‘The Studio’ Season 2 to Acknowledge Catherine O’Hara’s Death: ‘We Are Not Ignoring It’

The creators of The Studio said that the second season of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning series would acknowledge the death of Catherine O’Hara.

O’Hara, who won Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series at the Actor Awards for her portrayal of producer Patty Leigh — the mentor to studio head Matt Remick, played by actor and The Studio co-creator Seth Rogen — was initially part of Season 2’s plans prior to her January 2026 death.

In a new interview, Rogen and co-creator Evan Goldberg told the Times of London that they were forced to suddenly change the entire season following O’Hara’s death from a pulmonary embolism and rectal cancer.

“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.”

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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.”

Season 2 of The Studio began shooting in January — O’Hara did not film any scenes prior to her death, Variety reports — and continued last month at the Venice Film Festival. Madonna, Julia Garner, Michael Keaton, and Donald Glover are among those set to appear as themselves; the second season appears to touch on the long-gestating Madonna biopic that would have starred Garner.