Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

This week’s roundup is a pulse-check on genre storytelling, has Tony dives into this week's headlines. Including:  🧑‍🚀 Star Wars: Starfighter Casting   🎭 Freaker Friday Review  🌍 Alien Earth Review  ⚔️ Weapons Review: What We Know  🕷️ Spider-Verse: Spin-Off Confirmed  🧛 Buffy Reboot Casting  😶‍🌫️ A Quiet Place III  🧝 Tales of the Shire: First Look  🎧 Audible’s Harry Potter Ensemble Revealed  🎬 Top 2025 DC & Marvel Films Ranked By Collider Start Your Free One Year Trial For Sci-Fi Talk Plus, Today  

In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, I sat down with the magnetic Kat Cunning—actor, musician, and boundary-breaking performer—whose journey from Broadway to Hollywood has been anything but ordinary. Kat first caught the spotlight in HBO’s The Deuce, a breakout role that opened doors to collaborations with icons like Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. On Broadway she was in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, alongside Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber. Now, Kat takes on one of their most layered roles yet in Adam Finberg’s Star People, portraying Claire—a character haunted by a childhood vision of a UFO during the infamous Phoenix Lights Incident. As Claire searches for answers across time and memory, Kat brings a raw vulnerability and cosmic curiosity to the screen, challenging the boundaries of identity, belief, and connection. 🎧 What You’ll Hear: Behind-the-scenes stories from Star People and the emotional weight of portraying Claire How sci-fi becomes a lens for exploring trauma, obsession, and the search for truth The real-life mystery of the Phoenix Lights and its influence on the film’s narrative Why Kat believes vulnerability is their superpower—on stage, on screen, and in life Start Your Free One Year Trial At Sci-Fi Talk Plus, Today

I beam aboard Mike McMahan—creator and showrunner of Star Trek: Lower Decks. From his early days writing for South Park to co-creating Rick and Morty, McMahan has carved out a unique space in genre storytelling, blending irreverent humor with deep reverence for sci-fi lore. 🎙️ In this candid conversation, McMahan shares: How his comedy roots shaped his approach to writing for Star Trek The balancing act of honoring canon while poking fun at it Why Lower Decks centers on the unsung heroes of Starfleet Start Your Free One Year Trial On Sci-Fi Talk Plus, Today

On this week’s edition of Explore Weekly, I  venture into the multiverse of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and comics with some fresh headlines. 🚨 Headlines & Highlights War of the Worlds Reimagined Ice Cube leads an immersive reboot debuting on Prime, blending catastrophe with cutting-edge tech in a cyber-thriller format. Box Office Battles: Fantastic Four vs Superman First Steps pulls ahead with $218M globally, but the Man of Steel stays resilient at $502M. Is comic cinema evolving beyond formula? Starfleet Academy Trailer Drops SDCC reveals Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti in a fresh chapter of the Star Trek universe. X-Men Youth Reboot Teased Kevin Feige and Jake Schreier hint at a bold new tone with younger mutants—post-Avengers: Secret Wars. Alien Earth: A Twisted Prequel Set two years before Alien, Sydney Chandler stars as a hybrid with unsettling innocence. The Boys Season 5 Trailer: Final Blowout Supernatural stars crossover into the chaos. Homelander’s reign intensifies. Star Trek: Khan Audio Drama George Takei joins a stellar cast for the September 8th premiere. Frankenstein Recasted Guillermo del Toro swaps Andrew Garfield for Jacob Elordi, with November streaming plans. Avatar Expanded Universe Teased James Cameron plans animated anthologies and maybe even a feature film. Magneto Casting Dreams From Charles Dance to John David Washington, Comics Basics lists top contenders to take on the mutant icon. Start Your Free One Year Trial At Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today 

In this episode of Sci-Fi Talk, host Tony Tellado chats with guest Sara Tomko, who plays a multilayered character on the hit series "Resident Alien". They dive into the complex dynamics of her character, Asta, as she navigates the fine line between being a mother and a best friend. Sara also sheds light on her on and off-screen chemistry with her co-stars and reflects on the show's exploration of humanity through the lens of sci-fi, fantasy, and human emotion. Start A Free One Year Trial For Sci-Fi Talk Plus 

Talented make-up artist talks about her work on Resident Alien, The Arrowverse, Peacemaker and Wayward Pines. We chat about her influences in make-up as well. Start Your Free One Year Trial For Sci-Fi Talk Plus  

On this Trek Tuesday episode, Alan Ruck to explores his return to the Star Trek universe in Star Trek: Of Gods and Men. We talked about how the 2008 fan film allowed him to revisit and expand the character of Captain John Harriman, originally introduced in Star Trek: Generations. Alan shared his excitement about giving Harriman more depth and agency, noting how fans and professionals came together to create a meaningful tribute to the franchise. ✨ Highlights from our conversation: Ruck reflected on Harriman's early depiction as inexperienced and unsure in Generations, and how Of Gods and Men offered a chance to redeem that image. The unique atmosphere on set: a true labor of love fueled by fan dedication and professional passion. Start A Free One Year Trial With Sci-Fi Talk Plus, Today Take A Test Drive With Free Episodes And Videos

Star People, a hauntingly powerful sci-fi film that blurs the line between survival and obsession. Director Adam Finberg walks us through the mysterious allure of extraterrestrial discovery, while actors Eddie Martinez and Adriana Aluna Martinez bring raw insight into portraying immigrants chasing hope across the blistering Arizona desert. Together, we unpack themes of addiction recovery, isolation, and the desperate human drive toward meaning—whether through chasing distant stars or simply seeking shelter. The conversation dives deep into the metaphors layered within the film, and how sci-fi serves as a mirror for our most visceral human experiences. Start Your Free One Year Trial With Sci-Fi Talk Plus Take A Free Test Drive With Sample Episodes And Videos  

In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, host Tony sits down with journalist-turned-author Janet Stilson to dive into the captivating world of The Juice. The novel explores a near-future society where influence isn’t just earned — it’s chemically enhanced. At the heart of the story is a drug called "the Juice," which grants users extraordinary charisma, turning them into “Charismites.” But what happens when charm becomes currency? Janet shares the inspiration behind her dystopian vision, blending her experience in media and politics with a sci-fi lens. We unpack how charisma, power, and identity intertwine — and what this speculative tale reveals about the way humans seek connection and control. Is artificial charm the future of leadership? And how far are we willing to go for influence? Start Your Free One Year Trial At Sci-Fi Talk Plus, Today Take A Test Drive on Plus Today

Welcome to this week’s episode of Sci-Fi Talk Weekly, where we dive into the latest buzz from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, and superhero cinema. Here's what’s lighting up the genre universe: Fantastic Four: First Steps – Critics React Marvel’s “First Family” returns in Fantastic Four: First Steps. Set in a retro-futuristic 1960s Earth, the film blends cosmic spectacle with heartfelt family dynamics. Wonder Woman Reboot Gets a New Voice DC Studios has tapped Supergirl screenwriter Ana Nogueira to pen the upcoming Wonder Woman reboot. Clayface Eyes Female Lead The upcoming Clayface film, a horror-tinged DCU entry, is close to casting its female lead. Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17, Sorry, Baby) is reportedly in talks to join Tom Rhys Harries in this twisted tale of transformation and identity. Freakier Friday – First Reactions Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are back in Freakier Friday, and critics are loving it. Screen Crush Lists  10 Superhero Movies That Saved a Franchise Every Marvel Multiverse Saga Movie Ranked (Worst to First)  Start Your Free Trial On Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today