Cosmic Circus Podcasts

Uday, Vin and John talk about the hit new film from Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey. The three debate whether anyone but Nolan could have pulled off this epic film, the trouble with the sound design, their feelings about the casting choices, and some of the more controversial aspects of the film. They also discuss what Christopher Nolan might do next after this epic smash hit.
The Odyssey (2026)
Directed & Written by Christopher Nolan
Based on The Odyssey by Homer
Starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway
Cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema
Edited by Jennifer Lame
Music by Ludwig Göransson
Production design by Ruth De Jong
Costume design by Ellen Mirojnick
Find Vin's video review on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRF1xeMKxsA&t=8s
John's written review of The Odyssey is available here: https://thecosmiccircus.com/the-odyssey-movie-review/

Vic and Vin reassemble to discuss the new DC Studios film Supergirl as compared to the comic 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.' The Superboys also deliberate how the film impacts 'Man of Tomorrow' and the future of James Gunn's DC Universe.
(Spoiler warning for those who have not watched the film or read the comic!)
Supergirl (2026)- Directed by Craig Gillespie- Written by Ana Nogueira- Starring Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021) #1-8- Written by Tom King- Art by Bilquis Evely- Colors by Mat Lopes
Timestamps 00:00 - Intro01:50 - the 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow' comic and a few thoughts on how it compares to the film05:50 - the pacing in the film08:55 - comparing the new Superman/Supergirl films with Guardians of the Galaxy11:00 - Critical response to the film and the fact that the film is not as bad as it could have been in comparison to other comic book movies in recent years13:00 - David Corenswet's version of Superman18:34 - Discussing the visuals in the Woman of Tomorrow comic20:45 - Jason Momoa as Lobo22:50 - Krem in the film vs. the comics25:00 - Changes to ending from comic (spoilers)27:28 - Other Supergirl live action depictions31:30 - Legion of Superheroes33:30 - Potential for the future of DCU36:42 - Outro
Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube @thecosmiccircus
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

John and Vin are back talking about the films Obsession and The Furious, both of which John was able to see at the Dallas International Film Festival earlier this year. Vin also chats about films he saw at the Timeless Film Festival Warsaw, and lastly they talk briefly about revisiting the Back to the Future films after a movie marathon.
 
For John's written reviews of Obsession and the Furious (viewed at the Dallas International Film Festival), visit the links below.https://thecosmiccircus.com/obsession-movie-review-diff-2026/https://thecosmiccircus.com/the-furious-movie-review-diff-2026/
 
Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube @thecosmiccircus
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

John & Vin discuss Project Hail Mary, the blockbuster new book-to-film adaptation from Amazon/MGM Studios!
Project Hail Mary (2026)- Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller- Written by Drew Goddard (The Martian movie)- Based on the book by Andy Weir (The Martian book)- Starring Ryan Gosling, James Ortiz, Sandra Hüller- Cinematography by Greig Fraser (Dune, Batman)- Music by Daniel Pemberton (Spider-Verse)
Timestamps for Project Hail Mary review
00:00 - Intro
02:13 - The story
04:20 - The Martian or Project Hail Mary, which one did we like better?
06:54 - General thoughts on Project Hail Mary
09:00 - Pacing issues
10:30 - Rocky is where the movie comes to life
11:55 - Issues with the film
13:30 - Practical Rocky, special effects, visuals, and music
15:24 - Comments from friends who have read the book by Andy Weir
17:30 - References to other sci-fi films
18:15 - The relationship between Ryland and Rocky, and humor. Ryan Gosling's Tom Hanks moment
21:37 - The flashbacks and pacing
24:20 - Overall positive about the film
25:45 - John saw an Odyssey prologue preview before the film
26:00 - IMAX news John heard about regarding upgrades before The Odyssey and the addition of 5 locations on the way.
27:30 - Final thoughts on Project Hail Mary
28:30 - Outro
 
 
Find the video version of this discussion and much more on YouTube @TheCosmicCircusFor more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit TheCosmicCircus.com

