Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe?

It's time for Dylan's first contribution to Phase 2 and our first sequel to one of our own movies: Werewolves of London! What are our characters from The Wolf Man up to after House of Dracula? Can Dylan avoid the structural problems that have plagued his previous pitches? PLUS: Dalton issues their co-host a challenge that could change the course of the Dark Universe! Our podcast partner for this episode is The Mirror Universe Star Trek Podcast, a thoughtful program in which an Australian and a Canadian have a conversation about Star Trek: what we think it is, how it's evolved over the years, and how it reflects our culture...like a mirror. Dylan is their guest for their March 2023 episodes, so be sure to check it out! TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 - Intro 0:10:34 - Dalton’s Expectations 0:13:55 - Dalton’s Challenge to Dylan 0:17:40 - Prologue 0:21:15 - Act 1 0:44:00 - Act 1 Reaction 0:53:43 - Act 2 1:05:25 - Mid Act 2 Questions 1:10:42 - Act 2 Continues 1:20:24 - Act 2 Discussion 1:31:55 - Act 3 1:44:45 - Mid Credits Stinger 1:45:15 - Post Credits Stinger 1:46:05 - Act 3 Discussion 1:54:07 - Final Details/Picture Lock 1:55:53 - Next Movies Special thanks to Callie for marking this episode's timestamps!

The studio has been closely monitoring Dalton and Dylan's progress with their Dark Universe revamp, and now it's time for them to weigh in! Though the identity of their benefactor at Universal remains a mystery,* they've hired fan relations consultant Frankie Starker (they/them) to weigh in on the probable response of the so far entirely hypothetical fanbase. What will Dark Universe fan fiction look like? Who are people shipping? WHERE ARE ALL THE TWINKS? All these answers and more in this episode. * = We're legally required to clarify that this person does not exist.

Our Phase Two begins at last with a sequel to the only Dark Universe film that actually exists. That's right, it's time for Dalton Deschain's THE MUMMY RETURNS! After obsessing over 2017's The Mummy, Dalton is convinced they've figured out how to turn this franchise around. Have they succeeded? Whether or not the studio is on board, Dalton's about to put Nick Morton through hell in an experimental and yet potentially very crowd-pleasing new installment in the Dark Universe canon. Our partner podcast this week is Left Trigger Right Trigger, your video game book club where the hosts discuss games centering around a new theme every week. TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 - Start 0:03:08 - Mummy Talk: 0:17:04 - Mummy Returns’ Job: 0:17:53 - Director choice 0:20:00 - Act 1 0:47:07 - Act 1 Discussion 0:54:09 - Act 2 1:04:44 - Surprise Guest Star Reaction 1:07:29 - Ad Break 1:08:15 - Act 2 Continues 1:18:50 - Act 2 Reaction 1:26:52 - Act 3 1:45:27 - Mid Credits Scene 1:46:07 - Post Credits Scene 1:47:23 - Post Pitch Breakdown 1:55:05 - Picture Lock 1:59:10 - Housekeeping Thank you to Callie for providing the timestamps for this episode!

Dylan and Dalton open up the gates to their Dark Universe for the very first time, as Giovanni Colantonio of Digital Trends and Left Trigger Right Trigger arrives to pitch a new video game based on their canon! It's the biggest and most ambitious Dark Universe video game yet — but not actually the first! Learn about the short-lived line of The Mummy tie-in games from 2017, then let Gio walk you through his creation, The Dark Universe Omnibus! Our partner podcast this week is Giovanni's show Left Trigger Right Trigger, your video game book club where the hosts discuss games centering around a new theme every week.

If AYADU had a Comic Con Hall H panel, this is what it would be like. Having completed the six-part opening salvo of movies in their imaginary Dark Universe, Dalton and Dylan revisit their creative process so far and determine whether or not they would do anything differently, if given the chance. Then, the duo announces the complete slate of fake movies planned for Phase Two, which will be premiering throughout 2023! Follow us on Twitter @DarkUniversePod, @DaltonDeschain, and @DylanRoth. Today's partner podcast is Comics-Coffee-Metal, a conversation with creatives about and around Comics, Coffee, and Heavy Metal music. Hosted by Don Cardenas. Check out Dalton's appearance in Episode #93, available wherever you stream Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe.

