The Movie Dweeb Podcast

The 2026 Oscar nominations are officially here and the Academy has certainly made some choices! In this episode of The Movie Dweeb Podcast, me and Niall Gray are diving headfirst into the 98th Academy Award shortlists to figure out who is actually taking home a statue and who was brutally snubbed.The conversation gets chaotic immediately as Niall Gray attempts the impossible task of "winging it" through a series of films he has quite literally never heard of. You won’t want to miss his improvised plot summaries for the indie darling Train Dreams or the wonderfully titled If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.Beyond the comedy of errors, we get serious about the frontrunners. We break down the massive momentum behind Timothée Chalamet and discuss whether Sinners is the juggernaut everyone thinks it is. From Best Picture locks to the dark horses that could steal the show, we’re laying out our full winner predictions.Finally, we turn our attention to the ceremony itself with a segment on how we would actually fix the Oscars. We pitch our dream hosts for 2026, debate the best ways to keep the show under four hours, and suggest some truly devious music choices to play people off stage when their speeches start to drag. It’s a deep dive into everything that makes the Academy Awards both brilliant and frustrating.Who do you think was the biggest snub this year? Let us know your picks in the comments and don't forget to subscribe for more movie deep dives.

In this episode of The Movie Dweeb podcast, I am joined by the brilliant Ailish Morrison to dive deep into the most exciting news coming out of Middle-earth. As one of the most dedicated Lord of the Rings creators I know, Ailish helps me break down the recent reports that Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood are set to reprise their legendary roles as Gandalf and Frodo in the upcoming film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. We discuss the implications of seeing these iconic characters again, how the production might handle the timeline, and what this means for the future of the franchise under the direction of Andy Serkis.Beyond the Shire, we take a look ahead at the massive slate of films arriving this year as we rank our most anticipated releases for 2026. Our list covers everything from the post-apocalyptic intensity of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple to the high-fashion drama of the long-awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. We also discuss the mysterious new project, The Drama, starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, which is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing titles of the season. To wrap things up, we reflect on the cinematic highlights of 2025, revisiting the impact of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and the emotional weight of Eternity.

In this special end-of-year episode of The Movie Dweeb Podcast, Em Wallbank and Henry Calvert go head-to-head in a chaotic quiz to see who truly remembers the biggest moments in film and television from 2025.The duo dive deep into a year defined by viral sensations, from the internet-breaking obsession with Jonathan Bailey’s "slutty little glasses" to the bizarre marketing stunts that saw fans shaving their heads for Bugonia. They revisit the most talked-about performances and the most unhinged press tour quotes, including Hailee Steinfeld's instantly iconic dialogue in Sinners and the five-hour livestream that heralded the arrival of the Doomsday era.The competition heats up as they recall Tom Cruise’s latest record-breaking stunts, the surprising critical reception of the MCU, and the strange coincidence of multiple A-listers being attacked by bees on the red carpet. Join us to see who is crowned the ultimate film buff and relive the most magnificent, messy, and memorable screen moments of 2025.

On this episode of The Movie Dweeb Podcast, we are joined by the incredible Trinity Jo-Li Bliss to discuss her return to Pandora in Avatar: Fire and Ash. Trinity opens up about what it has been like growing up within the most ambitious film franchise in history and how Tuk has transitioned from a curious child into the true emotional glue of the Sully family.She shares some hilarious and touching memories from the set, including the reality of working with James Cameron and the story behind that viral photo of her and Jack Champion crying together after a particularly intense day of filming.Beyond the world of the Na'vi, Trinity gives us some hints about the scale of Avatar 4. We also dive into the speculation surrounding the Marvel Cinematic Universe as she addresses the rumours that she might be stepping into the role of Jubilee for the X-Men.I also caught up with the stars of the latest Pixar adventure, Elio. Brad Garrett and Yonas Kibreab sit down to put their Pixar knowledge to the test. Despite Brad Garrett starring in countless classics for the studio over the years, he was surprisingly terrible when it came to the trivia...

Henry Calvert joins me on The Movie Dweeb Podcast for a full-on deep dive into superhero chaos, starting with a spoiler-packed review of Superman. We break down the biggest twists, surprises, and what James Gunn’s vision means for the future of the DC Universe.Then it’s onto the next Caped Crusader: who should take on the mantle of Batman? We share our dream casting choices and debate who could bring something bold and new to the role in DC’s next chapter.We also dig into Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps, and why it might secretly be the most important project in shaping the next era of the MCU, more than Doomsday or Secret Wars.And just when you think we couldn’t go more unhinged, Henry pitches a Muppets remake of The Italian Job, followed by a Fleetwood Mac biopic… also starring The Muppets. Honestly? It might be genius.Plus, I share my recent chats with Pom Klementieff and Vanessa Kirby, including Pom revealing who she’d love to play in James Gunn’s new-look DCU.

