Netflix's glam alt-history Hollywood centers on the making of a movie, first called Peg, and later, Meg. While some parts of the series are based on real Hollywood stories, this one isn't: there was no movie called Peg or Meg in real life.

The character of Jack Costello is fictional, but he's something of a stand-in for an archetypal young actor trying to make it in that era of Hollywood. During the movie boom, countless young (and not so young) people flocked to Hollywood in hopes of being "discovered" and making it big.

While characters like Darren Criss' director Raymond Ainsley and David Corenswet's actor Jack Costello are not based in history, much of the story is drawn from or inspired by real people - including heartthrob Rock Hudson and Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel - and events from the golden age of Hollywood.

The series explores Hollywood in 1946-1949, following World War II where traditional power dynamics in the American film industry are systematically dismantled and racism and homophobia are assigned to the dustbin of history.

The series touches on real life events, such as the 1948 Academy Awards, the death of Bugsy Siegel and the Hollywood legend of Peg Entwistle, the actress who famously jumped off the top of the Hollywood sign. In doing so it attempts to portray the reality of a period in film history that is often overlooked.

Despite the title itself suggesting that the series is based on real events, True Story is a work of fiction, but there are some elements of the story that are accurate to Kevin Hart's real life.

Frank Costello takes its name from the homonymous Italian-American gangster Frank Costello, a contemporary of Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Meyer Lansky in New York City. He is based on the Irish mobster James "Whitey" Bulger and even shares a resemblance to Bulger, who was still on the run at the time.

gangster Whitey Bulger Ray Liotta was approached for a role in the film, but declined due to a commitment to another project. Nicholson wanted the film to have "something a little more" than the usual gangster film, and screenwriter Monahan came up with the idea of basing the Costello character on Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger.

What it does have is the Bronson Gate from Paramount Pictures, where would-be extras really did gather in hope of work. But although studio head Ace Amberg (Rob Reiner) is imaginary, his production slate is as real as his studio's front gate - and also borrowed from Paramount.

Beasts of No Nation was Netflix's first original film production, and even now, it remains one of its best. It is a brutal, disturbing film about child soldiers fighting a civil war in Africa.

In this legend, A friend of the Wilcox family lived in Holly Canyon and had referred to the 500 acres of land H.J. Whitley purchased it as "Hollywood." The name stuck.

1. : of or characteristic of people in the American motion-picture industry. the Hollywood lifestyle. 2. : of or characteristic of a Hollywood film.