Peter Bart contrasts the stalled dealmaking and merger disputes affecting real Hollywood studios with the energetic fictional world of Seth Rogen’s Apple TV+ comedy The Studio, now in its second season. He argues that Rogen’s portrayal of an ambitious, creatively minded studio executive reflects aspirations that many in the industry may share, particularly amid concerns about consolidation and fewer opportunities for distinctive talent.

Rogen’s fictional executive, Matt Remick, wants to make prestigious films but is pressured towards costly commercial projects and struggles in celebrity encounters. Bart traces Rogen’s resilient career across roughly 40 projects over two decades, including the fallout from The Interview and mixed responses to other films, while noting 13 Emmy nominations for The Studio’s first season and favourable reviews for his role in Olivia Wilde’s The Invite.