Bryan Cranston has dismissed rumors that his role as Griffin Mills, the head of the studio in Apple TV+’s The Studio, was modeled after Warner Brothers CEO David Zaslav. Speaking at the Television Academy’s Televerse festival on Saturday, Cranston explained his decision not to base the character on Zaslav.
I did a deep dive on (Zaslav) and I thought, ‘Well, he’s so boring,’
Cranston remarked.
There’s nothing funny about David. I’m sure he’s a great CEO.
Clarifying the Character’s Origins Beyond Film References
Cranston was also quick to reject speculation that Griffin Mills was inspired by Tim Robbins’ producer character in the 1992 film The Player. Instead, he credited the show‘s writers for the original creation of the character. Cranston shared that his main influence came from the audiobook The Kid Stays in the Picture, authored and narrated by legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans. During the discussion with fellow cast members Seth Rogen, James Weaver, Kathryn Hahn, Chase Sui Wonders, and Dave Franco, Cranston entertained the audience with an impression of Evans, recalling the mogul’s escapades in the Paramount commissary.
Finding Inspiration in Robert Evans’ Memoir
After absorbing Evans’ memoir, Cranston said his first reaction was one of surprise and intrigue.
Oh my God. That’s inappropriate at every level. This is the guy I’d like to play.
Taking on Mills allowed Cranston to explore an antagonist who embodies Hollywood’s old guard, prioritizing commerce over creativity, and harboring politically incorrect habits long outdated by today’s standards.
The Creative Freedom and Impact of Portraying Griffin Mills
Cranston revealed that playing Griffin Mills gave the cast significant leeway to delve into controversial and edgy behavior.
In shooting this show, we were free to do every single inappropriate thing we ever thought of,
he reflected.
That’s the fun. We get to let you know dark sides of our character, or their inappropriate sides. It was a blast.
The ensemble agreed that the project was an exhilarating experience, an impression supported by the show’s current 23 Emmy nominations, including Best Comedy Series.