In this exclusive interview, Tiger Wizard talks about how a game like TAVERS comes into existence. Beginning with a deep dive into the larger world of Meow Wolf, Tiger Wizard explores what makes this world so interesting and how it has influenced the development of TAVERS as a game. He discussed what stood out about this world and how he wanted to translate the colorful and playful nature of the original concept. Tiger Wizard also discusses bringing this TTRPG game to Kickstarter and the response it has gotten from others!
Listen to the interview here or on our YouTube channel @TheCosmicCircus
For more information about TAVERS: A Meow Wolf Roleplay Game, such as game mechanics and where to back it, visit Exalted Funeral's website!
Timestamps for our interview with Tiger Wizard about TAVERS: A Meow Wolf Roleplay
00:00 - Intro to Meow Wolf and TAVERS, and immersive TTRPG storytelling game
02:39 - The game design process
04:46 - Designing different "TAVER flavors" (different archetype designs)
07:00 - Flexibility and customization within TAVERS
08:40 - Cool art and aesthetics in the game
10:38 - Game mechanics
13:30 - Favorite aspects of creating this game, playing and collaboration
18:00 -  Kickstarter success and benefits for supporters
21:00 - What you need to play TAVERS
22:30 - Why use crowdsourcing for this?
24:35 - Personal reflections on this game's appeal
26:04 - Outro

John tells Vin about Nine Inch Nails' critically-acclaimed Peel It Back Tour (June 2025 to March 2026).
 
Nine Inch Nails
Main members: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Touring members: Robin Finck, Alessandro Cortini/Stu Brooks, & Ilan Rubin/Josh Freese
Opening act: Boys Noize
Timestamps 00:00 - Intro and John's history with Nine Inch Nails 02:30 - One of the best concerts he's ever been to... 05:43 - Is there many new songs or a mix of old and new? 06:15 - the ending song of the concert, "Hurt" 07:00 - a visually cinematic concert 08:38 - "The Perfect Drug", the drums 10:25 - Outro 
 
Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube @thecosmiccircus
For more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit https://www.thecosmiccircus.com

John and Vin are back at it again, this time with a discussion about The Bride! starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. The film was directed and written by Maggie Gyllenhaal and based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, with cinematography by Lawrence Sher, edited by Dylan Tichenor and music by Hildur Guðnadóttir.
The Bride! (2026) discussion timestamps
00:00 - Intro and story concept for The Bride!
02:30 - Jessie Buckley's performance(s) in the film
04:00 - A confusing story and geography
07:30 - Jessie Buckley's "heavy lifting" with a bad script and inconsistent themes
09:00 - Christian Bale as Frankenstein
10:00 - What is the point? Too much is left out or confusing to make much sense of the story
15:00 - Easter eggs and Julianne Hough of Dancing with the Stars
15:40 - A multiversal story?
17:07 - The potential that was missed in The Bride!
19:40 - Joker 2 parallels
20:30 - Could Jessie Buckley's Oscar chances for Hamnet be hurt by The Bride!?
22:45 - A weird mix and mess of inconsistent themes
24:00 - Other 2026 films so far...
26:00 - Outro
27:25 - Outtakes
Find the video version of this discussion and much more on YouTube @TheCosmicCircusFor more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit TheCosmicCircus.com

Vin & Drew breakdown the first season of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" from the Game of Thrones universe. They also discuss the state of the franchise overall and what other media adaptations can learn from the success of the show.
Timestamps 00:00 - Intro and spoiler warning 01:36 - Drew and Vin's histories with the Game of Thrones universe 05:15 - Initial impressions of A Knight of Seven Kingdoms in comparison with previous Game of Thrones series and House of the Dragon 08:38 - How would you pitch A Knight of Seven Kingdoms to someone who is not into GOT 10:00 - Excellent character work and writing, including great side characters 17:25 - This is a show that makes them excited about Game of Thrones again, after some of the negative discourse about previous series. 18:10 - Negatives about A Knight of Seven Kingdoms, and the challenge of keeping viewers engaged in what amounts to an anthology series. 21:00 - Still a lot of story to tell about Dunk and Egg for season 2 and beyond. 24:30 - What can House of the Dragon and other GOT spinoffs learn from this new series? 27:00 - A great foundation to work from for future seasons 28:50 - Lessons learned about good book adaptations 31:45 - What can other franchise media (Marvel, DC, Star Wars) take away from what this series did? 33:50 - Final thoughts and rating for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 34:35 - Outro
 
Find the video version of this discussion and much more on YouTube @TheCosmicCircusFor more nerdy pop culture coverage, including movie and TV news, reviews, and interviews by The Cosmic Circus contributors, visit TheCosmicCircus.com

In our interview with Stephen Murphy, he discusses his personal journey into the art of cinematography and his distinct vision for the film. Through shadows, darkness, vivid colors, and specific angles and shots, this cinematographer discusses how he shaped key scenes in the film to elicit specific emotions from the audience and what classic horror films influenced some of his work.
Primate (2026) is currently available to rent or buy on digital, with a Blu-ray/DVD release scheduled for April 21, 2026.
 
