Apple TV+’s The Studio is chock-full of A-list actors and filmmakers. The Seth Rogen-created series takes aim at Hollywood with its satirical tale of a newly appointed film studio head, Matt Remick (Rogen), who is torn between honoring art and taking the financially beneficial route. Its premise offers countless actors and filmmakers the perfect opportunity to appear as fictionalized versions of themselves for some light self-deprecating humor. If you're loving The Studio and want to find out more about the show's cameos, you can use this guide to find out everything you need to know. We'll also show you where to watch their best movies and TV shows on streaming services.
Paul Dano
Paul Dano has a cameo in the opening scene of The Studio episode 1, “The Promotion,” in which he plays an actor performing a death scene for one of Remick’s movies. Dano’s breakthrough role was as Dwayne, a teenager from a dysfunctional family who has taken a vow of silence in Little Miss Sunshine. He went on to star in the critically acclaimed period drama There Will Be Blood as twins, Paul and Eli Sunday. Most recently, he starred as the iconic Batman villain, The Riddler, in The Batman and as a fictionalized version of Steven Spielberg’s father in The Fabelmans.
Nicholas Stollar
Nicholas Stollar also appears in the first episode of The Studio as the director chosen by Remick to helm a film based on the Kool-Aid Man. Stoller is best known as the director behind the romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall and its spinoff sequel, Get Him to the Geek. More recently, he directed, wrote, and produced Bros, in which two men repulsed by commitment are drawn to one another. He’s also the writer behind Andy Serkis’ upcoming animated adaptation of George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm.
Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese cameos in The Studio episode 1, “The Promotion,” as a director who seeks Remick’s approval for a film about the Jonestown massacre. Scorsese has filmed several cameos and documentary appearances over the years, but he’s most often behind the camera. Considered one of the greatest directors of his generation, he’s the director behind such hits as Taxi Driver and GoodFellas. Most recently, Scorsese co-wrote and directed Killers of the Flower Moon, which stars Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio and examines the Osage murders in the early 1900s.
Charlize Theron
Another A-lister who appears in The Studio episode 1, “The Promotion,” is Charlize Theron, who hosts a party that attracts numerous Hollywood celebrities. Theron isn’t new to the art of cameos, as she shocked superhero fans in 2022 with a hilarious cameo in Amazon's The Boys. For the most part, though, her career has played out on award-winning movies and huge blockbusters. In addition to her Academy Award for her role in Monster, some of her most recognizable roles include the criminal mastermind Cipher in The Fate of the Furious and Fast X, and as Imperator Furiosa in George Miller's post-apocalyptic action flick, Mad Max: Fury Road. Most recently, she signed on to appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi appears near the end of The Studio episode 1, “The Promotion,” where he is excited about being cast in a Martin Scorsese movie. Buscemi boasts an extensive Hollywood career across both independent and mainstream film. His most critically acclaimed projects include the black comedy Fargo, where he portrayed a dimwitted criminal, and The Sopranos as Tony Soprano’s cousin, Tony Blundetto. He also boasted the lead role in the Emmy-nominated crime drama Boardwalk Empire. More recently, Buscemi signed on to portray Barry Dort in Wednesday season 2. On the big screen, Buscemi is known for appearances in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, the cult classic Ghost World, and the voice of Randall in Monster's Inc.
Greta Lee
Greta Lee has a cameo in The Studio episode 2, “The Oner,” in which she’s an actor in one of Remick's films who tries to get on his good side. Lee started her career on the small screen, gaining prominence for her roles in Russian Doll and Apple TV+’s The Morning Show. More recently, she starred as Nora Moon in the Academy Award-nominated Past Lives, which follows Moon as she reconnects with her long-lost childhood crush. Lee’s next project will be the long-awaited TRON: Legacy sequel, TRON: Ares, in which she will portray programmer Eve Kim.
Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie portrays himself in a cameo in episode 3, “The Note,” where he’s the leading actor in a new Ron Howard movie, Alphabet City. Mackie is well-known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sam Wilson, the superhero formerly known as Falcon, who eventually takes up the mantle of Captain America. Most recently, he appeared in Captain America: Brave New World and was confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. Outside the MCU, he recently provided the voice of Herman in The Electric State and boasts the lead role in Twisted Metal.
Dave Franco
Dave Franco also cameos in The Studio episode 3, “The Note,” as Mackie’s co-star in Howard’s Alphabet City. Franco is known for his breakthrough role as Eric Molson in the buddy comedy 21 Jump Street, where he starred alongside Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. He also stars as illusionist Jack Wilder in Now You See Me and Now You See Me 2. Franco will reprise his role as Wilder in the upcoming third installment of the franchise, Now You See Me: Now You Don't, and he is also set to star as Jonah in the Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You.
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde appears in The Studio episode 4, “The Missing Reel,” as the director of an over-budget neo-noir detective film for Remick’s studio. Wilde is an actor and director who most recently directed, starred in, and co-produced Don’t Worry Darling, a psychological thriller about a group of housewives who begin questioning their lifestyle in an idyllic, experimental company town. Wilde also recently boasted a cameo in the black comedy Babylon. Viewers most likely recognize her from the medical drama House, where she appeared for seasons 4 - 8 as the secretive Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley.
Zac Efron
Last but not least, Zac Efron has a cameo in The Studio episode 4, “The Missing Reel,” as the lead actor in Wilde’s neo-noir film, who clashes with her over her directing style. Efron started his career on the Disney Channel, where he boasted one of his most iconic roles as Troy Bolton in High School Musical and its sequels. More recently, he showed versatility as an actor by switching between serious and comedic roles, including portraying wrestler Kevin Von Erich in A24’s biographical drama The Iron Claw and Dean in Prime Video’s John Cena-led comedy Ricky Stanicky.
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