If you needed more reason to be excited for the second season of The Studio, Bryan Cranston teased an apparently crazy scene he filmed with Madonna for the HBO show. During an interview with Access Hollywood, Cranston suggested that the scene is so wild that viewers will be staring in shock at the TV.
“In this next season of the studio, I do something in front of Madonna,” Cranston said. “In a truth or dare test, and it’s a dare. And I do something that will either raise my street cred very high or destroy my career. It’s one of the two. But I guarantee you, you will utter to yourselves, ‘Oh my God!'”
He put his hands around his face and feigned shock. “You will be watching this like this,” he said. “And you will not believe [it].”
It has not been revealed who Madonna is playing on the series, but Cranston’s character Griffin Mill, the eccentric CEO of Continental Studios, was established in Season 1. The actor described working with Madonna in Italy and commended her work ethic.
“She is an extraordinary person. I mean, she’s Madonna,” Cranston said. “She’s one of the most famous people in all the world. And we were in Venice, Italy, shooting two episodes over there. And it was almost like a pinch-me time. You’re going, ‘Look at where we are with Madonna!’”
He added, “She works very hard. Her work ethic is incredible. And she was funny and she contributed and she was a good sport. We were there until 3, 4, 5 in the morning sometimes and she was right there with us. So I got nothing but great things to say about her.”
The Studio stars Seth Rogen as studio head Matt Remick, and co-stars Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Kathryn Hahn. The first season featured a huge array of celebrity cameos, including Martin Scorsese, Olivia Wilde, and Zoë Kravitz. Catherine O’Hara, who died in January appeared in Season 1 as producer Patty Leigh and won an Emmy for the role.
Last month, Rogen and co-creator Evan Goldberg told the Times of London that they were forced to suddenly change the entire upcoming season following O’Hara’s death. “It has been an unbelievable challenge,” Goldberg said. “Obviously emotionally, dealing with the loss, but also when it comes to the show itself. We wrote it for her to be there. We had it all set and the shock waves permeate throughout the entire new season. It’s been difficult. You worded it better than we could — she was the anchor and now the anchor is gone.”
Rogen added, “If anything, we’re acknowledging the idea that we are a little anchorless. But, honestly, that is a part of life and what we all experience. 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.”
HBO has yet to announce a premiere date for The Studio Season 2.
