ReelBlend

Michael Showalter returns to the show to discuss his new film starring Anne Hathaway, “The Idea of You.” He discusses the origins of the film’s story, whether or not it’s inspired by Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde’s relationship, Anne Hathaway would rather you call her Annie, and more. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

“Challengers,” from writer-director Luca Guadagnino, is our favorite performance from the ever-talented Zendaya, but she isn’t alone. Mike Fast and Josh O’Connor equally deliver to create a three-piece ensemble that propels us through one of the year's most exciting films. In this week’s show, we dive right in with our review, and if you’ve managed to make it out to the theater already, stick around for our brief spoiler-filled section that follows. For those that haven’t, hit pause and see this one as soon as possible. Also this week, in light of recent success at the box office, we discuss the nature of the middle-budget feature film and its potential comeback in the industry. Finally, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” dropped the full-length trailer we’ve all been dying to see, and we give our immediate impressions. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The horror genre has been on a box office tear this year with what feels like a new entry hitting theaters every week. Today, we welcome back the director duo known as Radio Silence, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and Tyler Gillett, to discuss their new vampire flick “Abigail.” After two turns at the wheel of the “Scream” franchise, the two bring a unique spin to their story which follows a group of criminals who find themselves in over their heads after kidnapping a young vampire. The film finds inspiration from all the right places including “The Shining” and “From Dusk Til Dawn,” the two share just how important films like that are to their own and more. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Alex Garland is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today and has delivered striking, awe-inspiring cinema as both a writer and director for over two decades. We are honored to welcome Garland on the show to discuss his latest film, Civil War. The cast blew away each of us, as well as the story centered on wartime journalists, and the grace with which the film navigates its controversial narrative through the real world it seems to depict so nearly. We discuss designing his set pieces with backstory, how Jesse Plemons joined the cast at the last minute and delivered one of the best performances of the year, and more. He even shares some details on the upcoming 28 Days Later sequel, 28 Years Later. After the interview, we give our spoiler-free thoughts on the film, and then dive right into spoilers so if you haven’t made it to the theaters yet, be warned. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What should you watch this summer season? This week, we run through some of the major movie releases hitting theaters, and discuss which have us intrigued, which we remain cautiously optimistic about, and which we are the most excited about. It’s looking to be an impressive year! Both M. Night Shyamalan and daughter Ishana Shyamalan have films headed to theaters, Fede Álvarez appears to be returning a beloved franchise to its roots with “Alien: Romulus,” and “Twisters”…enough said. Which film are you most excited about this summer? Head to the YouTube comments and let us know! ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Director Adam Wingard joins us to discuss his new epic monster movie Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. The filmmaker takes us through some of his trying experiences on set, making his monsters more relatable, Tom Cruise joining the MonsterVerse, and more. After the interview, we review the movie and dive into a spoiler-filled chat on Immaculate. And of course, a Bad Boys trailer couldn’t pass us by without some quick reactions. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Director Michael Mohan (fan, now friend, of the show!) joins us to talk about the making of his new horror film Immaculate starring Sydney Sweeney. We sat down with Michael to dive right into spoilers, talk about the ending, and allow him to share so many incredible stories from behind the scenes. This is such a fun interview for a movie we all genuinely love, so do yourself a favor and go see Immaculate if you haven't already, then come back here and hang out with director Michael Mohan. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Writer, director, and producer Gil Kenan joins ReelBlend to discuss his new movie Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire! We learn about how some long-lost 70mm footage that was never used in the original film led to one of Frozen Empire's best moments, how Gil and Jason Reitman were able to pitch the film to Ivan Reitman before his passing, parenting, and more. Stick around after the interview for several new film and TV reviews dropping this week. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have partnered with Alexander Woo to bring the famed science fiction novel "The Three-Body Problem" to Netflix. The showrunners sat down at this year's SXSW festival to discuss the making of the series, how one scene caused the show's delay, spoiling Game of Thrones while traveling, and more. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Legendary composer Hans Zimmer returns to ReelBlend to discuss his immaculate work on Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two. We dive all the way back to the early days of his career, working at Dreamworks alongside John Williams and Steven Spielberg, his 20-year-long collaboration with Christopher Nolan, and more. If you haven't listened to our interview with Mr. Zimmer for Dune: Part One, and you enjoy this chat, be sure to give it a listen. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rebecca Ferguson joins the show to discuss all things Dune: Part Two. We walk through her collaborations with Denis Villeneuve on bringing Jessica to screen, fine-tuning Jessica's relationship with her unborn prescient daughter, and even some of the silly NSFW names for objects in the Dune world. We also had to bring up the iconic "Facob Tremblay" story from behind the scenes of Doctor Sleep. After the interview, we give our final predictions before this year's Oscars! ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Oscar-winning filmmaker and comedy legend Peter Farrelly joins the show to discuss his new film Ricky Stanicky! Not only do we dive into the comedic prowess of John Cena in his new film, but we couldn’t have Peter Farrelly on the show without discussing his collaborations with Jim Carrey. We can’t wait for you to hear his behind-the-scenes gems on how Dumb & Dumber was finally made, casting both Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels and so much more. Later this week, our interview with Dune: Part Two star Rebecca Ferguson hits our feeds so stay tuned! ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve returns! Kicking off episode 300 of our little show, the director joins us to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two, starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Josh Brolin. Dune: Part Two was this show’s most-anticipated movie of 2024, so it’s an incredible honor to welcome a legend like Denis Villeneuve back on the show for such a special occasion. Following our interview, we get into our reviews. Like many others, we came out of the theater absolutely glowing, and can’t wait for you all to experience it for yourselves. Wrapping this week up, we couldn’t get through the 300th episode without a little celebration and look back at some of our most cherished moments. If you’ve been a part of this ride in any way, thank you! We’d love to hear from you down in the comments about when and how you found us. Here’s to 300 more? ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser joins us for the release of Dune: Part Two! We are honored to welcome Greig on the show to not only discuss the making of Dune and its sequel, but the many incredible works from across his career. We go behind the scenes of the now iconic Darth Vader scene in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, he details using The Volume on Matt Reeve's The Batman and so much more. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Oscar-nominated director Jonathan Glazer joins the show to discuss his new, harrowing film The Zone of Interest. We chat about the impact awards nominations and wins can have on a film, his unique approach to staging and filming scenes, the film’s incredible sound design and its importance to the narrative, and more. After our interview, Jake and Kevin dive into their reviews of the film. It’s an extremely powerful piece and one that seems to be getting the recognition it deserves throughout this year’s awards season. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

