‘The Electric State;: The Russo Brothers & Christopher Markus Talk Retro Sci-Fi, Returning to The MCU & More [The Discourse Podcast]

After redefining blockbuster cinema with "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Endgame," the Russo Brothers are back—this time with a sci-fi adventure that swaps superheroes for sentient robots, a road trip, and some retro-futuristic ‘90s nostalgia. "The Electric State" follows Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle, a teenage runaway navigating a post-apocalyptic America filled with abandoned AI machines, scavengers, and a looming government threat. Her only companions? A quirky robot named Cosmo and a smuggler played by Chris Pratt, who may or may not be in this for the right reasons. Think "E.T." meets Pixar meets "Mad Max"—or if Spielberg and Zemeckis had made a dystopian buddy movie with a lot more existential dread. (Read our review here).The Russo Brothers and their longtime writing partner Christopher Markus joined The Discourse to talk about adapting Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel, balancing family-friendly adventure with darker themes, and, of course, their return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Prolific writer/producer/director Steven Knight has a habit of turning historical grit into must-watch television. From the streets of 1920s Birmingham in "Peaky Blinders" to the daring real-life SAS soldiers of "Rogue Heroes," Knight’s work thrives on characters who push against the limits of their status. His latest series, "A Thousand Blows," is no different. Set in post-industrial revolution London, the show follows best friends Hezekiah and Alec as they get swept into the city’s brutal underground boxing scene while crossing paths with local legends, and the notorious all-female gang, The Forty Elephants. The show stars Malachi Kirby, Erin Doherty, Stephen Graham, Jason Tobin, Francis Lovehall, and more.When Knight sat down with Bingeworthy, the busy writer was quick to admit that he doesn’t watch much TV. "If anything, sometimes if I do watch stuff, I think, 'Oh God, this is so good. Why can’t I just make it this simple?" he joked. That might explain why "A Thousand Blows" is anything but simple. Instead of focusing on one story, the show weaves together multiple narratives—including Hezekiah’s rise in the ring, The Forty Elephants’ criminal empire, and a quiet, burning revenge arc with Jason Tobin’s Lao.

Netflix’s latest political thriller, “Zero Day,” is a chilling deep dive into cyber warfare, misinformation, and the terrifying power of perception. Led by Robert De Niro in his first television series, the six-episode event follows former president George Mullen as he’s reluctantly pulled back into the political fray to investigate a devastating cyberattack. But as the layers of the crisis unravel, so do the hidden forces manipulating the narrative, turning Mullen into both a hero and a pawn. The series, co-created by Noah Oppenheim, Eric Newman, and Michael Schmidt, features a stellar cast including Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Connie Britton, Joan Allen, Dan Stevens, Gaby Hoffmann, Matthew Modine, and Angela Bassett.Director Lesli Linka Glatter helms all six episodes, bringing her experience from “Homeland” and “Love & Death” to craft a nail-biting, visually rich thriller that feels eerily prescient. She joined Bingeworthy to chat about what drew her to the project, collaborating with De Niro, and why truth itself is a weapon in today’s world.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe gets a fresh jolt of paranoia and political intrigue with "Captain America: Brave New World," a thriller that sees Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) trying to define his place as the new Cap while dealing with international chaos, rogue superhumans, and some very questionable allies. Directed by Julius Onah, the film doesn’t just bring back some familiar faces—it makes them part of a tangled political mess of past sins and present-day power plays. Tim Blake Nelson’s Leader resurfaces with a grudge, Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley adds emotional weight, and oh yeah, Harrison Ford steps into the formidable shoes of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, who may or may not be hiding a very big, very angry, very red secret. READ MORE: ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Review: Sam Wilson’s Heart, Grit & Determination Trump Superpowers In Marvel’s New Conspiracy ThrillerDirector Julius Onah joins The Discourse to talk about all of the spoilery details on Marvel's latest, including what he thinks won him the role of director. In his pitch, Onah sought to explore a more grounded and cerebral take on what it means to be Cap in a world that isn’t sure it needs one. "It was about a point of view more so than anything," Onah explained about pitching the film to Marvel. "They were familiar with my last film, a small indie film called 'Luce,' and I first had just a general conversation with Nate Moore and Kiana Davidson at Marvel. We talked again, more generally, about theme tone and character. And, for me, it was sort of a gut check moment of like, you're going to go down the road with people. Are these people that you would even just love to have a conversation with about movies?"

Can you hear that? It's the sound of a demonic monkey drumming up death and quite possibly the most fun you'll have in a theater all year. In this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo sits down with writer-director Osgood Perkins to discuss his latest film, "The Monkey"—a twisted and darkly comedic horror adaptation of Stephen King’s short story. The film follows twin brothers Bill and Hal who, as kids, stumble upon their father’s old monkey toy in the attic. What follows is a series of gruesome deaths seemingly connected to the cursed object. Years later, after growing apart, the brothers are forced back together when the monkey resurfaces, bringing more chaos in its wake. The cast includes Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Rohan Campbell, and Colin O’Brien.