It's the exciting conclusion of our giant sized season finale, The Dark Legion: House of Dracula! Can our motley crew of benevolent monsters spoil the plans of Count Dracula? Will Nick Morton rise to the challenge of leadership? Will Wolf-couple Gwen and Larry patch things up? What does the Count have in store for The Invisible Man? Whatever you do, DON'T START WITH THIS EPISODE! Go back at least to Part One of the finale, or else risk BIG spoilers! SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CAST (in order of appearance): Patrick Willems (Jonathan Harker) is a filmmaker and video essayist whose work can be found on YouTube and Nebula. He's on Twitter, Instagram, etc. @patrickhwillems. Gita Jackson (Count Dracula) is a freelance journalist and critic whose work can be found at Motherboard, Kotaku, GQ, Polygon, and more. They're @xoxogossipgita across social media. Rachel Millman (Gwen Conliffe) is a writer and social media editor for Observer, and the co-host of the delightful wrestling podcast Wrestlesplania. She's on social media @rachelmillman. Julian Ames (Larry Talbot) is one third of the NY rock band No Jersey and a very prolific gamer. He's around the web @AutoAmes. Dominic Griffin (Victor Frankenstein) is a pop culture writer and film critic writing for Baltimore Beat and his YouTube channel, The Armchair Auteur. He's on social media @AllNewDom. Kate Wardell (Rita Talbot) is a musician, animator, voiceover artist, and Lego enthusiast. She's on Twitter @katewardell. Ella Dawson (Jennifer Halsey) is an author and sex and culture critic. Her book "The Reunion" is coming soon from Dutton Books. She's on Twitter @brosandprose. Nick Miller (Chris Vale) is a NY-based singer-songwriter and weekend enjoyer. His music is probably available on whatever platform you're using to stream this show, but he'd prefer you check it out on BandCamp. He posts a lot on Twitter @NickMillerMusic. Steph Salo (Carol Laemmle) is an extremely chill homie and her posts are for homies only. Joe Stando (Jack Griffin) is a midwestern folk hero in New York City, a snappy dresser, and general bon vivant. He's on Twitter @depechejoe and on Instagram @joestando. Follow us on Twitter @DarkUniversePod, @DaltonDeschain, and @DylanRoth. Our partner podcast for this episode is The Film Majors Podcast, streaming wherever you stream our show.

The perfect jumping on point for new listeners! It's Part One of our Phase One finale, our Dark Universe's equivalent to Marvel's The Avengers. For the first time, Dylan and Dalton have co-written a treatment, bringing the characters they've been developing all season — The Mummy, The Wolf Man & Wolf Woman, The Invisible Man, etc. — into a single climactic crossover film! We've also roped some of our friends into performing the script along with us. Join us for the first half of our wildest project yet, and stay tuned for the conclusion in just one week. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CAST (in order of appearance): Patrick Willems (Jonathan Harker) is a filmmaker and video essayist whose work can be found on YouTube and Nebula. He's on Twitter, Instagram, etc. @patrickhwillems. Gita Jackson (Count Dracula) is a freelance journalist and critic whose work can be found at Motherboard, Kotaku, GQ, Polygon, and more. They're @xoxogossipgita across social media. Rachel Millman (Gwen Conliffe) is a writer and social media editor for Observer, and the co-host of the delightful wrestling podcast Wrestlesplania. She's on social media @rachelmillman. Julian Ames (Larry Talbot) is one third of the NY rock band No Jersey and a very prolific gamer. He's around the web @AutoAmes. Dominic Griffin (Victor Frankenstein) is a pop culture writer and film critic writing for Baltimore Beat and his YouTube channel, The Armchair Auteur. He's on social media @AllNewDom. Kate Wardell (Rita Talbot) is a musician, animator, voiceover artist, and Lego enthusiast. She's on Twitter @katewardell. Ella Dawson (Jennifer Halsey) is an author and sex and culture critic. Her book "The Reunion" is coming soon from Dutton Books. She's on Twitter @brosandprose. Nick Miller (Chris Vale) is a NY-based singer-songwriter and weekend enjoyer. His music is probably available on whatever platform you're using to stream this show, but he'd prefer you check it out on BandCamp. He posts a lot on Twitter @NickMillerMusic. Steph Salo (Carol Laemmle) is an extremely chill homie and her posts are for homies only. Joe Stando (Jack Griffin) is a midwestern folk hero in New York City, a snappy dresser, and general bon vivant. He's on Twitter @depechejoe and on Instagram @joestando. Follow us on Twitter @DarkUniversePod, @DaltonDeschain, and @DylanRoth. Our partner podcast for this episode is Original Podcast Do Not Steal, a show in which hosts Devin and Amber create a new original character in a different established universe every week.

SPOILER ALERT! This episode is our brainstorming session in which we break down the story and character objectives for our first major crossover. Since we're figuring out this story together instead of one of us pitching a finished idea to the other, as usual, that means we're going to be spoiling major details about the next two episodes. If you want to enjoy the creative process along with us, go ahead and listen to this episode! There will still be plenty of surprises in store in the rest of the finale. If you don't want to be spoiled, circle back to this episode later. The movie we discuss in this episode will be presented across the next two episodes, featuring a script written by both Dalton and Dylan, plus a FULL CAST of performers! We hope you enjoy it. Follow us on Twitter @DarkUniversePod, @DaltonDeschain, and @DylanRoth. Today's partner podcast is Comics-Coffee-Metal, a conversation with creatives about and around Comics, Coffee, and Heavy Metal music. Hosted by Don Cardenas. Check out Dalton's appearance in Episode #93, available wherever you stream Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains a brief scene depicting an attempted suicide. Skip from timestamp 36:00 to 36:20 if this is something you'd prefer not to hear. Dylan takes a swing at writing psychological horror, modernizing Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" and setting it in our Dark Universe. What has Russell Crowe's Jekyll been up to since "The Mummy?" What is the nature of evil? What in god's name is Indrid Cold wearing? It's our last chapter before the big crossover! Follow us on Twitter @DarkUniversePod, @DaltonDeschain, and @DylanRoth.

The Dark Universe takes an unexpected turn, as Dalton pitches a kooky comedy take on The Invisible Man starring John C. Reilly! And, no kidding, it's a pivotal entry in the franchise. It's our wildest episode yet! CORRECTION: Tiffany Haddish is only 42 years old, which is still older than Dylan had originally thought, but still a decade younger than Regina Hall. Follow us on Twitter @DarkUniversePod, @DaltonDeschain, and @DylanRoth.