The Playlist Podcast Network

So, we already know that it was Agatha all along. And Wanda’s unchecked trauma and grief are the reasons behind the Hex and the key to fixing the problems of Westview. But with one episode left, how is “WandaVision” going to end? Well, that’s where The Playlist Podcast comes in to save the day. We don’t have any insider knowledge or anything, but we have theories!

At 70-years-old, filmmaker Sam Pollard has had a massive career spanning five decades. But it's arguably just getting its due in a major way and unlike never before (“The phone’s been ringing off the hook,” he said).  Pollard— a director, editor, and producer— is an Oscar nominee (Spike Lee's “4 Little Girls” doc, which he co-produced and edited), has been nominated for seven Emmys and has won three different times (two wins for the Spike’s incredible Katrina doc, “When The Levees Broke”) and has also been honored with a Peabody Award (for Spike's second Katrina doc, (“If God Is Willing And The Creek Won't Rise.” So behind the scenes, he's known and is a giant in the world of documentaries, but thanks to the one-two punch of “MLK/FBI,” the IFC Films documentary released in January and “Black Art: In The Absence of Light,” the critically-acclaimed HBO doc about contemporary Black art in the United States that came out earlier this month, Pollard is finally getting some major name recognition. He's a veteran and an elder statesman of film and documentaries and was recently given another major honor with a lifetime achievement honor from the IDA Documentary Awards. I talked to Pollard about 'MLK/FBI,' 'Black Art,' his seminal work with Spike Lee, and a lot about his entire career. Please take a listen to the words and wisdom of filmmaker Sam Pollard.

In a new episode of The Playlist Podcast, we talked to Craig Brewer, the director of “Coming 2 America,” about taking the reins of the huge sequel to "Coming to America." And trust us, the filmmaker is well aware of the hype surrounding his film and the worry that he will be responsible for ruining a classic film by adding a subpar sequel. He also has an idea for an Eddie Murphy Cinematic Universe!

On this episode of The Playlist Podcast, we speak to Jermaine Fowler about his breakout role in “Coming 2 America,” what it’s like stepping into one of the most anticipated comedy sequels of all time, why he’s really trying to get a ‘Fifth Element’ spinoff film in development, his love of Tim Burton shit, as he puts it. Needless to say, our conversation runs the gamut.

Former actor Kasi Lemmons has charted her own cinematic path since tiring of "best friend" roles in mid-90s. The director of "Eve's Bayou" (1997), "Talk To Me" (2007), and "Harriet" (2019) has gradually cultivated a fascinating directorial career. To discuss this pioneering Black female filmmaker and versatile dramatist, we're thrilled to be joined by Professor Christina N. Baker, author of "Kasi Lemmons: Interviews."

Action films from the ‘90s are an interesting breed. Some are glorious. Others are downright horrible. But, boy, oh boy, did studios sure love VR, pastel colors, and martial arts. And now that Hollywood has decided to go ahead and make an ill-advised sequel to “Face/Off,” the guys from The Playlist Podcast have a few ideas for films from the ‘90s that are ripe for remakes, sequels, or reboots, such as "Double Impact," "Virtuosity," and "Money Train." 

In a new interview with The Playlist Podcast, the director of the Nicolas Cage horror-comedy, “Willy’s Wonderland,” Kevin Lewis talks about his love of genre films, the mystique that surrounds Cage, and his recent near-death experience battling COVID. 

“Raya and the Last Dragon,” the upcoming action-adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios, features set pieces and genre thrills that feel wholly unique among their 59 film animated catalog. Starring Kelly Marie Tran as the titular warrior, “Raya” is set in the mythical world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons once lived together in harmony. Sadly, that harmony was short-lived when the Druun, sinister monsters, threatened the land, and the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. 500 years later, Raya must find the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina) to defeat the Druun for good. "Raya" sees Disney veteran Don Hall team up with Indie breakout Carlos López-Estrada to co-direct the project. Hall's previous work in the House of Mouse included "Big Hero 6" and "Moana," for which he won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for the former. Meanwhile, Estrada is best known for directing the critically acclaimed and criminally underseen "Blindspotting," and for his extensive work in music videos. "Raya" co-writer Qui Nguyen (who wrote the screenplay alongside Adele Lim) is an artistic director for the Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, and an accomplished playwright, with some of his work including "Vietgone," "Living Dead in Denmark," and "She Kills Monsters". Nguyen has also had a successful career in television, working on AMC's "Dispatches from Nowhere" and "The Society." As mentioned during the Early Press Day panels, "Raya" is through and through an action movie. It was important for the team to take bold creative swings ensuring the film stood out from Disney's other animated films but also felt like part of the family. "That was a thing we were really looking for," said Estrada. "How can we present this film that feels like something you may have seen before, an epic adventure, [but with] our own little spin, and how can it feel and sound? Every time it felt like we were doing something traditionally, we would just try to give it a little bit of a twist, which is what makes the movie feel so different." Hall emphasized that, while the action of "Raya" is important, what was paramount was not sacrificing the story in its favor. "Every [action] scene carried narrative," said Hall, "we tried to [give] each a different profile, flavor, tempo, and even musical structure. They all are different and all are trying to accomplish different things story-wise. Some are more comedic, some not at all, and everything in between." There were some rumors floating around about the potential R-rated violence in the action scenes of "Raya," but the group was quick to clarify. "We sort of said that in jest," said Hall, "a couple of our [storyboard] artists really indulged themselves, but we knew we were gonna back off on certain things like blood. There is a particular sword fight that is crazy intense. I don't think we held back in terms of visceral impact, [and] I think that comes because you care about the characters." Nguyen added, "Just as a credit [to Disney], some of the themes and ideas do feel adult and do feel heightened and real, and honestly, we never got [pushback] because everything is so grounded in story and feels very deliberate and necessary." What these other projects may or may not be aside, "Raya and the Last Dragon" looks to be a stellar addition to Disney's animated legacy. During our conversation, we also discuss "Raya's" filmmaking influences such as Danny Boyle, Edgar Wright, and Taika Waititi, the film's timely themes, and much more.  "Raya and the Last Dragon" hits theaters and Disney+ March 5th.

For many people, the name Cathy Yan automatically brings to mind “Birds of Prey.” That makes sense, considering for years, that is the only film that the young filmmaker has released. But you see, “Birds of Prey” isn’t her first film. No, that distinction belongs to the Sundance award-winning satire, “Dead Pigs,” which is finally getting distributed three years after its festival debut. And the filmmaker is happy to finally discuss her true directorial debut on this week’s episode of The Playlist Podcast.

On Valentine's Day, "The Silence of the Lambs" celebrates 30 years of haunting imaginations and changing serial-killer cinema forever. On this week's Be Reel, Noah and Chance appreciate the many inimitable qualities of Jonathan Demme's 1991 classic, including its lack of genre fealty, its simultaneous intensity and restraint, and getting the best out of Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. From there, Be Reel dives into the wider world of Thomas Harris adaptations, discussing Michael Mann's icy-veined "Manhunter" (1986), the gore carnival of Ridley Scott's "Hannibal" (2001), and the bizarre origin story attempt "Hannibal Rising" (2007).