The Playlist Podcast Network

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]

Director Andrew DeYoung has always had an eye for awkwardness ("Pen15," "Our Flag Means Death," and "Dave"), but with his debut feature, "Friendship," he goes from TV’s quirky corners straight to the deep end of the cringe pool. You want relatable pain, emotional chaos, and jokes so uncomfortable you laugh, wince, and maybe break out in hives? Look no further. With a cast including Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, and Jack Dylan Grazer, "Friendship" is the rare buddy comedy that leaves you feeling equal parts seen, unsettled, and surprisingly moved.DeYoung joins Mike DeAngelo on the latest episode of The Discourse. It was clear he’s still riding the high from sharing his first feature with audiences at TIFF. "[The screening] went incredibly - more than I could have ever imagined. I've been in a theater that's laughing like that, and that wasn't necessarily my goal." Deyong said. "Of course, I wanted people to find this funny and interesting and whatnot, but to hear people laugh at that level was really a surprise."READ MORE: ‘Friendship’ Review: Tim Robinson Is Riotously Hilarious In A24’s Absurdist, Nightmare-Fueled Cringe Comedy

For years, Alex Gregory has been at the center of some of TV’s sharpest comedies, from “Veep” to the legendary “The Larry Sanders Show.” Now, Gregory returns as co-creator and co-showrunner of “The Studio,” a show that’s quickly become one of the funniest and most biting satires about Hollywood chaos ever put on television. On the Bingeworthy podcast, Gregory sat down with host Mike DeAngelo to talk about the real stories behind the series, the chaos of the writers’ room, and why Martin Scorsese was maybe the best surprise comedic cameo of the year.If you’re new to “The Studio,” the show is basically a wild ride through the modern movie business - a satirical look at power, egos, and total dysfunction, starring a crew of execs, creatives, and all sorts of oddballs who just try to keep the whole machine running. Created by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, and Frida Perez, the series is loaded with star power: Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron, Zoe Kravitz, Dave Franco, Zac Efron, Olivia Wilde, Anthony Mackie, and plenty more pop up throughout.READ MORE: ‘The Studio’ Review: An Incredible Love Letter & Takedown Of The Hollywood Movie Machine

n this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo boards the wild, rowdy, and frankly chaotic flight of "Fight or Flight" with star Josh Hartnett and director James Madigan. Picture this: you're stuck on a plane, half-drunk, and suddenly everyone around you turns out to be deadly assassins—basically, the worst flight imaginable. That’s precisely the mess Lucas (Hartnett) finds himself navigating in this adrenaline-charged comedy-action flick. Known for his second-unit action chops on blockbusters like "Transformers" and "The Meg," Madigan boldly steps up to the plate, making an assured directorial debut with a scrappy, humorous energy that pairs perfectly with Hartnett’s laid-back charisma. The film also features a stellar ensemble including Katee Sackhoff, Charithra Chandran, and Julian Kostov.Hartnett explained that Madigan’s initial pitch immediately hooked him. "One of the first things James said was, 'I want the action sequences to feel like musical numbers,'" Hartnett laughed. "He wanted character growth to happen through action. That felt essential—and honestly, pretty exciting.”

Nicolas Cage has been on a tear lately. From standout performances in "Pig," "Dream Scenario," "Longlegs," and "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" to now "The Surfer," the Oscar-winner is once again redefining his career with bold, unpredictable choices. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan ("Vivarium," "Nocebo"), "The Surfer" is a sun-bleached fever dream about masculinity, ego, and unraveling identity that veers from the poetic to the primal.In the latest episode of The Discourse, Cage and Finnegan join the show to talk about the emotional depths of their surreal new film, which hits theaters on May 2nd.