Beau Willimon On Writing The ‘Andor: Star Wars’ Revolution, The Costs Of Rebellion & More [The Rogue Ones Podcast]

There are few comedies more universally beloved or endlessly quotable than "This Is Spinal Tap", the 1984 mockumentary that redefined musical satire. Directed by Rob Reiner, who also appears as fictional documentarian Marty DiBergi, the film follows a hilariously inept British metal band on a disastrous American tour. It's a film so committed to authenticity that real-life rock stars, from Ozzy Osbourne to Sting, famously thought it was real.With the 41st anniversary of "This Is Spinal Tap" around the corner, Reiner joined The Discourse to reflect on the film’s origins, legacy, and long-gestating sequel. “What we did with this film—we tried to be as honest as we could about what really happens on rock and roll tours,” Reiner says. “Every band that we’ve ever run into, every rock star, comes up and says it’s a staple on their tour bus.”READ MORE: ‘Bring Her Back’: Michael & Danny Philippou Discuss Their Horror Evolution, Crying With Sally Hawkins, ‘Street Fighter,’ & ‘Talk 2 Me’ [The Discourse Podcast] That commitment to truth, even in absurdity, is what gives the film its staying power. “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers got lost backstage. Van Halen had the crazy rider. We used it all,” Reiner adds. “That’s why I think it works.”

Beau Willimon, one of the writers on the “Star Wars” series “Andor” joins our The Rogue Ones podcast for a long and in-depth chat about “Star Wars,” the period of unrest, rebellion and revolution that “Andor” is set in and helping create this immense tapestry of beings trying to live their lives, maintain relationships, and survive during the upheaval of wartime. Willimon spoke about his favorite character to write for, Saw Gerrera, the “Star Wars” movie he is co-writing with James Mangold, the possibility of staying longer in the “Star Wars” galaxy on a potential “Andor” spin-off show and more.

Celine Song made waves with her semi-autobiographical debut "Past Lives," a gentle gut-punch of a romance about fate, longing, and the people we could have become. With her follow-up, "Materialists," Song trades whispered regrets for sharp banter, high-end fashion, and the ruthless calculus of the New York City dating scene. But beneath the couture and comedy lies another deep dive into the contradictions of modern love.In this episode of The Discourse, Song discusses the journey from her first film to her second, and how a real-life stint working as a matchmaker in her twenties inspired the biting, beautiful love triangle at the center of "Materialists." “I worked as a matchmaker for six months in my twenties,” Song says. “And that was what really inspired the whole story. I just feel like I learned so much in those six months that I will carry with me for all of my life.”“It really is about what it's like to live and love in New York City,” she continues. “And it's also personal in that, you know, love is one of the great mysteries. It's the thing I’m most fascinated by.”READ MORE: ‘Materialists’ Review: Celine Song Crafts A Soulful Drama About The Romantic Capital Of Being Valued

Screenwriter Dan Gilroy talks about working with his brother Tony Gilroy and 'House Of Cards' writer Beau Willimon on crafting the nuts-and-bolts revolution story of the acclaimed 'Star Wars' series 'Andor.'Gilroy also talks about the possibility of doing more 'Star Wars,' and the upcoming 'Miami Vice' remake he is writing for 'Top Gun: Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski.

David Dastmalchian is having one hell of a year. Whether you know him as Polka-Dot Man from "The Suicide Squad," Piter from "Dune," or Jack Delroy from last year’s sleeper horror hit, "Late Night with the Devil," the actor/writer/comic book creator has made a habit of stealing scenes and bringing unhinged yet human characters to life. And in 2025, that streak continues across a dizzying lineup of passion projects.In this episode of Bingeworthy, David Dastmalchian joins the show to dig into his wide-ranging work, starting with the new Apple TV+ series "Murderbot," where he plays Gorathen, an augmented human struggling with control, jealousy, and a deep need to protect his crew—even when they don’t listen. The show, created by Paul and Chris Weitz and based on the beloved comedic sci-fi book series by Martha Wells, stars Alexander Skarsgård as the titular security unit: a rogue robot just trying to live and watch its stories in peace.

