Franchisography

Who, what, when, where and why? This week’s FRANCHISOGRAPHY answers all these questions and MORE.

After the first SPY KIDS became a surprise smash, Writer-Director-Editor-Cinematographer-Production Designer Robert Rodriguez decided to get bigger and weirder with the sequel, 2002’s ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS. Fueled by a childhood love of Ray Haryhausen and half a script of rejected SPY KIDS 1 ideas, Rodriguez whipped this next installment into theaters in less than a year. Is that a… good thing? And between the giant monsters and mysterious islands, does that even still feel like a SPY KIDS movie? The only way to get to the bottom of these mysteries is to dive head first into the active volcano that is FRANCHISOGRAPHY.

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about animal hybrids, professional rivalries, and Ricardo Montalban is screenwriter, podcaster, and our first returning guest, Sam Gasch (Ideal Remake).

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The SPY KIDS era starts NOW. Nick and Scott kick off a brand new mini-series with 2001’s Spy Kids.

Writer-Director-Editor-Cinematographer Robert Rodriguez was ready to get back to his home movie roots after directing action/horror studio flicks like FROM DUSK TILL DAWN and THE FACULTY, but instead he made a surprise blockbuster that changed the course of his career. Carmen and Juni Cortez are two just two ordinary siblings with two ordinary parents…Or so they think. Soon, Carmen and Juni are swept up on an adventure full of spies, danger, and gadgets. Lots of gadgets. Is SPY KIDS really the children’s classic millennials think that it is? Find out in this fully declassified episode of FRANCHISOGRAPHY

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about child entertainers, thumb people, and Robert Rodriguez’s garage is podcaster, Gary Roby (The New Republic Archives).

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It’s a Betweenisode!

Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of Hot Mutant Summer, rank all thirteen X-Men movies, and look to the future of the franchise in the hands of Marvel Studios.

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Franchise Potential: Daredevil (2003) episode now available on PATREON!

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Send us your SPY KIDS-related memories, questions, or feelings and we’ll read them in the next Betweenisode! [email protected]

Our X-MEN mini-series comes to a close after thirteen films with the culmination of a nearly 20 year journey, whether you like it or not, 2019’s Dark Phoenix!

After the chaos on set caused by Bryan Singer on Apocalypse, franchise screenwriter Simon Kinberg was coaxed into directing the next installment by the cast. Kinberg decided to take this opportunity to right a wrong by taking another swing at adapting the Dark Phoenix Saga but “doing it right this time.” His goal? To make a small, but emotionally gripping drama film that would be released in the dead of winter. Instead, Fox decided to release it as a summer tentpole blockbuster in the middle of June. It did not go well.

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about space missions, presidential phone lines, and poorly adapting an iconic comic storyline twice is podcaster, Mark Watlington (Best Pictures).

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features frank discussions about some of the allegations against Bryan Singer, et al. through the testimony of their victims and public records. While there are many allegations against Singer, we focused on the events leading to and surrounding the making of this particular film.

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Edited by Scott Tofte.

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we investigate the trouble YA horror spin-off originally set to be released in 2018, The New Mutants.

When Fox execuitves greenlit three “experimental” X-Men movies, they paid off big time in the form of 2016’s Deadpool and 2017’s Logan. But when it came time to give the same creative freedom to The New Mutants, trouble came in the form of a change in Fox leadership who no longer believed in the direction that director Josh Boone was taking the film. Instead they wanted it to chase the YA adaptation craze, before changing their mind to instead chase the Stranger Things / IT craze, before changing their minds again to be a superhero reboot for the X-Men franchise. Reshoots were scheduled, release dates pushed back, and then the movie went into limbo as the film’s parent company sold itself off to Disney. Eventually, the movie was finally released, incomplete, in the middle of a pandemic, to scathing reviews.

Join us as we discuss the good, the bad, and the two bears behind The New Mutants!

No guests! Just vibes!

Send us your X-MEN-related memories, questions, or feelings and we’ll read them in the next Betweenisode! [email protected]

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Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we take a look at the sequel to the R-rated mega-hit, 2018’s Deadpool 2.

When an incredibly successful first film gets a sequel greenlit, the last thing you would do is fire the director, right? Not so, says Deadpool 2! Tim Miller was asked to depart Deadpool 2 early on and is replaced by John Wick co-director David Leitch at the behest of Ryan Reynolds and the screenwriters Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick over “creative diffences” that supposedly had nothing to do with Kyle Chandler or the casting of Cable. Can Deadpool 2 stick the landing after killing off Vanessa, the entire point of the first film, in the opening minutes of the sequel? I mean sort of? Basically? It’s complicated.

