There are few directors as lauded as Martin Scorsese, so it shouldn't come as a surprise he had some thoughts about him being directed in his epic cameo as himself on The Studio.

Scorsese, 82, played himself on the pilot episode of the Apple TV+ as a big name that Seth Rogen's Matt Remick, the new head of the fictional Continental Studios, brings in to direct a movie based on the Kool-Aid Man, only to find out he has his own idea to make a high-brow film about Jonestown.

In the end, Remick buys Scorsese's script to kill it, leading to an emotional breakdown from the filmmaker.

While speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the 2025 Gotham TV Awards, where the show won breakthrough comedy series, co-creator and executive producer Alex Gregory called Scorsese the celebrity cameo that surprised him most for coming to fruition.

"I think we're all pretty shocked Martin Scorsese was in the show," he said.

Fellow co-creator and executive producer Evan Goldberg — who also directed the episode with Rogen — agreed, adding, "I think unanimously we would say Martin Scorsese as an actor was unbelievable."

"The fact that he actually showed up, 'cause we kept thinking, 'He's gonna cancel. It's too amazing. It's too special. He's just the best,'" Goldberg continued.

Given Scorsese's legendary status as a director — he's been nominated for the Best Director Oscar 10 times, winning once — you might think he had some tips for Goldberg and Rogen behind the camera.

"He had one note, but he didn't give it until later," Gregory admitted.

Further contextualizing the moment Scorsese wanted to give feedback, Goldberg said, "There was a moment where him and Charlize Theron were whispering to each other, and it took like 10 takes to get the shot."

"And then we got it and I was like, 'What were you whispering about?' He was like, 'I knew you were doing this wrong, but I didn't wanna be a backseat director, so I just didn't say anything.' And I was like, 'Well, we could have used that time, but I appreciate that you didn't wanna manhandle us,' " he recalled.

Goldberg then revealed what he and Gregory believe was the secret to them booking Scorsese in the first place: Jonah Hill.

"I do think Jonah was maybe a secret reason why he did it," Goldberg said, with Gregory agreeing with a "for sure."

Hill is the connective tissue between Rogen and Scorsese, having collaborated with the former on numerous films and starring in the latter's 2013 hit The Wolf of Wall Street. 

"I got the feeling he dropped in a good word for us and that might've helped it happen," Goldberg suggested.

The Studio wrapped its first season on May 21, weeks after Apple TV+ renewed the show for a second season.