For the latest episode of "The Rogue Ones", hosts Mike DeAngelo and Rodrigo Perez sat down once again with Tony Gilroy, the creator and showrunner behind "Andor", to unpack the ambitious second season in full spoiler-filled detail.Created by Tony Gilroy and starring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, “Andor” is a prequel to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (which Gilroy co-wrote and famously helped reshape during reshoots). Set five years before the events of Rogue One, the show focuses on the origins of the Rebellion and how ordinary people — not just Jedi or Chosen Ones — stand up against oppression. Season two picks up a year later in the first three episodes and jumps one year ahead with each block of three afterwards, leading directly to the beginning of “Rogue One” by the end (read our review of season two here).READ MORE: The 75 Most Anticipated TV Shows Of 2025

On this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by Jai Courtney, the star of the new shark thriller "Dangerous Animals"—a tense and darkly fun survival tale about people who become trapped at sea and hunted by a relentless predator. The Sean Byrne film also stars Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Ella Newton, and more. Courtney has tackled a wide range of roles throughout his career—heroes, villains, and wildcards—in everything from "Suicide Squad" to "The Terminal List" to "Divergent" and beyond. But in "Dangerous Animals," he fully embraces his character's layered chaos, playing a grizzled, morally complicated serial killer named Tucker with an energy that's both menacing and magnetic—like a great white circling his prey with a big shark-toothed smirk.READ MORE: ‘Bring Her Back’: Michael & Danny Philippou Discuss Their Horror Evolution, Crying With Sally Hawkins, ‘Street Fighter,’ & ‘Talk 2 Me’ [The Discourse Podcast] 

Jason Schwartzman has built his career playing lovable weirdos, and in "Mountainhead," HBO's latest dark comedy from "Succession" creator Jesse Armstrong, he might’ve just out-weirded himself. In a movie full of bizarre billionaires gathered in a glass mansion to decide the future of humanity, Schwartzman’s character—Souper, a.k.a. Hugo Van Yalk—is both the sweetest and the most hilariously clueless of the bunch.In a new episode of The Discourse, Schwartzman joined the podcast to talk about working with Armstrong, filming in a surreal seven-story house, his thoughts on revisiting past characters, and the unexpected reason we haven’t heard a new Coconut Records album yet.

The Rogue Ones: A Star Wars Andor Podcast returns with another deep-dive into "Andor" Season 2, this time spotlighting the woman at the heart of the rebellion’s political front: Mon Mothma, as portrayed by Genevieve O’Reilly. While the character has long been a stoic fixture in the "Star Wars" galaxy, "Andor" redefines her as something much more profound. She's a woman navigating deep isolation, fractured loyalties, and the exhausting burden of secrecy under Imperial rule.Created by Tony Gilroy and starring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, “Andor” is a prequel to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (which Gilroy co-wrote and famously helped reshape during reshoots). Set five years before the events of Rogue One, the show focuses on the origins of the Rebellion and how ordinary people — not just Jedi or Chosen Ones — stand up against oppression. Season two picks up a year later in the first three episodes and jumps one year ahead with each block of three afterwards, leading directly to the beginning of “Rogue One” by the end. (read our review of season two here)

For their follow-up to the 2022 breakout horror hit "Talk to Me," Danny and Michael Philippou didn’t just want to go bigger—they wanted to go deeper. And with "Bring Her Back," they’ve delivered something ferocious - a raw, dread-soaked story that punches just as hard emotionally as it does in scares. If their debut showed they had talent, this new film cements them as filmmakers with true staying power.When host Mike DeAngelo sat down with the brothers shortly after the film's premiere, they were still riding the adrenaline. “It was the most incredible atmosphere,” Danny said. “Having all the cast there, everyone being acknowledged for their hard work—it was amazing. And I love that they’re all proud of the film.”LISTEN: ‘Friendship’: Andrew DeYoung On Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, & The Wildest, Cringiest Buddy Comedy Of The Year [The Discourse Podcast]