In this episode of the Heroes Reforged Podcast, we sit down with director Dan Trachtenberg (Prey, 10 Cloverfield Lane) to talk about his bold new vision for the Predator universe in Predator: Badlands. Dan opens up about the expectations of making another Predator movie after Prey and Killer of Killers, and the massive creative leap of making the story’s main protagonist a Yautja—a Predator. We discuss how this shift changes the perspective of the hunt, and what it reveals about the franchise’s deeper mythology.Dan also breaks down key visual effects moments, the themes of masculinity and honor woven into Yautja culture, and the intricate process of maintaining creative consistency across the Alien and Predator timelines. He shares how he collaborated with Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez and Alien: Earth creator Noah Hawley to make sure both universes feel cohesive yet distinct. It’s an in-depth, passionate conversation about storytelling, legacy, and the evolution of cinematic monsters.

CHAPTERS

0:00:00 - Like & Subscribe

0:00:29 - Predator Premiere Experience

0:03:32 - The Pressues of Making a Movie

0:06:02 - Predator Tie-In Media

0:11:29 - "Toyetic" Movies

0:14:39 - The Mythical Third Predator Idea

0:17:16 - Predator in Multiple Theatrical Formats

0:19:04 - VFX and Sound Design

0:20:31 - Possibilities of a Yautje Dub

0:22:04 - Reworking the Movie in Post-Production

0:26:06 - Practical Suit and VFX

0:27:35 - Themes of Masculinity

0:35:45 - Taking Bold New Swings

0:39:00 - Incorporating the Alien Franchise

0:40:22 - Expanding the Fanbase

0:41:46 - The PG-13 Rating

0:45:48 - "What if he throws it?" Collaborative Filmmaking

0:48:53 - Working with Fede Alvarez and Noah Hawley

0:55:22 - What's Next / Did Dan's Parents like the movie?

0:56:55 - What to Expect on the 4K UHD Blu-ray

1:00:25 - Thanks to our Patrons

We make our case for why Robert Pattinson’s The Batman should remain a standalone series and not cross into James Gunn’s DC Universe. Drawing from the comics, we explore what a new DCU Batman could look like and why Reeves’ Gotham doesn’t fit the shared-universe tone.

We also react to the first look at Superman’s suit from James Gunn’s Superman (2025) and dive into Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Timestamps

0:00:00 - Like & Subscribe

0:00:10 - Genndy Tartakovsky Podcast

0:00:45 - Fast & Furious Movie Reactions

0:02:40 - New Reaction Videos

0:06:14 - Batman and the DC Universe

0:08:40 - Matt Reeve's Conflicting Tones

0:11:35 - We Need DCU's Batman

0:13:10 - Luthor/Wayne Dynamics in DC

0:14:30 - The Batman Epic Crime Saga is Self-Contained

0:15:55 - Dealing with DCU Boundaries

0:19:06 - Drama vs Fantasy in Batman's Universe

0:20:15 - Evolution of DC Comics

0:24:18 - Varying Tones in the DC Universe

0:28:20 - Fantasy in the Marvel Universe

0:30:40 - What to Read and Watch in DC

0:32:19 - How to Introduce DCU's Batman

0:33:38 - Will The Batman: Part III Happen?

0:37:30 - Audience Expecations / DC Confusion

0:41:53 - Robert Pattinson Commitment

0:43:24 - Superman's Trunks

0:45:17 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day

0:46:07 - Leave Spider-Man's Wrinkles Alone

0:49:07 - Spider-Man and Stark Tech

0:50:20 - Why Spider-Man's Homemade Suit Matters

0:56:55 - Top Tier Superhero Costumes

0:58:40 - Final Thoughts / Wrap Up

1:00:00 - Thanks to our Patrons

We sit down with legendary animator and director Genndy Tartakovsky to talk all about his brand-new R-rated Netflix animated film, Fixed—from its wild premise to the challenges of creating adult hand-drawn animation in today’s industry. Genndy also opens up about his experience making the groundbreaking Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003), how he nearly ran Lucasfilm Animation, and the creative risks he took with the dialogue-free series Primal. Plus, we dive into the origin and legacy of Samurai Jack, his unique approach to visual storytelling, and what continues to inspire him as a filmmaker pushing the limits of animation.Whether you're a longtime fan or new to his work, this conversation is packed with behind-the-scenes insight, animation wisdom, and career-defining stories from one of the greatest minds in modern animation.0:00:00 - Welcome, Genndy Tartakovsky0:01:18 - Fixed Test Screenings0:05:54 - Challenges of Adult Animation0:09:49 - Fixed Origin Story0:16:29 - Filmmaking Influences0:23:22 - Star Wars: Clone Wars0:31:55 - Advice from George Lucas0:36:23 - The Future of Primal0:41:18 - Evolution of Animation0:46:43 - Challenges of 2D Animation0:49:48 - Hotel Transylvania0:52:15 - Stigma Against Animation0:58:24 - Asajj Ventress Movie0:59:24 - Transitioning to Live-Action1:03:18 - Thanks to our Patrons

In this episode of the Heroes Reforged Podcast, we dive deep into James Gunn’s evolving DC Universe, including fresh updates on Superman, Peacemaker, Lanterns, and more. Gunn reveals why Superman was always meant to lead off the Gods and Monsters chapter and how shows like Creature Commandos and Peacemaker were already in the works before he took over. We also break down Gunn’s level of involvement in Supergirl, his creative collaborations with Tom King, Chris Mundy, and Damon Lindelof on Lanterns, and what it means for the future of interconnected storytelling in the DCU.

