Seth Rogen just confirmed what fans have been guessing, Dave Franco was literally made for his role in The Studio.
In a recent chat with People, Seth spilled that he actually wrote the role with Dave in mind from the start. And if you’ve seen the show, you know why. Dave Franco in The Studio is chaotic, hilarious, and weirdly believable… which is exactly what Seth was going for.
In The Studio, Seth plays a fictionalized version of himself, navigating the madness of a Hollywood production house. One of the standout episodes? The Las Vegas party where Dave’s character shows up just before a major CinemaCon presentation. It’s absurd and over-the-top, and apparently, that’s exactly the vibe Seth wanted.
“Honestly, there were very few people that could have filled the roles that the people had filled because we really specifically were catering the stories to certain traits that celebrities have,” Seth said. And when it came to Dave Franco, it was all about blending serious actor energy with ridiculous comedy chops.
“With Dave, it’s like, who do you believe would be in a Ron Howard movie? It’s a pretty dramatic movie. Who could do that?” Seth explained. “But also, we knew that he would come back and do this truly ridiculous, stupid thing later in the season.” That combo of grounded and goofy? Peak Franco.
This isn’t their first rodeo together. Seth and Dave go way back, his first on-camera appearance was actually in Superbad, the cult classic comedy Seth co-wrote and starred in back in 2007. “Dave is the best,” Seth said, keeping it simple. And apparently, he brought more than just acting skills to the set. According to Seth, Dave brought a whole “vibe” with him. It sounds like the behind-the-scenes chemistry was just as good as what made it onto the screen.
But the Franco family dynamics get even more complicated when you throw James Franco into the mix. The elder Franco sibling had a long creative history with Seth, Pineapple Express, This Is the End, Sausage Party, but their friendship ended after James was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. The actor settled a lawsuit in 2021 for $2 million and admitted he hadn’t spoken to Seth since.
“I haven’t talked to Seth. I love Seth; we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over,” James said in an interview with Variety. “And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me.”
James also revealed he’s been receiving treatment for sexual addiction and trying to reshape his life. “I’m so grateful to be working,” he added, acknowledging that he’s still been able to find opportunities in the industry despite being largely shunned by Hollywood.
Even though the James-Seth partnership is over, it seems like the Seth-Dave duo is just getting started. With The Studio, the vibe is fresh, the laughs are real, and Dave Franco proves once again why he’s low-key one of the most versatile comedic actors out there.
