Flicks and Friends with Zach Pope

What was it really like to experience San Diego Comic-Con 2026 from the convention floor?

In this special episode of Beyond the Play, we're breaking down our entire San Diego Comic-Con 2026 experience day by day. From Hall H reveals and exclusive panels to activations, surprise announcements, premiere events, and everything in between, we're diving deep into what made this year's SDCC one of the biggest Comic-Cons in recent memory.

Whether you couldn't make it to San Diego or you simply want to relive the week, this podcast is your complete recap of everything we experienced across the convention. We discuss the biggest moments, our favorite panels, unforgettable surprises, what exceeded expectations, and the stories you didn't see online.

This year's Comic-Con delivered huge moments across movies, television, animation, gaming, collectibles, and fan experiences. From Marvel Studios' Hall H presentation, Avengers: Doomsday, Ryan Gosling's Ghost Rider reveal, Black Panther 3, and Deadpool's surprise appearance, to Spaceballs 2, Avatar: Seven Havens, exclusive trailer premieres, immersive activations, and countless memorable fan interactions, we cover everything that made SDCC 2026 unforgettable.

Throughout the episode we also share behind-the-scenes stories, our favorite convention memories, tips for attending Comic-Con, and discuss what surprised us the most throughout the week.

Whether you're a longtime Comic-Con veteran or someone who's always wanted to attend, this episode celebrates everything that makes San Diego Comic-Con one of the greatest pop culture events in the world.

Topics We Cover

Our complete San Diego Comic-Con 2026 experience

Day-by-day breakdown of the convention

Marvel Studios Hall H reactions

Biggest movie and TV announcements

Best exclusive trailers and first looks

Favorite panels and celebrity moments

The coolest activations and immersive experiences

Hidden gems from the convention floor

What surprised us the most

Our favorite overall SDCC memories

If you're looking for a San Diego Comic-Con 2026 recap, SDCC podcast, Comic-Con discussion, Marvel Hall H breakdown, Comic-Con reactions, Beyond the Play podcast, or a complete conversation about everything that happened during one of the biggest entertainment events of the year, you've come to the right place.

What was your favorite announcement or moment from San Diego Comic-Con 2026?

Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE if you enjoy movie discussions, gaming conversations, convention coverage, and weekly episodes of Beyond the Play.

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Leviticus interview — I sat down with director Adrian Chiarella and stars Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen to talk about their terrifying, emotional queer horror film.

In this interview, I speak with Adrian Chiarella, Joe Bird, and Stacy Clausen about Leviticus, a new supernatural horror film from NEON. The film follows Naim, played by Joe Bird, and Ryan, played by Stacy Clausen, two teenage boys in a rural Australian town who must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most: each other.

What makes Leviticus so fascinating is the way it blends coming-of-age romance, supernatural horror, religious repression, identity, desire, fear, and survival into one haunting story. This is not just a monster movie. It is a story about what happens when love, shame, trauma, and fear are turned into something physically terrifying.

During this conversation, we talk about the emotional core of the film, the relationship between Naim and Ryan, how horror can be used to explore queer identity, what it was like bringing such vulnerable performances to life, and how Adrian Chiarella approached making a horror film that is both deeply personal and genuinely frightening.

We also discuss the unique challenge of balancing tenderness with terror. Leviticus works because the horror only hits harder when you care about the people at the center of it. Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen bring so much emotion to Naim and Ryan, while Adrian Chiarella crafts a story where desire itself becomes dangerous in a world determined to demonize it.

In this interview, we discuss:

• Adrian Chiarella’s inspiration behind Leviticus
• Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen building the relationship between Naim and Ryan
• The film’s mix of queer coming-of-age story and supernatural horror
• How the entity reflects fear, desire, and repression
• Why horror is such a powerful genre for this story
• The emotional vulnerability of the performances
• Balancing romance, dread, and terror
• Working with NEON on this release
• What audiences should take away from Leviticus

If you enjoyed this interview, make sure to like the video, subscribe, and comment your thoughts on Leviticus.

The Furious interview — Joe Taslim and director Kenji Tanigaki break down the making of one of the most intense martial arts action movies of the year.

In this interview, I sit down with Joe Taslim and Kenji Tanigaki to discuss The Furious, the brand-new martial arts action film from Lionsgate. Directed by Tanigaki and starring Xie Miao / Mo Tse, Joe Taslim, Yang Enyou, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga, Jeeja Yanin, and Yayan Ruhian, the film delivers a relentless story of vengeance, rescue, and bone-crushing action.

After seeing The Furious, I genuinely believe this is one of the most exciting action films of the year and a true showcase for modern martial arts cinema. The movie brings together an incredible international cast of action performers and creates fight sequences that feel brutal, balletic, emotional, and completely exhausting in the best way possible.