Watch on YouTube!

Director Dan Trachtenberg (Prey, 10 Cloverfield Lane) and editor/executive producer Stefan Grube join us to talk all things Predator: Killer of Killers. The duo shares how their creative partnership began on 10 Cloverfield Lane and how it evolved into reinventing the Predator saga through animation. We get deep into behind-the-scenes insights, full spoilers for Killer of Killers, the making of Prey, and what to expect next in Predator: Badlands. If you're a fan of sci-fi, monster movies, or the future of genre storytelling, this episode is packed with revelations.

Disney’s live-action remakes are back in the spotlight, and we’re not holding back—especially with Lilo & Stitch stirring up major fan reactions. We dive deep into the premiere and review of Predator: Killer of Killers and share what it was like meeting director Dan Trachtenberg. Plus, we preview Summer 2025’s biggest releases, including DC’s Superman, Marvel’s The Fantastic Four, Jurassic World: Rebirth, and more. If you’re a fan of movies, superheroes, or just love seeing what Disney and Pixar are up to next, this episode is stacked for you.

In this spoiler-filled episode of the Heroes Reforged Podcast, we dive deep into Marvel Studios’ latest team-up film, Thunderbolts* AKA The New Avengers—a gritty, high-stakes entry that reshapes the Marvel Cinematic Universe in surprising ways. The New Avengers explores the trauma, trust issues, and uneasy alliances between a team of outcasts trying to prove their worth. We break down the major plot points, big surprises, and what this film means for the MCU as we head toward Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.

In this episode of the Heroes Reforged Podcast, we’re joined by legendary comic book creator Robert Kirkman for an epic conversation! Known for creating groundbreaking series like Invincible, The Walking Dead, Outcast, Fire Power, and Void Rivals, Kirkman shares insights into his creative process, current projects, and what's next for his growing comic book universes.We dig into the future of the Invincible animated series and ask about the status of the long-awaited Invincible live-action movie. Robert also teases major developments in the Energon Universe at Skybound, including the explosive crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe, and how it all connects through Void Rivals. Plus, we talk about the evolution of superhero storytelling, balancing screenwriting with comics, and what fans can look forward to Invincible.

In this special crossover episode, Heroes Reforged teams up with the Phase Hero Podcast to talk all things Thunderbolts*—the newest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We give our spoiler review of the film, which follows a team of misfit anti-heroes including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) as they take on a covert mission that may change their lives—and the MCU—forever.

We also look ahead to the Fantastic Four reboot and how it connects to the larger multiverse saga leading into Avengers: Doomsday. Plus, we shift gears to the DC Universe and discuss James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film, what it means for DC’s new cinematic vision, and how both studios are setting the stage for their next big eras.

Check out our reactions on YouTube and more exclusive reactions on Patreon.

Chapters

00:00 - Like & Subscribe

00:20 - Watch along on Patreon

01:00 - Phase Hero Podcast

02:50 - Thunderbolts* Non-Spoiler Review

09:50 - Thunderbolts* Spoilers

21:50 - Future of the MCU

48:00 - Superman and the DC Universe

1:02:28 - Closing Thoughts

We host a post-mortem discussion on The Last of Us Part II - Episode 2: Through the Valley, following the brutal and emotional loss of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal). We explore the immediate and long-term consequences of his death on Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Tommy (Gabriel Luna), and the newly introduced Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), while unpacking how this pivotal moment reshapes the emotional core of the story and sets the tone for the rest of the season.

We also review Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a bold and genre-blending film that mixes sci-fi, spirituality, and social commentary with a deeply personal story. Shot, in part, on stunning IMAX 70mm, the film uses the large format to amplify its scale and emotional depth while delivering a story with strong cultural resonance. We dive into how Coogler’s vision sets Sinners apart from other blockbusters and explore how overwhelming hype can sometimes skew audience expectations and impact a film’s reception.

If you want to see more from Heroes Reforged, head over to our YouTube channel or get early access to our reactions on Patreon.

Chapters---------------------------------------------------0:00:00 - Like & Subscribe0:00:20 - Watch along on Patreon0:01:05 - The Last of Us Part II - Season 2 Spoilers0:06:10 - How will the show be different?0:11:03 - Was Abby justified?0:20:44 - Ellie and Joel's final moments0:26:03 - Realism in the show0:27:48 - Sinners non-spoiler review0:31:00 - Why it's a standout0:32:55 - Where it ranks amongst other Ryan Coogler movies0:33:59 - Explaining film formats0:40:25 - This movie's too sexy0:42:28 - Sinners hype0:45:15 - Dangers of internet hype0:52:55 - Agustin's regular dad life0:55:14 - Adam's girlfriend's Sinners experience0:57:22 - Closing thoughts