WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Studio episodes 1 & 2.
Seth Rogen’s studio head character, Matt Remick, in the Apple TV+ showbiz seriesThe Studiobrought Martin Scorsese’s Hollywood nightmare to life and even made him cry. InThe Studio, which is co-created in part by longtime creative partnersSeth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Matt Remick is an opportunistic film lover who earns the promotion of a lifetime at Continental Studios. As he adjusts to the high-pressure position, he realizes part of his job description is destroying the dreams of his idols.
Matt doesn’t do it alone, however, as seen inThe Studioepisode 1, “The Promotion”. Right by his side is his friend and associate, an executive named Sal Saperstein, who actually delivers a heartbreaking reality to none other than Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest film directors of all time. “Marty” is one of many members ofThe Studio’scastto appear as themselves, taking inspiration from other classic showbiz series such asEntourageandCurb Your Enthusiasm.
Martin Scorsese’s Role In The Studio Makes His Cinema Nightmare Come True
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Part of the reason why Matt gets the job as studio head of Continental is because he promises Bryan Cranston’s Griffin Mill character to make a Kool-Aid movie. As he tries to get that franchise project off the ground, hoping to make it the nextBarbie, Matt also takes a meeting with Marty to hear his latest movie pitch.Marty has a passionate concept for a movie based on the infamous Jonestown massacre, which Matt is able to angle as a “Kool-Aid” movie after offering Marty a $250 million budget and $10 million for his screenplay.
Even though Matt talked a big game trying to get Marty to go with the title Kool-Aid for his Jonestown film, he ultimately scrapped his idea for a more family-friendly project. Since Continental already purchased Marty’s Jonestown screenplay,Matt decided not to sell it back to Marty to avoid a negative connotation with their franchise drink.
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Considering Scorsese’s real-life views on Marvel blockbusters and his die-hard passion for old-school filmmaking and “absolute cinema”,his Jonestown passion project getting scrapped for the other franchise-focused Kool-Aid ideabrings his cinematic nightmares to life.
Seth Rogen Making Martin Scorsese Cry Over The Kool-Aid Movie Is Hilarious Payoff For His “Cinema” Comments
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Matt initially intended to go the auteur route for his Kool-Aid film, trying to get Wes Anderson involved, which sounds ambitious yet ridiculous. When he finally lands the Scorsese project,Matt believes he has found an ideal combination of art and commerce, which ultimately falls apart for a project that Nick Stoller (The Muppets,Storks) pitched.
In 2019, Scorsese wrote in theNew York Times, “Cinema is an art form that brings you the unexpected. In superhero movies, nothing is at risk.” Matt’s news brings Scorsese to tears at Charlize Theron’s party at the end ofThe Studioepisode 1, which is hilarious for the new Apple series but a major loss for true cinema.
