seth rogen said the upcoming second season of The Studio will not sidestep the death of Catherine O’Hara. In a Friday interview with The Times of London, Rogen and Evan Goldberg said the show is “acknowledging” her absence after O’Hara’s death in January 2026. The creators said the loss changed the season they had already written and left them dealing with what Goldberg called “an unbelievable challenge. ”
The Studio Season 2 Rewrites Around Loss
Rogen and Goldberg said O’Hara had been written into the second season before her death, making the production’s response immediate and unavoidable. Goldberg said, “We wrote it for her to be there. We had it all set and the shock waves permeate throughout the entire new season. ”
He added that the cast and crew were facing both an emotional loss and a creative one, because O’Hara’s character, Patty Leigh, had been a central part of the show’s plans. O’Hara played a movie executive in the Apple TV comedy and appeared in all 10 episodes of the first season.
seth rogen Says the Show Will Not Ignore It
Rogen said the series would reflect the absence directly rather than trying to pretend it did not happen. “If anything we’re acknowledging the idea that we are a little anchorless, ” he said. “And so while we try to not dwell too much on heavy themes in this show, they will be there in this second season. We are not ignoring it. ”
The creators’ comments make clear that the death of O’Hara, who died Jan. 30 at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness, remains part of the creative framework for the season now in production. The interview also pointed to how strongly the role shaped the writing before the production changed course.
What O’Hara Meant to the Series
O’Hara’s work on The Studio brought major awards attention. She earned a 2025 Emmy nomination and a 2026 Golden Globe nod for best supporting actress in a comedy series, and later won best actress in a comedy series at the 2026 Actor Awards for the same role. Rogen accepted that honor on her behalf and told the audience she would have been honored to receive it from her fellow performers.
After O’Hara’s death, Apple TV and Lionsgate Television issued a joint statement saying, “We are all heartbroken by the loss of Catherine O’Hara. ” Rogen and Goldberg also paid tribute during awards season, saying they grew up in Canada and saw her as their idol.
What Happens Next
The second season has already been forced into a new shape, and the creators say that shift will be visible on screen. seth rogen has made clear that The Studio will deal with the loss directly, and that decision now sits at the center of how viewers will experience the next chapter of the series.
With the production already in motion and the creative changes still unfolding, the most important question is how the show balances grief, comedy and continuity. For now, the answer from seth rogen and Goldberg is straightforward: the loss will be acknowledged, and it will not be ignored.
