Apple TV+ If anyone was going to play a fictionalized version of themselves that doubled as a Hollywood action star and also a wild party animal inThe Studio, it was going to beDave Franco. Franco stars as himself in several episodes of theSeth Rogen-helmed Apple TV+ series, and in the latest episode, which premiered May 14, the actor is living it up at a party thrown by Rogen's character in Las Vegas ahead of the studio's big Cinema Con presentation. "Honestly, there were very few people that could have filled the roles that the people had filled becausewe really specifically were catering the stories to certain traits that celebrities have," Rogen, 43, tells PEOPLE of crafting Franco's hilarious, multi-episode storyline. "With Dave, it's like, who do you believe would be in aRon Howardmovie? It's a pretty dramatic movie, who could do that? But also, we knew that he would come back and do this truly ridiculous, stupid thing later in the season." Apple TV+ Franco, 39, "always had a big, happy smile on his face" on set, saysCatherine O'Hara, who plays Rogen's former boss on the show, andthe rest of the castagrees. "Always. [He had] so much energy." "Dave is the best, really the best,"Ike Barinholtzsays. Kathryn Hahnadds that theNow You See Mestar has the "best vibe," and Rogen, 43, can't help but agree with the praise of his longtime friend as he recalls the role he played in the start of Franco's career. "Oh yeah, Dave is the best," Rogen says. "Dave's first, I think, on-camera thing wasSuperbad." Barinholtz excitedly recalls that Franco's character was known for having "pissed his pants" in the 2007 comedy, and Rogen says, "I know. He was like 15 or 16 or something like that. People don't forget." Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Rogen's longtime friendship with Franco stemmed from his pre-existing relationship with his older brotherJames Franco. The duo was a force in the comedy world for two decades following their roles onFreaks and Geeksin 1999. However, afterallegations of sexual misconduct against Jameswere raised by some of his former acting students in 2019,Rogen's friendship with the Oscar nominee seemed to end. Apple TV+ James, 47, toldVarietyin October that he hadn't "talked" to Rogen recently, cementing the rift between the actors. "I love Seth, we had a great 20 years together, but I guess it's over," James told the outlet. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The season 1 finale ofThe Studiopremieres Wednesday, May 21 on Apple TV+. Read the original article onPeople
