot as herself. Playing a director increasingly exasperated by Matt Remick’s on-set antics, Polley discovered a renewed passion for acting.
“I loved this so much! I had no idea how much I missed acting or how much I loved it,”
she admitted.
“I got to do something that was very different from what I’d done in the past, and it was comedy. Nothing could have prepared me for how much joy came out of this for me. It was really the best five days I’ve ever had.”
—Sarah Polley, Filmmaker
After spending years focused on directing, Polley appreciated both the novelty and the vote of confidence from The Studio’s creative team.
“I think because I’d been away from it for so long, I really wanted to do well and I really wanted to do something that was a departure,”
she said.
“It just felt like such an amazing thing to be asked to do this, and Seth’s vote of confidence that I could be funny meant a lot to me. I don’t think most people would see me that way, based on the work I’d done. So it just feels like it’s been such a gift from beginning to end.”
—Sarah Polley, Filmmaker
The challenges Polley’s character faces—particularly elaborate technical sequences—were familiar, but she clarified she hadn’t personally experienced the most chaotic of set situations depicted.
“I don’t think I’ve been in quite that situation. Any of the really long sequences I’ve had, had hidden cuts in them, and I think it’s probably because I’m a very practical person who grew up listening to crews complaining about their time being wasted, so I probably wouldn’t put myself in this position!”
—Sarah Polley, Filmmaker
Dave Franco Embraces Exaggerated Energy and Positivity
The Studio’s depiction of Dave Franco is wildly upbeat and comically extreme, with Franco fully embracing the character and the creativity of his friends Rogen and Goldberg.
“I don’t want that! That’s not fun!”
Franco exclaimed, referencing suggestions to alter his character.
“They know exactly how to write for me. They understand how I can excel, and so it just makes it easy. … They gave me such a great dynamic in this show where in these final two episodes, everyone else is losing their minds. They’re so stressed out, and then I get to come in and just be positive and optimistic and drive them nuts because of it.”
—Dave Franco, Actor
Although the upbeat persona matches elements of his real-life disposition, Franco also drew on his behind-the-scenes experience in the industry.
“I’ve been lucky enough to kind of see all sides of the business as a producer and a director as well,”
he shared.
“And so I definitely can kind of pinpoint when things are kind of going south on set and I want to insert myself and try to help in any way I can.”
—Dave Franco, Actor
Bryan Cranston Delivers a Standout Comedic Performance
Returning to his comedic roots, Bryan Cranston plays studio executive Griffin Mill in The Studio—a character that draws inspiration from the classic Hollywood mogul archetype and infuses it with Cranston’s talent for physical and situational comedy. His performance includes nods to legendary figures such as Dick Van Dyke.
“I’m a friend of Dick Van Dyke,”
Cranston revealed.
“And I took so much from him as far as his physicality and his ability to be so loose in his body. I salute him and I just marveled at him over the decades that I watched him, and I would practice and I would see how you can allow your body to bend and flop in certain areas and yet not collapse. I mean, you have to be surprisingly supportive of the floppiness!”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor
Cranston was surprised to learn his character’s name, Griffin Mill, originated from Tim Robbins’ iconic role in the Robert Altman film The Player, a nod shared by Seth Rogen.
“I told Seth, ‘Why do I know this? Griffin Mill? Where’d you get Griffin Mill from?’”
Cranston shared.
“He goes ‘From The Player.’ I went, ‘Oh my God, yes!’ That’s what it was: It was Tim Robbins’ character in The Player, and I had forgotten all about it and it makes me want to go back and see The Player. I haven’t seen it in ages.”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor
The Studio has resonated deeply with industry professionals, according to Cranston, in part due to its honest portrayal of both the chaos and camaraderie behind the camera.
“We tell stories over dinner all the time, and we’ve all been there,”
Cranston recounted.
“Some of the worst experiences I’ve had are in this business, and yet some of the best experiences I’ve had — and I think that’s true with any business. There are times when things collapse around you, and you have to be resilient and step forward and carry on.”
—Bryan Cranston, Actor
Hollywood’s War Stories and the Importance of Community
Sarah Polley underscored the prevalence of adversity in filmmaking, sharing how the process is centered on solving a continuous stream of challenges.
“That’s all there is, really, are war stories,”
she observed.
“I had a real shift at some point where I realized, ‘Oh, this whole job is actually just solving problems.’ So you actually have to stop seeing the problems as problems and stop being so overwhelmed by difficulty. That’s the job.”
—Sarah Polley, Filmmaker
She also emphasized the healing role of community among filmmakers.
“Lately, I’ve had more of a group of filmmakers around me where we share stories, and I think hearing that on a sort of regular basis is much more helpful. It can be a very lonely job, I think is much of having community with other filmmakers is great, because you do hear those war stories and you realize they’re the norm. There’s really nothing but war stories when you’re making a film and hopefully you’re enjoying it.”
—Sarah Polley, Filmmaker
Dave Franco echoed these observations, explaining how difficult set experiences motivated him to shape supportive environments in his own directing projects.
“The hardest job I had, which I won’t mention by name, actually motivated me to start directing for the first time,”
said Franco of his past work.
“I took a step back and realized it doesn’t need to be like that. We can still work hard and do good work, but also have fun. And so on the movies that I’ve directed, I’ve really prioritized trying to create just a really fun, safe environment where it feels like those kind of sleepaway camps and we all become a family.”
—Dave Franco, Actor
The Studio’s Unique Blend of Humor and Truth
Ron Howard articulated why The Studio resonates so strongly with Hollywood insiders, highlighting the show’s ability to turn industry neuroses into laughter.
“The genius of The Studio is because they fully understand a high-wire act that is working in this business in a high-profile way,”
Howard explained.
“And they’re able to bring comedy out of that fear, that neurosis, that anxiety and those hurt feelings and all those pressures. That’s why I think Hollywood just loves this show because it’s so truthful and it’s cathartic for us, because when we talk about it ain’t funny, but they’re presenting it in a way we can laugh at it.”
—Ron Howard, Filmmaker and Actor
Even Hollywood’s perennial “nice guy” admitted the pressures can lead to emotional flare-ups.
“This business does heighten emotional reactions at certain times,”
Howard remarked. He reflected on seeing even the most gracious colleagues succumb to frustration and exhaustion in challenging moments, recognizing that such reactions are part of the business’s intensity. But he clarifies,
“I’ve never thrown my hat at anybody, let me put it that way.”
—Ron Howard, Filmmaker and Actor
Legacy, Inspiration, and What Lies Ahead
The Studio, with Bryan Cranston returning to comedy roots, has struck a chord with industry audiences by revealing the raw humor and camaraderie at the heart of film production. The cast’s honest, passionate reflections suggest the series not only entertains but also encourages its participants to rediscover what first drew them to the spotlight—creativity, resilience, and the bonds forged on set. As Cranston, Howard, Polley, and Franco reflect on the intersection of their diverse experiences, the show stands poised to inspire similar returns to risk-taking and comedic exploration in the entertainment world ahead.