In this conversation, we talk about what it takes to create action that feels real, painful, fast, and character-driven. Kenji Tanigaki has built a career around action choreography and stunt work, and with The Furious, he brings that experience into a full-throttle martial arts film that feels designed for fans of practical action, hand-to-hand combat, and movies like The Raid, John Wick, and classic Hong Kong action cinema.

I also talk with Joe Taslim about stepping into this world, preparing for the physical demands of the film, and how working on The Furious compares to some of his past action roles, including Mortal Kombat and The Raid. Joe brings such intensity, emotion, and physicality to this movie, and hearing him talk about the preparation behind these fights makes the final result even more impressive.

This The Furious interview dives into the fight choreography, martial arts preparation, working with Kenji Tanigaki, building trust on set, creating emotional stakes through action, and why this movie feels like a love letter to action cinema.

In this interview, we discuss:

Joe Taslim and Kenji Tanigaki’s work on The Furious

How the film’s brutal fight scenes were created

What makes the action feel emotional and character-driven

The physical preparation required for a movie like this

How Joe Taslim approached this role compared to Mortal Kombat and The Raid

Kenji Tanigaki’s approach to directing action

The influence of Hong Kong action cinema and modern martial arts films

Working with an international action cast

Why practical fight choreography still matters

Why The Furious is a must-watch for action movie fans

If you enjoyed this interview, make sure to like the video, subscribe, and comment your favorite martial arts action movie of all time.

On this episode, Zach Pope reviews Marvel’s The Punisher: One Last Kill, the brand-new Jon Bernthal-led Punisher special that brings Frank Castle back in raw, brutal, and emotional fashion.

Zach breaks down why this feels like a Punisher MAX comic brought to life, how the special explores Frank Castle’s grief, PTSD, and violent sense of justice, and why Jon Bernthal continues to be the definitive live-action Punisher. He also discusses how The Punisher: One Last Kill may connect to Daredevil: Born Again, where it could place Frank Castle heading into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and whether this 48-minute Marvel special delivers enough for longtime fans.

Is this the perfect Punisher special? Should Marvel give Jon Bernthal another series, more specials, or let Frank Castle appear across the MCU? Let’s talk about it in this non-spoiler review.

Topics include The Punisher: One Last Kill, Jon Bernthal, Frank Castle, Marvel, MCU, Daredevil: Born Again, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Punisher MAX, and the future of The Punisher in the MCU.

Zach reviews Obsession (2026), the new horror film from director Curry Barker. Centered on a hopeless romantic whose wish for love turns into a nightmare, the movie explores obsession, desire, and dark consequences. Zach explains why he believes Obsession is one of the best horror films of the year and a true modern horror standout.

this review, I’m talking about The Devil Wears Prada 2, the long-awaited sequel to one of the most beloved fashion films of the 2000s — and somehow… I think it’s better than the original.
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Following the iconic legacy of The Devil Wears Prada, this sequel returns to the world of high fashion, ambition, power, and impossible standards. With returning favorites and a fresh new story, The Devil Wears Prada 2 balances nostalgia with modern commentary on media, career identity, and evolving relationships.

Featuring powerhouse performances led by Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt, the sequel delivers sharp dialogue, emotional stakes, and the glamour fans hoped for.

In this review, I break down:

👠 Why I think it tops the original film
👠 Returning cast performances
👠 The fashion, humor, and drama
👠 How the sequel updates the story for today
👠 Why this is one of the year’s biggest surprises

The Devil Wears Prada 2 had every reason to fail — but instead, it becomes a smart, stylish, and emotionally satisfying sequel that honors the first film while standing on its own.

If you loved the original, this may shock you.

What did YOU think of The Devil Wears Prada 2

Zach counts down his 10 most anticipated summer movies of 2026. Featuring major titles like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Toy Story 5, The Backrooms, Supergirl, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and more, Zach breaks down why this summer movie season could be one of the biggest in years.

Zach reviews Michael (2026), the new Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson. Zach discusses the performances, musical recreations, emotional beats, and why he believes the harsh critic response may be overblown. While not a great film, Zach explains why it’s still a solid and worthwhile watch.

Zach reviews Normal (2026), a neo-western crime film starring Bob Odenkirk and directed by Ben Wheatley. The story follows a substitute sheriff uncovering dark secrets in a small Midwestern town after a botched bank robbery. With a tone reminiscent of Hot Fuzz, Zach breaks down why this weird, energetic film ends up being such a fun and unexpected watch.

Zach reviews Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, the revival mini-series bringing back the iconic sitcom. He breaks down whether the show captures the magic of the original, how the returning cast performs, and whether this nostalgic comeback is actually worth watching.