Director Francis Lawrence joins the show to discuss his new film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (starring Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, and Viola Davis). We chat about returning to the Hunger Games franchise following his tenure with Jennifer Lawrence, the key to working around the MPA’s rating guidelines, and more. ReelBlend PremiumSign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium.ReelBlend on YouTubeBe sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form.Follow The ShowReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs

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Francis Lawrence Interview | 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'

Welcome to ReelBlend! Join Managing Editor Sean O&#39;Connell (CinemaBlend) and Entertainment Reporters Kevin McCarthy (Fox 5 Washington DC) and Jake Hamilton (Fox 32 News Chicago) as they discuss the latest news, rumors, and movies to hit the big screen. Every week we&#39;ll bring you movie reviews, inside looks at the news of the week, stories from the set, and interviews with your favorite filmmakers. Enjoy!

TV & Film

Director Renny Harlin joins us for a chat about the making of his new film The Strangers: Chapter 1, the first of 3 chapters he shot simultaneously. But that of course is not all. The director has a long history in Hollywood, and we run through some of his notable projects such as Die Hard 2, his Exorcist sequel, and more.  Next week, we welcome George Miller to the program for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, so be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!  ReelBlend PremiumSign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium.ReelBlend on YouTubeBe sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form.Follow The ShowReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacsTimestamps (approx. only)00:00:00 - Intro  00:04:13 - Are smaller films reclaiming the box office? 00:19:07 - ‘Challengers’ Review (Spoiler-Free) 00:29:56 - ‘Challengers’ SPOILERS! 00:38:23 - ‘Deadpool & Wolverine” Trailer Reactions 00:51:50 - Game: Lost In Translation 01:00:15 - Outro

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'Die Hard 2' Is The Best 'Die Hard' Sequel | Director Interview w. Renny Harlin

Dune: Part Two's Costume Designer Jacqueline West and Set Designer Patrice Vermette join us to discuss their collaboration with Denis Villeneuve for their return to the world of Arrakis. We get into the types of conversations they have with each other and their director when crafting their respective visual elements for the film including the "big fiasco" caused when shooting Dune 2's gladiator scene on Giedi Prime in infrared.  Stay tuned, Friday brings another great interview!ReelBlend PremiumSign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium.ReelBlend on YouTubeBe sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form.Follow The ShowReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs

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The 'Big Fiasco' 'Dune 2's' Gladiator Sequence Caused On Set | Costume & Set Designer Interview

Dune’s Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser returns to the show with Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two and their collaborations with Denis Villeneuve. We get details on shooting Feyd-Rautha’s introduction on Giedi Prime with infrared lighting, cutting Paul Atreides and Feyd’s final fight, and more.  Stay tuned. We have more interviews on the making of “Dune: Part Two” coming! ReelBlend PremiumSign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium.ReelBlend on YouTubeBe sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form.Follow The ShowReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs

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How 'Dune: Part Two' Shot Its Final Scene | Editor & Cinematographer Interview

Michael Showalter returns to the show to discuss his new film starring Anne Hathaway, “The Idea of You.” He discusses the origins of the film’s story, whether or not it’s inspired by Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde’s relationship, Anne Hathaway would rather you call her Annie, and more. ReelBlend PremiumSign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium.ReelBlend on YouTubeBe sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form.Follow The ShowReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacs

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Anne Hathaway Would Rather You Call Her Annie | 'The Idea Of You' w. Michael Showalter

“Challengers,” from writer-director Luca Guadagnino, is our favorite performance from the ever-talented Zendaya, but she isn’t alone. Mike Fast and Josh O’Connor equally deliver to create a three-piece ensemble that propels us through one of the year's most exciting films. In this week’s show, we dive right in with our review, and if you’ve managed to make it out to the theater already, stick around for our brief spoiler-filled section that follows. For those that haven’t, hit pause and see this one as soon as possible.  Also this week, in light of recent success at the box office, we discuss the nature of the middle-budget feature film and its potential comeback in the industry. Finally, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” dropped the full-length trailer we’ve all been dying to see, and we give our immediate impressions. ReelBlend PremiumSign up for a bi-weekly newsletter from Sean, and ad-free episodes at bit.ly/reelblendpremium.ReelBlend on YouTubeBe sure to subscribe to ReelBlend on YouTube (YouTube.com/ReelBlendPodcast) for full episodes of the show in video form.Follow The ShowReelBlend - @ReelBlend Sean - @Sean_OConnell Jake - @JakesTakes Kevin - @KevinMcCarthyTV Gabe - @gabeKovacsTimestamps (approx. only)00:00 - Intro 04:13 - Are smaller films reclaiming the box office?19:07 - ‘Challengers’ Review (Spoiler-Free)29:56 - ‘Challengers’ SPOILERS!38:23 - ‘Deadpool & Wolverine” Trailer Reactions51:50 - Game: Lost In Translation1:00:15 - Outro

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Francis Lawrence Interview | 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'

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