‘Madame Web’ director S.J. Clarkson joins the show to discuss Sony’s latest entry in their Spider-Man Universe, starring Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, and Isabela Merced. We discuss how the movie’s script changed through production and the editing process, special effects completion coming down to the wire, her unseen Game of Thrones spinoff pilot, and more. After the interview, we review ‘Madame Web’ and ‘Bob Marley: One Love.” And don’t miss our 2014 Oscars in Review! ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Bob Marley: One Love director Reinaldo Marcus Green returns to the show! We discuss his process behind the scenes, working with Kingsley Ben-Adir, how Bob Marley’s family and close friends helped shape and guide the film, and so much more. If you missed it, check your feed for our interview with Kingsley that went up on last week’s episode, and stay tuned for our review in our full episode dropping on Friday. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kingsley Ben-Adir tackles another icon of history in Bob Marley: One Love. The actor joined ReelBlend to discuss his process, working with the film’s choreographer Polly Bennett to find Bob Marley through his movement, learning to play guitar, how his favorite Marley songs have changed over time, and more. A brilliant performer and a fantastic interview. We really enjoyed this one, and hope to have him back soon. Until then, stay tuned for our interview with the film’s director coming next week as well as our reviews of the film to coincide with its official release. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Director Ed Zwick joins the show to promote the release of his new memoir, “Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood.” His book is filled with incredible stories from across his career in the industry, and we dive right in. Check out his memoir: https://bookshop.org/p/books/hits-flops-and-other-illusions-my-fortysomething-years-in-hollywood-ed-zwick/20165529?ean=9781668046999 ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Director Matthew Vaughn joins the show to discuss his new film “Argylle,” starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, and John Cena. He gets into his competitive nature with Guy Ritchie, the potential of connecting his filmography under one cinematic universe, Henry Cavill for James Bond and so much more. An incredible guest who made for a fascinating conversation, so enjoy. Stick around following our interview for our full spoiler-free and spoiler-filled reviews of “Argylle” and the return of the IMDB game. ReelBlend Premium Sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium. ReelBlend on YouTube Be sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form. Follow The Show ReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs Timestamps (approx. only) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/reelblend/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy