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PODCAST

Franchise Detours

No movie series travels in a straight line. And on Franchise Detours, host Robert Yaniz Jr. tracks the twists and turns of your favorite film series. Whether it’s the manic antics of The Naked Gun, the evolving continuity of X-Men, the horror-comedy balancing act of Child’s Play, or how Rocky transitioned into Creed, each episode digs into how these stories shift, grow, and sometimes completely reinvent themselves.

tv & film film history

All Episodes

01:25:26

'Rocky III' (feat. writer Jeannette Miller)

Franchise Detours ·

2024/09/08

Rocky (and, by extension, Rocky II) tells one of the greatest underdog stories in cinema history. But with audiences clamoring for more of "The Italian Stallion," how could writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone build upon Rocky Balboa's story after he has achieved the ultimate goal of claiming the heavyweight championship? The answer lies in the characters themselves. With 1982's Rocky III, Stallone ups the personal stakes for the titular hero, while also continuing to follow how the

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01:02:33

'Rocky II' (feat. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast)

Franchise Detours ·

2024/08/30

Even decades after its release, 1976's Rocky stands as the ultimate cinematic underdog story. But following its critical acclaim, box office performance, and awards wins, it's only natural that everything involved — including star and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone — would explore what happened next in the lives of Rocky, Adrian, Paulie, Mickey, and of course, Apollo. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast and Back To Bluey joins us to talk about how 1979's Rocky II expands on the original film. We'll

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01:07:51

'Rocky' (feat. Lauren Knight of That Movie Is Fine)

Franchise Detours ·

2024/08/23

Long before Franchise Detours began, the Rocky/Creed series was well on our radar. Following the Crooked Table Podcast's (now Close Watch) monthly coverage of the Star Wars and Harry Potter films, "The Italian Stallion" was eyed as the next long-running, beloved series to take the spotlight. Alas, plans changed, and we didn't enter the ring until now. At last, we tackle the 1976 classic that is Rocky. One of only four franchise films to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film—directed by

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01:06:55

'Deadpool & Wolverine' (feat. Chauncey Telese of LA...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/08/19

Six years and one major studio acquisition later, Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool finally joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But after Deadpool seemingly shattered the superhero movie formula and Deadpool 2 doubled-down on the scale of the Merc with the Mouth's particular corner of the universe, where could "Deadpool 3" go to keep upping the ante? In a word, *SNIKT*. After years of development, it was the addition of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine that finally helped Reynolds and director Shawn Levy (Free

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01:18:59

'Deadpool 2' (feat. Matthew Anderson of The Lone...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/07/26

Despite its crass humor and ultraviolence, 2016's Deadpool professed itself to be a self-described "love story." Likewise, its even more over-the-top sequel fancies itself a "family film." With a budget roughly twice that of its predecessor, Ryan Reynolds' second turn in the iconic red suit was a similar box office hit, expanding the first film's themes and taking bigger chances. As the road to Deadpool & Wolverine continues, Matthew Anderson of The Lone Screenplay Nominee Podcast joins us to dig

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01:07:38

'Deadpool' (feat. Jeff Johnson and Kev Smith of Suns...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/07/19

Deadpool. That sounds like a f**king franchise. Right? After the character's big-screen debut (kinda) in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it sure didn't seem that way. Ryan Reynolds' take on Marvel Comics' fourth wall-breaking quasi-superhero Wade Wilson aka Deadpool seemed like it had its one shot. Then some leaked footage later, the Merc with the Mouth got a new life. Following our X-Men mega-series from 2023, we return to the world of Marvel's mutants with a mega-series all about what will soon

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01:06:30

'Freddy vs. Jason' (feat. Clare Brunton of W-Rated)

Franchise Detours ·

2024/07/12

After eight films (including the meta-horror of Wes Craven's New Nightmare) and nearly 20 decades, Robert Englund wore the razor glove for the final time. But in keeping with the history of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy Krueger's curtain call wasn't what anyone expected it would be. Clare Brunton of W-Rated helps us close down this mega-series with 2003's horror monster mash-up Freddy vs. Jason. We'll discuss how the movie

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01:29:26

'Wes Craven's New Nightmare' (feat. film...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/07/06

Given its title, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare seemingly plunged the final nail into the coffin of Robert Englund's infamous horror villain. And yet, it was ultimately Wes Craven — writer-director of the original A Nightmare on Elm Street — who gave Freddy Krueger a new lease on life. Film professor and author Ryan L. Terry joins Franchise Detours to slash our way through 1994's Wes Craven's New Nightmare. We'll discuss how the film celebrates the tenth anniversary of the original film, why

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01:00:24

'Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare' (feat. Kev Smith...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/06/29

In hindsight, it makes sense the diminishing returns of A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child might signal Freddy Krueger should quit while he was (at least relatively) ahead. So two years later, longtime creative collaborator Rachel Talalay took the director's chair for the "final" entry. Kev Smith of Suns and Shadows-Cast joins us to discuss 1991's Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. We'll discuss how the film expands Freddy's mythos, whether the full-tilt lean into comedy works, and

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51:01

'A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child' (feat....

Franchise Detours ·

2024/06/21

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master introduced fans to a brand-new final girl in Lisa Wilcox's Alice Johnson. So all its sequel had to do is build on that character and her story to keep that momentum going. But does A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child deliver a winner? David Rosen of Piecing It Together joins us to discuss how the Stephen Hopkins-directed film taps into the primal fears of impending parenthood, whether its bleaker edge fits at this point in the franchise, and

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01:07:34

'A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master'...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/06/15

Thanks to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Freddy Krueger became as popular as ever. The Springwood Slasher was suddenly a household name, leading to an increased focus on his macabre sense of humor. The result is the entry often known as the "MTV Nightmare." Kevin the Critic returns to the show to discuss director Renny Harlin's A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. We'll discuss which lessons it learns from its predecessor, how it shifts focus to a new final girl and why one

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'A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master'...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/06/15

Thanks to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Freddy Krueger became as popular as ever. The Springwood Slasher was suddenly a household name, leading to an increased focus on his macabre sense of humor. The result is the entry often known as the "MTV Nightmare." Kevin the Critic returns to the show to discuss director Renny Harlin's A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. We'll discuss which lessons it learns from its predecessor, how it shifts focus to a new final girl and why one

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01:04:01

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors' (feat....

Franchise Detours ·

2024/06/07

After the mixed reception to A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, the franchise turned to series creator Wes Craven and original star Heather Langenkamp. As our eight-part Freddy-led mega-series continues, we arrive at 1987's fan-favorite A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. Podcaster Deanna Chapman joins us to discuss how director Chuck Russell's installment serves as a pivotal entry in Freddy Krueger's saga. We’ll discuss why the movie is so beloved by fans, how it soft-resets

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56:53

'A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge'...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/05/31

How do you follow a classic like A Nightmare on Elm Street? That was the task director Jack Sholder and star Mark Patton faced with A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Released less than a year later, the sequel dared to do something darker and very different, with wildly mixed results. Brandon Stanwyck of Fearsome Queer helps us break down the controversy behind A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge. We'll reckon with the film's complicated legacy, acknowledge its ambitious

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01:10:37

'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984) (feat....

Franchise Detours ·

2024/05/24

Chucky made some friends. Ash got groovy with Deadites. Now it's time for Freddy Krueger to slash his way into the spotlight, as we kick off Franchise Detours' first horror mega-series since 2021 with an in-depth chat about writer/director Wes Craven's 1984 classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. In keeping with tradition, screenwriter/actor Bri Azmoudeh — who previously joined us for Child's Play and The Evil Dead — returns to welcome another horror franchise to the show. We'll explore the legacy of

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01:06:01

'The World's End' (feat. Robert Stewart of Stew World...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/05/17

As we raise our glasses to the final installment of the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Franchise Detours dives into the bittersweet, otherworldly journey of 2013's The World’s End. The film ends the series with a poignant commentary on friendship, nostalgia, and the inescapable march of time. Robert Stewart of Stew World Order joins the show to discuss director/co-writer Edgar Wright and co-writer/star Simon Pegg's grand sci-fi finale. We'll discuss how The World’s End blends genre elements with

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01:02:54

'Hot Fuzz' (feat. Lauren Robinson of the Beer'd Al...

Franchise Detours ·

2024/05/10

Continuing our genre-blending trek through the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, we’re locking and loading for a deep dive into the explosive Hot Fuzz. Armed with sharp wit and a barrage of bullets, this entry takes aim at action movie conventions with a dash of murder mystery thrown in. Joining us is Lauren Robinson of the Beer’d Al Podcast. We’ll explore how Hot Fuzz balances adrenaline-fueled action with moments of genuine camaraderie and heart. With a plot as twisted as Sandford's country

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01:11:24

'Shaun of the Dead' (feat. Clare Brunton of W-Rated)

Franchise Detours ·

2024/05/03

Just as the zombie genre returned to life, Shaun of the Dead emerged as a cult classic that redefined the landscape of horror-comedy. As we dissect the intricacies of the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy in our latest mega-series, we delve into the film that set the tone for Edgar Wright's signature work. Clare Brunton of W-Rated joins us to shed light on how Shaun of the Dead balances gore and gags to create a cleverly constructed satire. Taking aim at the mundanity of life and horror tropes,

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01:40:24

'The New Mutants' (feat. Jackson Smith of Nightfall...

Franchise Detours ·

2023/10/31

Just when you thought Dark Phoenix put an underwhelming bow on the Fox era of X-Men movies, The New Mutants comes along to further complicate the franchise's legacy. In this BONUS episode to our mega-series following the X-Men movie franchise, we'll go in-depth on the oft-forgotten 2020 film. On paper, The New Mutants should have been an easy win. Taking the X-Men universe headfirst into horror seemed like an intriguing departure. Then, of course, The New Mutants' continual delays led the world to

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01:54:12

'Dark Phoenix' (feat. Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast)

Franchise Detours ·

2023/10/27

Our X-Men mega-series comes to a close (or does it?) with 2019's Dark Phoenix, as the franchise takes a second stab at one of the comics' most iconic storylines. With X-Men: The Last Stand far behind him, can first-time director Simon Kinberg (who cowrote that 2006 movie) right past wrongs? Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast joins us to unravel the mysteries of Dark Phoenix. We'll explore the film's poor reception, its role as the series' unintended conclusion, and Sophie Turner's lead performance

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117 results

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