What do you get when you throw sci-fi, romance, action, horror, and a touch of espionage into a blender and hit "puree"? You get"The Gorge," a high-octane, emotionally charged ode to action B-movies and Italian horror that refuses to be put into a single box. Written byZach Dean, the film also starsSigourney Weaver andWilliam Houston in a wild, visually stunning story about two elite operatives on opposite sides of a classified conflict who are forced to work together when a terrifying presence emerges from the depths of a mysterious gorge. In this episode ofThe Discourse, hostMike DeAngelo sits down with directorScott Derrickson to talk about his latest genre-bending project, working withMiles Teller andAnya Taylor-Joy, and why the film’s audacious mix of tones and styles is exactly what drew him to the project.

Irish sheep farming, deep-seated family tensions, and a brewing conflict between neighbors—sounds like the setup for a quiet indie drama. But in"Bring Them Down," the upcoming revenge thriller from first-time directorChris Andrews, those elements fuel a gripping, morally complex battle of wills. In this episode ofThe Discourse, hostMike DeAngelo sits down with actor Christopher Abbott to discuss leading the film, producing it, and why he was drawn to a story steeped in generational trauma and rural survival. The film also stars Barry Keoghan, Colm Meaney, Nora-Jane Noone, and more.For Christopher Abbott, the chance to dive into such a layered role was too intriguing to pass up—even if it meant embracing the challenges of an Irish dialect. “I think I have a little bit of a knack for accents,” he admitted, though he knew even Irish actors would struggle with the script’s use of the traditional Irish/Gaelic language. “It was always going to be a challenge for anyone.” Despite the difficulty, Abbott was drawn to the project for the same reason he takes on most of his work—it keeps him engaged. “I get bored easily,” he said. “I like challenges that keep my focus.”

Nothing says romance like flowers, chocolates - and a masked serial killer terrorizing young couples. Welcome to "Heart Eyes," the latest horror-romantic comedy hybrid that slashes into theaters on February 7—just in time to make Valentine’s Day a little bloodier. In this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo sits down with director Josh Ruben to talk about the challenge of blending rom-com sweetness with slasher-movie carnage, his deep love of horror, and why this story stands apart from others in the genre. Written by Christopher Landon, Phillip Murphy, and Michael Kennedy, "Heart Eyes" follows a masked killer who has made February 14 a date night to die for, quite literally. The film stars Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Devon Sawa, Jordana Brewster, and more. During the interview, Director Josh Ruben details the delicate balancing act of making “Heart Eyes” work on all fronts. “I didn’t want it to be too funny—I wanted it to go darker, gorier,” Ruben admitted. But at the same time, the romance had to feel genuine. “If I could find two leads with real chemistry, I could pay loving homage to the rom-coms I grew up on—'Pretty Woman,' 'Defending Your Life,' 'My Best Friend’s Wedding,' even 'Big.”

On this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo sits down with Nicholas Stoller, the filmmaker behind "You're Cordially Invited," a star-packed wedding comedy hitting Prime Video on January 30. Stoller, the mind behind "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Neighbors," returns with another laugh-out-loud project, this time revolving around two weddings that are double-booked at the same venue. Will Ferrell steps in as the devoted (and increasingly unhinged) father of one bride, while Reese Witherspoon plays the protective, take-no-prisoners sister of the other? As expected, wedding warfare and chaos ensue. Rounding out the ensemble are Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, Jimmy Tatro, Rory Scovel, and Leanne Morgan. With wedding comedies being a well-worn path sub-genre in films —"The Wedding Singer," "Bridesmaids," "Wedding Crashers"—Nick Stoller had no intention of simply rehashing old formulas. In fact, he didn’t even think of it as a “wedding movie” at first. “I just thought [Will and Reese] would have great chemistry together,” Stoller explained. “I’ve always been obsessed with Will, but I was also obsessed with Reese and really wanted to see her do a hard comedy again. She’s just so funny.”

In this week’s episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is torn between love and duty when taking on "The Agency." The excellent high-stakes espionage thriller culminates its first season with a finale airing on January 24th on Paramount+ with Showtime. Based on the French series "Le Bureau des Légendes," the show follows a CIA operative’s struggle between duty and desire. The series stars Michael Fassbender as Martian, an undercover agent called back to London Station after years in the field. Romance reawakens when the love he left behind resurfaces, sending him into a dangerous game of love vs. international intrigue. The cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Katherine Waterston, Jodie Turner-Smith, Richard Gere, and more. Joining the podcast are Jeffrey Wright and Katherine Waterston, who play Henry and Naomi, two key figures in the series whose layered relationships with Martian reflect the show’s balance of personal and professional stakes. Wright, who has played his share of spies and operatives, spoke about what drew him to Henry and how the series offers a grounded perspective on espionage. “Henry intrigues me because he’s a by-the-books guy,” Wright explained. “He’s a company man, but at the same time, he’s human. It’s interesting to explore what that duality does to someone—how they shut off parts of themselves while navigating this very real and recognizable world. This isn’t James Bond—as much as I love having been a part of that franchise—it’s not fantastical. We’re drawing from today’s headlines, exploring geopolitics and the challenges of the modern world.”