Philip and Bridget discuss 'Project Hail Mary,' the film adaptation of the Andy Weir novel about an attempt to save the world through mostly real-world technology. Ryan Gosling's Ryland Grace is the sole surviving member of a crewed space mission to Tau Ceti aboard the Hail Mary. He was sent to find a cure for "astrophage," a viral organism that is draining the energy of the stars in Earth's vicinity. Tau Ceti is the only one that appears unaffected. Truly a "hail Mary" of a mission, especially now that has crewmates are dead, the amnesia-stricken Dr. Grace can only hope that a series of unexpected discoveries can somehow salvage any prospect of the mission's success. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Lara discuss the 2026 film from Pixar, 'Hoppers'. This wacky comedy hearkens to a classical mode of cartooning, where animal robots piloted by humans interact with highly anthropomorphized members of the animal kingdom. This fantasy technology allows the "hopper" to understand and talk to animals, and it works in a similar way to the titular tech from the 'Avatar' films. Mabel, a 19-year-old college student, stumbles upon this technology as she investigates a mysteriously empty wildlife habitat. The one creature she finds happens to be a beaver robot controlled by her professor, Dr. Sam. Mabel commandeers the robot in order to find the missing animals and wild adventures ensue. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/partoflarasworld, instagram.com/laraakal, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Jodi discuss the new film from Director Emerald Fennell and Warner Bros. Pictures, 'Wuthering Heights' (2026), based on the 1847 novel by Emily Brontë. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as childhood friends-turned-lovers Catherine and Heathcliff. Tragedy and hardship conspire to separate the pair who are then reunited later in adulthood. Passions reignite in the northern English shire where they shared their upbringing and now live as neighbors. Such a twist of fortune could only be the stuff of fairy tales--or nightmares. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/philipehlke, tiktok.com/@jodipolasky47. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Lara discuss the new adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein from Guillermo del Toro and Netflix, featuring a star-studded cast and an impressive awards season run. This visual spectacle follows the life journey of Victor Frankenstein, son of a renowned surgeon and aristocrat, who suffers the loss of his mother at a young age. Victor becomes obsessed with the human anatomy and the preservation of one's natural life. Whilst conducting macabre experiments with human cadavers, he discovers a way to reanimate an assemblage of body parts, leading to his and his wealthy benefactor's fully-fledged scientific pursuit in the service of playing God. Their efforts yield miraculous results, but their hubris leads to certain dire consequences. Will the creature spawned from the work of Dr. Frankenstein embody the lack of humanity often displayed by its creator? Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/partoflarasworld, instagram.com/laraakal, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Jodi discuss 'Marty Supreme' and a variety of other topics such as the Safdie Brothers' filmography, 'Uncut Gems', and the late 2025/early 2026 media and content landscape. The they explore the parallels between 'Uncut Gems' protagonist Howard Ratner and Marty Mauser. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/philipehlke, tiktok.com/@jodipolasky47. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip, Lara, and Bridget discuss the conclusion of the film adaptations of the Broadway musical 'Wicked.' Styled 'Wicked: For Good' and filmed simultaneously with act one of the duology, this Universal Pictures release takes place at least a year after the conclusion of the first film. Whilst Glinda, Fiyero and Nessarose are established in their prominent roles as public servants, Elphaba is painted in the public's eye as the traitorous, deplorable "Wicked Witch of the West." The current Ozian regime is one of rapid industrialization and modernization, and anyone other than a proper human Ozian is subject to discrimination or worse. In this magical land where the foremost Wizard and Witch are incapable of real magic, true power is viewed with hostility by the one magical mastermind, Madam Morrible. Uniformity and submissiveness are paramount. Can Elphaba enlist the aid of the Wizard and Glinda to thwart their behind-the-scenes puppetmaster? Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/partoflarasworld, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip, Samara and Elliott review and discuss the new film from Twentieth Century Studios and director Dan Trachtenberg, 'Predator: Badlands'. This is the latest chapter in the 'Alien' and 'Predator' franchises that pairs Dek, a member of the "Yautja" predator species, with the android Thia on the alien planet Genna. He must claim a coveted trophy during a ritual hunt and attempt to gain the respect of his clan, despite having been exiled due to his perceived frailty and dubbed a "runt" by his father. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/samara_mitchell9, instagram.com/ellimundo, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Bridget discuss 'American Psycho,' a horror/thriller/Christian Bale vehicle from director Mary Harron. Released in 2000, the film is an adaptation of the 'American Psycho' novel by Bret Easton Ellis that is meant to be a grisly, satirical critique of 1980s corporate culture. Bale portrays Patrick Bateman, a young executive on Wall Street, who is obsessed with his looks and social status, his egocentric inner monologue serving as the film's narration. Along with concealing his terrible insecurity, his outward façade also serves to hide an insatiable bloodlust. A man whose existential void has left him bereft of his humanity, Bateman must deal with the maelstrom of chaos that surrounds him constantly, a desperate scenario placated--and reinforced--by his social standing. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Jodi review and discuss 'Tron: Ares', the third film in Disney's TRON saga starring Jared Leto and Greta Lee, directed by Joachim Rønning. The film further expands on TRON's themes of technology and its effect on humanity by bringing objects--and people--from the computer world into reality. Tech giant Dillinger Systems uses a laser device developed by its rival Encom, depicted in the original 'Tron', to print vehicles and soldiers with the aims of securing military contracts. Encom employs a similar laser prototyping process, but both companies lack the "permanence code" that prevents the printed objects from eventually disintegrating. It is believed that former Encom CEO Kevin Flynn held the permanence code, and has hidden it somewhere at Encom. This puts current CEO Eve Kim in danger as her rival, Julian Dillinger, becomes impatient for a breakthrough, believing he has sculpted the perfect warrior in Ares, the Master Control Program. Ares must lead a team in the real world to kidnap Eve who has recently acquired the code, but he must do so quickly since each of his "lifespans" last only 29 minutes.... Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/philipehlke, tiktok.com/@jodipolasky47. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip, Bridget, and Lara discuss the new film from Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, 'KPop Demon Hunters'. The film follows a group of K-Pop artists in South Korea, Huntr/x, comprised of pop stars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. These are no ordinary artists, but super-powered warriors capable of detecting and fighting off demons that manage to infiltrate the real world. They not only uses their music to entertain millions, but also to cast an aura of protection over their homeland that keeps ancient demons from feeding on human souls. This aura, the Honmoon, is threatened when one musically talented demon forms a K-Pop boy band to rival Huntr/x. Will the rivalry doom Huntr/x to failure in their mission to protect the world from their nemesis, Gwi-Ma, now that his servants, the Saja Boys, have found success? Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/partoflarasworld, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com