In this episode of The Movie Dweeb Podcast, Reagan To joins me to talk about voicing the iconic Young-hee doll across all three seasons of Squid Game!At just 13, Reagan reveals what it’s really like being part of one of the biggest TV shows in history, from how many takes it took to nail that chilling line, to singing the creepy hide and seek song that gave everyone nightmares.We chat about how her school friends react to her Squid Game fame, which playground games she’d use if she created her own version of the show, and whether she’d survive being trapped in a room with M3GAN.Plus, she pitches her own version of US Squid Game, starring Tate McRae and Sabrina Carpenter.Also joining me on the podcast is the brilliant Luis Guzmán, who dishes on another iconic Netflix series, Wednesday, Season 2. He shares what scares him most about working with Jenna Ortega, why playing Gomez Addams is such a big deal for him, and his hopes for finally stepping back into Greendale for the long-awaited Community movie.

Jurassic World: Rebirth is finally stomping onto our screens, but does it live up to the legacy? On this episode of The Movie Dweeb Podcast, I’m joined by TikToker Ruby Redford to share our honest, dino-deep review.We also break down Universal's 2025 movie slate showcase, including first reactions to Wicked: For Good, the sci-fi epic Eddington, and the chaotic romcom Honey Don’t.Plus, I caught up with How To Train Your Dragon stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker to chat about their upcoming live-action remake. They reveal their most embarrassing memories of each other, and pitch a dream live-action Corpse Bride starring the two of them. Someone get Tim Burton on the phone.Oh, and did we mention Ruby also pitches The Muppets: The Exorcist? Yeah… that happened.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and let us know: are you team dinos, witches, or puppets?

Vincent Martella, the iconic voice behind Phineas Flynn, joins The Movie Dweeb Podcast to celebrate the return of Phineas and Ferb. He reflects on nearly twenty years of voicing the character and shares what fans can expect from the brand-new fifth season, including chaotic new plots and surprise celebrity guest stars.Vincent also teases something huge: there’s already a script for a new Phineas and Ferb movie. Could another cinematic adventure be on the way? Plus, we chat about fan theories, favourite musical numbers, and how the series still resonates with audiences of all ages.Later in the episode, I also catch up with Hazbin Hotel stars Blake Roman and Kimiko Glenn. They chat about their love for interacting with fans at MCM Comic Con and offer a few cheeky hints about what’s to come in the highly anticipated second season of their hit show.If you enjoy the episode, make sure to follow and subscribe to The Movie Dweeb Podcast for more interviews with the stars behind your favourite films and shows. New episodes every week wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review if you’re feeling especially dweeby.

In this episode of The Movie Dweeb Podcast, I'm joined by the brilliant Alice Johnson to break down everything The Last of Us Season 2, including her emotional reaction to Joel Miller’s shocking death and why she believes Bella Ramsey is the perfect Ellie.Alice also shares the behind-the-scenes story of her viral interview with Bella Ramsey and Isabella Merced, where she gifted them handmade friendship bracelets, and what their adorable reactions were really like!Plus, we both attended the European premiere of Thunderbolts*, and we’re giving our honest thoughts: the stand-out performances, the most unforgettable scenes, and whether it lived up to the hype.And that's not all! I also sat down with Hailee Steinfeld to chat about her acclaimed new film, Sinners. We talked about why the role of Mary caught her attention, which of her iconic past characters she'd love to revisit, and yes… I even tried bribing her for any scoop on whether we'll see Kate Bishop return to the MCU!Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode!

If you love The Simpsons, this episode of The Movie Dweeb Podcast is for you, as Joe Mantegna, the voice of Fat Tony, talks about his first ever appearance in the series, what fans ask his to say, and he shows off all of the merchandise he's received over the years.Joe also talks about his iconic role as David Rossi, in Criminal Minds, celebrating his lengthy period on the series, and even jokes that he is television's biggest DILF.Yeardley Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson, also drops by to talk about the hope of a sequel to The Simpsons Movie, before penning her idea of what the plot should be. She also talks about the possibility of a remastered version of the beloved video game, The Simpsons: Hit & Run.