Timestamps for our interview with Stephen Murphy about Primate00:00 - Intro. What is the role of a Director of Photography in films and shows?02:16 - What is his personal journey into cinematography?05:30 - What was the overall visual philosophy used in Primate?07:30 - On homages to past films in the genre in this film.08:30 - Using light to create suspense instead of "jump scares."10:50 - The process of setting up the scenes and collaborating with different directors13:05 - On working on Heart Eyes (2025).14:00 - The use of color in the visuals in Primate. (such as the pool scenes)16:15 - Achieving a claustrophobic feel in the film using the lenses and environment. 19:15 - A shot that he's particularly proud of in the film.19:40- Filming inside the closet21:50 - What do you hope audiences take away from your work as cinematographer in Primate?

Hosts Vin and John break down Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 Frankenstein, assessing its faithfulness to Mary Shelley’s novel, standout performances (especially Jacob Elordi), and striking production design.
They praise the costumes, music, and Elordi’s soulful turn, but criticize the film’s slow first hour, digital look, uneven pacing, and an ending that doesn’t fully land.
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro01:15 - Intro to Frankenstein, talking about Mary Shelley's novel and what the story is about, as well as other film versions of this classic tale.06:00 - Frankenstein (2025) film discussion with mild spoilers08:40 - Jacob Elordi's performance09:30 - Comparing the book to the 2025 film11:35 - Positives and negatives about the film, and "the Netflix effect"16:20 - The Monster's design, costumes and production design20:30 - The ending and other overall thoughts25:00 - Outro
 

Host Brian Kitson speaks with cast members from the North American touring production of Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern, RJ Christian and Cassidy Sledge! In this exclusive interview, these two discuss what drew them to the show and how it blends the elements we know and love of the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) into a stage show!
Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern arrives in Detroit at the Fisher Theatre for one day only! So get your tickets for the Saturday, November 1st performances (2 pm and 7:30 pm) from Broadway in Detroit!
Timestamps for Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern Interview:
00:00 - Intro, Cassidy Sledge and RJ Christian on their introduction to Dungeons & Dragons 02:45 - How they are bringing Dungeons & Dragons to the stage with The Twenty-Sided Tavern 06:30 - Playing with the audience as "the 4th player." 09:10 - How they have prepared for a show that requires a lot of improv 11:50 - Talking about guest stars they've had doing the show and making exciting things happen on stage 16:00 - Keeping on your toes during a performance and other skills needed 18:41 - All audiences can enjoy this show, not just D&D fans. 22:50 - Is it more fun to have a successful mission or one that fails during this show? 28:24 - Outro
 

Vin and Cam return to talk about season 1 of Alien: Earth and its finale as well as the new Marvel Zombies series, weighing bold ideas against messy execution. They discuss hybrid androids, underused xenomorphs, standout creature concepts, and pacing issues that left both shows leaning on potential rather than payoff.
They also break down Marvel Zombies' highlights along with the lowlights and debate the need for Marvel Studios to go to tighter, more emotional storytelling and better season finales for their shows. They finish up with a quick chat about Peacemaker season 2, which they have already reviews in a previous episode of the podcast.
 