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about time travel, finding a family, and fridging the love interest is podcaster and Franchisography editor Adam Sheehan (Tales From The Short Box, TMNT Minute).

Send us your X-MEN-related memories, questions, or feelings and we’ll read them in the next Betweenisode! [email protected]

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Edited by Scott Tofte.

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we take a look at the final film to feature Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, 2017’s Logan.

After his lead role in Days of Future Past, Hugh Jackman knew it was time to hang up the adamantium claws for good. Together with The Wolverine director James Mangold, he was determinted to make Logan’s swan song something special. And so, with approval from a studio willing to make some risks (at this very particular moment), an R-rated drama featuring an aging Wolverine, a senile Charles Xavier, and a final hope for mutantkind was greenlit. What was made could be considered one of the greatest comic book films of all time.

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about reading glasses, toe claws, and Shane is actor and podcaster Ray Ruzzo (Geek By Night, True Believers).

Send us your X-MEN-related memories, questions, or feelings and we’ll read them in the next Betweenisode! [email protected]

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Edited by Adam Sheehan

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we investigate the 80s set sequel to Days of Future Past, 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse!

After the back-to-back massive success of Days of Future Past and Deadpool, there was only one place for the franchise to go next: downhill! Apocalypse is a film that attempts to end the story of the adults introduced in the 60s while introducing a new generation of mutant kids; but ultimately it seems confused by its villain, its characters, and the timeline reset in the previous film, resulting in an all-around baffling and bloated mess (and an honestly offensive misuse of Oscar Isaac). It’s not great!

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about hair loss, false gods, “…and now they’re the X-Men” is writer and podcaster, Michael Nixon (The Game of Rassilon).

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features frank discussions about some of the allegations against Bryan Singer, et al. through the testimony of their victims and public records. While there are many allegations against Singer, we focused on the events leading to and surrounding the making of this particular film.

Send us your X-MEN-related memories, questions, or feelings and we’ll read them in the next Betweenisode! [email protected]

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Edited by Scott Tofte

Our X-MEN mini-series continues with the Ryan Reynolds passion project, 2016’s Deadpool!

Beginning development in the early 2000s, Ryan Reynolds had been trying and failing to get a Deadpool solo film off the ground for over a decade when 2011’s Green Lantern was released and almost ruined any chance of it being greenlit. But after a test footage leak created a fan furvor for the film, Fox finally relented and we recieved an R-rated Deadpool movie featuring the most faithful translation of an X-character to ever make it from the comic page to the silver screen.

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about modern romance, breaking the fourth wall, and tiny baby hands is writer Preeti Chhibber (Marvel/Star Wars).

Send us your X-MEN-related memories, questions, or feelings and we’ll read them in the next Betweenisode! [email protected]

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Edited by Adam Sheehan

Our X-MEN mini-series continues as we investigate 2014’s timeline straddling event film, X-Men: Days of Future Past!

After the modest success of First Class, only one thing could come next: a generation spanning crossover film, of course! Much to the chagrin of director Matthew Vaughn, who felt it was too early in the lifespan of the new cast to do it, the studio was all-in on the concept of bringing back the original cast for an adaptation of the seminal X-Men comic by Chris Claremount and John Byrne. So, when Vaughn stepped away to direct Kingsman instead, Fox turned to Bryan Singer to return to the director’s chair (if only they could have kept him in it!).

Joining Nick and Scott to talk about speed runs, peaking too early, and baffling final shots is writer, artist, and podcaster, Jason Hammons (That Might Be Cool).

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features frank discussions about some of the allegations against Bryan Singer, et al. through the testimony of their victims and public records. While there are many allegations against Singer, we focused on the events leading to and surrounding the making of this particular film.

Send us your X-MEN-related memories, questions, or feelings and we’ll read them in the next Betweenisode! [email protected]

Become a Premier Tier PATREON supporter, get access to the “Franchise Potential” podcast, and help us reach 100 patrons to start a main feed Bonus Feature podcast!

Follow us on TWITTER to vote for future mini-series!

Join the Dueling Genre Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rngwTkz8yw

Edited by Scott Tofte