The Playlist Podcast Network

Lee Pace has done plenty of TV over the years. From his cult favorite series, “Pushing Daisies,” to the criminally underrated “Halt and Catch Fire,” the actor has never shied away from the silver screen. That said, even with his extensive experience, Pace has never worked on anything on TV as massive as his new Apple TV+ series, “Foundation.” And on this episode of The Playlist Podcast, Pace joins the show to talk about “Foundation” and the freedom TV allows for storytelling.

The list of names of those who have had a greater impact on television than David Chase is exceedingly short, if such a list exists at all. Chase made his debut in the medium in 1971, as a one-off writer for "The Lawyers," penning the episode "In Defense of Ellen McKay." Chase went on to work as the story editor for the influential horror-thriller series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," and then as a writer and producer for four seasons of "The Rockford Files," where he won his first Emmy. Chase built a career over more than 20 years as an efficient and professional producer on several successful shows, and by the mid-1990s, he was a highly coveted showrunner. Enter "The Sopranos." Drawing heavily from his personal life, Chase wrote what was originally a feature film screenplay about "a mobster in therapy having problems with his mother," which in 1995 he adapted into an idea for a television series. Four years later, "The Sopranos" made its debut on HBO, and changed television forever. Centered around the late James Gandolfini's masterful portrayal of Tony Soprano, "The Sopranos" ran for six seasons, with Chase officially credited as a writer on 30 episodes, but having contributed to all 86. Heralding a new "Golden Age" of television, "The Sopranos" has been cited by Vince Gilligan as a direct inspiration for "Breaking Bad," and by Matthew Weiner - who worked on the show in its latter two seasons - as having changed his approach to "Mad Men." This is to name only two of the best shows to come out in the 21st century which have been influenced by "The Sopranos." Now, 15 years after the series finale, Chase is returning to the world of his iconic New Jersey crime family with "The Many Saints of Newark," set roughly 30 years before the first season of the show. The film stars Michael Gandolfini playing his father’s iconic character in his late teens, caught up in a tumultuous time of change, and in his idolization of his uncle Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola). It’s a film that demands being seen on a big screen, and David Chase has refused to mince words about the film’s hybrid release. “I’m so glad you said [to see it in a theater] so I don’t have to,” said Chase, when I sat down to chat about the film with him. “It’s a different experience and worth the effort. Seeing it in a theater for the first time was a delight.” During our conversation with Chase, we also discuss why it’s important for audiences to see “The Many Saints of Newark” in theaters, the origins of the film dating back to right after graduating film school, meditations on faith and parenthood, and much more! “The Many Saints of Newark” hits theaters on October 1st, 2021, and will simultaneously make its streaming debut on HBO Max for one month.

Apparently, to make a great thriller, you just need 11 days, one location, Jake Gyllenhaal as your lead, and Antoine Fuqua behind the camera. Pretty simple, right? Well, obviously, there's sarcasm there, but that doesn't take away from the incredible feat that is "The Guilty." And in this episode of The Playlist Podcast, Gyllenhaal and Fuqua sit down to talk about their new Netflix thriller and the uphill battle they faced getting it made.

David S. Goyer is a filmmaker who is well-known to a certain segment of the film-going population. But those who know him from his superhero work will be shocked when they watch his latest TV series, “Foundation.” And Goyer recently joined The Playlist Podcast to talk about his new show, as well as his legacy as the comic book film writer. 

Frank Grillo returned to The Playlist Podcast to talk to the boys about a Grillo-Pad (our chosen name for Grillo’s fan group) could ever want. During the conversation, Grillo also spoke about a possible return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Crossbones or perhaps an alternate universe version of The Punisher, "The Purge," which he spilled some new scoops, "The Raid," and much more.

James DeMonaco is the writer, director, and overall creative mastermind behind “The Purge” franchise. And over the past decade or so, the filmmaker has focused on his massively popular thriller franchise. However, his new film, “This is the Night,” is something completely different, but it also might be his most personal to date. And on this episode of The Playlist Podcast, DeMonaco joins the show to go deep about his new film, as well as the future of “The Purge.”

What does it mean to be the last man on Earth? What would happen if everyone with a Y chromosome suddenly died? These are the questions explored in the new FX on Hulu series, “Y: The Last Man.” And on this episode of The Playlist Podcast, showrunner Eliza Clark joins to talk about her new series and its long road to production.

Gavin O’Connor has no shortage of successful film and TV projects in recent years - whether it’s “Mare of Easttown” (which he serves as Executive Producer), “The Way Back,” or “The Accountant” – all have been embraced by critics and fans alike. But perhaps his most overlooked film, “Warrior,” starring a then-unknown Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, is seeing a groundswell of appreciation. And on this episode of The Playlist Podcast, O’Connor joins the show on the film’s tenth anniversary to deep-dive on the film.

Destin Daniel Cretton isn’t the first name you’d think about when imagining filmmakers that would make the leap to superhero features. However, with “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” Cretton is the latest young indie filmmaker that has been snatched up by Marvel Studios to helm a $200 million blockbuster. And he joins The Playlist Podcast to talk about that transition, what he hopes people get out of ‘Shang-Chi,’ and much more

After all the hype from the Marvel Studios marketing machine, it’s finally time for the world to be introduced to “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” It’s been a little while since Marvel has introduced a brand-new character in a feature film, and the studio is hoping people fall in love with Simu Liu and the Master of Kung-fu. But did Marvel succeed in ‘Shang-Chi’ or is it another middle-of-the-road superhero story? On this episode of The Playlist Podcast, Charles and Mike are joined by Jeff Zhang of Strange Harbors to talk about that very question.