WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Studio episodes 1 & 2.

Seth Rogen's studio head character, Matt Remick, in the Apple TV+ showbiz series Seth 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 in The Studio episode 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 of The Studio's cast to appear as themselves, taking inspiration from other classic showbiz series such as Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Martin Scorsese's Role In The Studio Makes His Cinema Nightmare Come True

Scorsese Has Been Vocal About His Dislike For Marvel Films & Expensive Franchise Blockbusters

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 next Barbie, Matt also takes a meeting with Marty to hear his latest movie pitch. Marty has a ionate 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.

Considering Scorsese's real-life views on Marvel blockbusters and his die-hard ion for old-school filmmaking and "absolute cinema", his Jonestown ion project getting scrapped for the other franchise-focused Kool-Aid idea brings his cinematic nightmares to life.

Seth Rogen Making Martin Scorsese Cry Over The Kool-Aid Movie Is Hilarious Payoff For His "Cinema" Comments

Rogen & Scorsese Poke Fun At How Studios Choose Commerce Over Risky Artistic Projects

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 the New 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 of The Studio episode 1, which is hilarious for the new Apple series but a major loss for true cinema.