Alien: Earth (2025)- Created by Noah Hawley- Starring Sydney Chandler, Samuel Blenkin, Timothy Olyphant, Babou Ceesay
Marvel Zombies (2025)- Created by Bryan Andrews & Zeb Wells- Starring Iman Vellani, Elizabeth Olsen, Todd Williams, Simu Liu, Awkwafina
Peacemaker Season 2 (2025)- Created by James Gunn- Starring John Cena, Jennifer Holland, Danielle Brooks
Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:40 - Alien: Earth season 1 discussion with spoilers13:54 - Ranking Alien: Earth with the films16:10 - Do we want a second season? The state of the Alien franchise right now.21:10 - Marvel Zombies discussion with spoilers34:20 - How will Marvel Studios wind up The Multiverse Saga?39:55 - Should there be a Marvel Zombies season 2?41:14 - Peacemaker season 2 quick discussion (reviewed in a prior episode)43:11 - Outro
For more content and to support The Cosmic Circus and this channel please join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/cosmiccircus
Find the video version of this discussion on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus
 
 

Vin and Vic break down the Marvel Zombies franchise, covering the core comics (Marvel Zombies 2005, Dead Days, Marvel Zombies 2, Return) and detailing the infection storyline, and creator Robert Kirkman’s influence.
They share personal reactions, comparing zombies to vampires, discuss the What If... adaptation and MCU tie‑in potential (Secret Wars), assess the TV‑MA animated series, and offer bonus reading and crossover recommendations, including the new Marvel Zombies Red Band miniseries.
A video version of this podcast is available on our YouTube channel @TheCosmicCircusTimestamps00:00:0 - Intros00:01:00 - Exploring Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four00:04:27 - The Council of Reeds00:07:34 - Modern Meets Classic Villains00:10:16 - Marvel’s Creative Choices00:10:47 - Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, and The Coming of Galactus00:15:20- 60 Years of Fantastic 4 Comics00:16:18 - The Fantastic 4 in Multimedia00:27:40- Outros

Vin and John discuss The Old Woman With The Knife, a 2025 South Korean action film about an aging female assassin. They praise the film's visuals, score, performances, and action choreography but note the story's confusing timelines, a late emotional payoff, and an underdeveloped resolution. Overall, they find it stylish and promising, with room for improvement and franchise potential.
John and Vin also discuss their love of action movies like Shaw Bros, Jackie Chan, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the John Wick franchise.
THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE KNIFE (2025) - Directed by Min Kyu-dong - Screenplay by Kim Dong-wan & Min Kyu-dong - Based on the novel by Gu Byeong-mo - Starring Lee Hye-young and Kim Sung-cheol
Timestamps 00:00 - Intro
00:52 - Details about The Old Woman with the Knife
03:00 - General thoughts on this movie, comparisons to Ballerina and the John Wick films, as well as other influential films discussed
17:00 - More on the comparisons with the John Wick films
21:34 - Spoilers for The Old Woman with the Knife review discussion
26:00 - Final thoughts on the film. Ideas for stars who might be able to be the American version of the "Old Woman" assassin/killer role, like a female John Wick.
28:21 - Outro and some action movie recommendations
For more content and to support The Cosmic Circus and this channel please join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/cosmiccircus
Find the video version of this discussion on youtube @TheCosmicCircus
 

Cam & Vin share their reactions to the first two episodes of Alien: Earth, focusing on highlights and surprises in the new FX/Hulu series. The two talk about whether or not they'd like to see more than one season of this series, challenges to the series, parallels with Blade Runner, and how Star Wars handles film and show connections vs. how the Alien franchise handles it. Listen in to find out what they think of the series so far and see if it lines up with what you think or not!
Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube @TheCosmicCircus
Alien: Earth (2025) S1 E1-2 - Created for television by Noah Hawley- Starring Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant
Timestamps 
00:00 - Intro01:25 History with the Alien franchise03:57 - Intro to Alien: Earth premiere episodes recap08:55 - Are feelings positive or negative on the new series so far?10:00 - Blade Runner parallels and similarities10:45 - Companies in Alien: Earth competing12:09 - Pacing and other challenges for the series13:08 - Expanding Ridley Scott's Alien franchise lore in this new FX/Hulu series14:00 - Questioning the ethics of having children in adult bodies15:33 - Vin's thirst for blood in the series16:32 - What new things do you like in the show?19:50 - Do we want multiple seasons of Alien: Earth?21:20- Building consistency with films and other media. Star Wars vs. Alien handling of films and shows. 24:25 - Is this a good start to the series?27:30 - Final thoughts on the premiere episodes of Alien: Earth, and Timothy Olyphant's weird blonde hair. 28:55 - Outro
For more content and to support TheCosmicCircus.com and this channel please join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/cosmiccircus