Creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have confirmed that the second season of their series, "The Studio," will address the death of its star, Catherine O'Hara. O'Hara passed away in January at the age of 71, creating production and narrative considerations for the series, which had been written with her involvement.
Production Adjustments for Season 2
Co-creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg stated that "The Studio" Season 2 will acknowledge the death of its series star, Catherine O'Hara. O'Hara died in January at 71 years old.
Evan Goldberg described continuing the show without O'Hara as a significant challenge, both emotionally and creatively, due to the show's existing script having been written with her involvement.
Goldberg referred to O'Hara as the show's "anchor" and noted that her absence affects the entire new season.
Seth Rogen added that the series will acknowledge a sense of being "anchorless," linking this to real-life experiences. He further indicated that while the show generally avoids overtly heavy themes, they will be present in the second season, as the creators are not disregarding the loss.
Catherine O'Hara's Role and Career
In "The Studio" Season 1, Catherine O'Hara starred as Patty Leigh, a Hollywood executive and pseudo-mentor to Matt Remick, portrayed by Seth Rogen. This role earned her an Emmy nomination in 2025 for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.
Catherine O'Hara died on January 30 in her Los Angeles home following a brief illness.
Her career spanned five decades and included notable roles in films such as "Best in Show," "Home Alone," "Beetlejuice," and "After Hours." She was also recognized for her portrayal of Moira Rose in the CBC sitcom "Schitt’s Creek," a role for which she received her second Emmy in 2020.
Series Status and Production
"The Studio" was renewed for a second season by Apple TV in May 2025. This renewal followed its first season, which garnered 13 Emmy awards. Production for the new season was scheduled to commence in mid-January.