Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos Makes Acting Debut With Comedy Series, To Premiere On THIS Date
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos debuts in Apple TV+'s 'The Studio,' created by Seth Rogen. Sarandos plays himself in a Golden Globes scene, praising the collaboration and his focus on professionalism.
Netflix might have just flipped the script! Ted Sarandos, the man behind your binge-watching addiction, is stepping in front of the camera. That’s right, the Netflix co-CEO is making his acting debut in a comedy series, and we won’t have to wait long—it premieres on March 26, 2025.
Sarandos will be playing himself in an episode of Apple TV+’s new series titled The Studio. The satirical comedy, helmed by Seth Rogen, brings a Curb Your Enthusiasm-style twist to Hollywood, with Sarandos making a special cameo at the Golden Globes. In the scene, he crosses paths with Rogen’s character—a struggling movie studio head—and playfully acknowledges Netflix’s dominance in the industry.
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In a recent interview with Variety, Sarandos spoke about his acting debu. The Netflix CEO said that he readily agreed to the role, stating, “I said yes right away. Seth sent it to me, and I thought it was really funny."
He also talked about his focus on professionalism during filming. “I was really super conscious about not forgetting my lines. I just didn’t want to slow anything down and cost them money."
The Studio, a ten-part series, marks yet another collaboration between Apple TV+ and Seth Rogen, following the hit comedy Platonic. Rogen, who plays the ambitious (and slightly chaotic) studio head Matt Remick, shared with 9to5Mac that his connection with Ted Sarandos goes way back—long before Netflix ruled the streaming world, all the way to its old-school DVD-by-mail days.
In a cheeky reveal, Rogen also admitted that he didn’t exactly ask for Apple’s approval before sneaking Sarandos into the cameo. “I just emailed him. I did not ask our Apple partners if I could do this," Rogen said. “I went ahead and sent him the script and was like, ‘We have this joke. You actually deliver this wisdom that helps permeate throughout my arc in some ways.’ He instantly was like, ‘Yes, if I can make this work in my schedule, I’d love to do it.’"
In the Variety interview, Sarandos also spoke about Apple’s content strategy for its streaming service. He said, “I don’t understand it beyond a marketing play, but they’re really smart people. Maybe they see something we don’t."
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