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When preparing to play Continental Pictures CEO Griffin Mill on Apple TV+\u2019s hit comedy The Studio<\/em>, Bryan Cranston<\/strong> knew he unlocked the role after listening to one particular audiobook: former Paramount boss Robert Evans<\/strong>\u2019 autobiography, The Kid Stays in the Picture<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought, ‘That\u2019s the guy,’\u201d Cranston explained during The Studio<\/em>\u2019s panel at the inaugural Televerse Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday. The Breaking Bad<\/em> star then offered a hilarious impersonation of Evans. \u201cHe creates a false sense of humility. He will say things like, \u2018I was having lunch in the Paramount commissary and in walked this broad and she was gorgeous, and I knew I had to have her. But who am I? I\u2019m a schmuck. I will never get her. But you know what, in a week\u2019s time, I did get her.\u2019 Oh my God is that inappropriate at every level. I thought this is the guy I would like to play.\u201d<\/p>\n More from Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n Cranston is Emmy-nominated for his role on the satirical comedy, which tallied 23 Emmy bids, including for Best Comedy Series.<\/p>\n The actor also bluntly set the record straight on speculation that his character was based on Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav<\/strong>. \u201cI did a deep dive on him and I thought, \u2018Well he\u2019s so boring. That\u2019s not going to happen.\u2019 There is nothing funny about David. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s a very good CEO.\u201d<\/p>\n Sitting next to the show\u2019s creator and star Seth Rogen<\/strong>, executive producer James Weaver<\/strong>, and costars Kathryn Hahn<\/strong>, Chase Sui Wonders<\/strong>, and Dave Franco<\/strong>, Cranston said it was liberating to be on a show where you are allowed to say and do inappropriate things.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the fun. We get to let the dark sides of our character come out and play,\u201d said Cranston, who added that as soon as he read the pilot, he was a go. \u201cI was like, \u2018I am in. Whatever you want me to do.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n During the panel, Rogen, who stars as Matt Remick, the frazzled new head of Continental Studios under Cranston’s Mill, said his inspiration for creating The Studio<\/em> came from his own experience in Hollywood \u2014 both the good and the bad.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have worked in the industry for a while with some conflict but general success. First and foremost, we do love this industry. This industry has afforded us lives that are beyond our wildest dreams,” said Rogen. “We really wanted to capture what it is we love about Hollywood and making movies and show how hard it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Best of Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n Sign up for Gold Derby’s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n