Heroes Journey by CBR

Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton joins Sean O’Connell on Heroes Journey to reveal how Peter Parker’s new MCU chapter was built.
Cretton explains why the movie brings Spider-Man back to New York and street-level crime, how parkour and base-jumping footage shaped the web-swinging, and why the VFX team calculated Tom Holland’s weight, speed, web length, and pendulum arc to make every swing feel physically real.
The Spider-Man: Brand New Day director also breaks down the deep blue and red suit, the seamless transition between practical footage and a digital Spider-Man, and the decision to recreate iconic comic-book covers in live action.
Cretton calls Back to the Future “one of the few perfect movies,” says the action was designed to put viewers “in the shoes and suit of Spidey,” and explains why this version of Spider-Man: Brand New Day could not exist without Ned and MJ.
Sean and Destin also discuss MCU team-ups, Kevin Feige’s role in making them possible, the pressure of directing a global icon, and whether Cretton would return for another massive blockbuster.
Chapters
00:00 – The Spider-Man Marvel Logo Explained02:28 – Making Web-Swinging Feel Physically Real06:27 – Designing Spider-Man’s New Red and Blue Suit09:30 – Recreating Classic Spider-Man Comic Covers13:01 – Why Ned and MJ Had to Return15:12 – How MCU Cameos Serve Peter Parker’s Story17:16 – Directing Spider-Man and What Comes Next

Why did Baelor die, what did viewers miss in the Trial of Seven, and how does Dunk’s perspective change the fight? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Director Owen Harris reveals the key moments that make this Game of Thrones prequel stand apart.
Sierra Nutkevitch talks with Owen Harris about setting the tone for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, why the series leans into honesty, intimacy, and “small folk” perspective, and how the camera stays locked to Dunk during the fight so viewers feel every impact. Harris also explains why Episode 5, “In the Name of the Mother,” avoids turning the Trial of Seven into glossy spectacle and instead makes it feel muddy, claustrophobic, painful, and personal.
The conversation also digs into Baelor’s shocking death, the deliberate misdirection around his injury, and why humor matters in a story where one clumsy, human moment can change the future of Westeros. Harris teases the evolving dynamic between Dunk and Egg, including how Egg’s Targaryen identity changes their relationship moving forward.

Devil May Cry Season 2 takes Dante into darker, more emotional territory as Annie Banks interviews Johnny Yong Bosch about voicing the iconic antihero.
In this Heroes Journey episode, Annie Banks sits down with Johnny Yong Bosch to discuss Dante’s evolution, the emotional weight behind Devil May Cry Season 2, and how this younger version of the character is still earning the confidence, humor, and swagger fans know from the games. Johnny explains that this Dante is still “figuring out who he is,” while also teasing how the new season explores more of Dante and Vergil’s past.
The conversation digs into how antiheroes hide pain behind jokes, how voice actors find truth inside action-heavy anime, and why Dante’s relationship with Vergil may leave a lasting mark on where the character goes next. Johnny also opens up about how personal grief, brotherhood, and emotional memory can shape a performance, giving this Devil May Cry Season 2 interview a deeper, more personal edge.
Highlights include Johnny saying Dante uses humor to take the edge off, teasing that things may get much darker for him, and promising that fans who wanted more Dante and Vergil will see “quite a bit” of that dynamic this season.

Andy Serkis explains why Animal Farm had to change for a new generation, and why this adaptation may divide longtime Orwell fans.
In this Heroes Journey Podcast episode, Rachel Leishman talks with Andy Serkis about adapting George Orwell’s Animal Farm as an animated movie with a younger audience in mind. Serkis breaks down why the story still matters, how Orwell’s themes of power, corruption, misinformation, and dictatorship remain painfully relevant, and why he did not want the movie to feel like a lecture.
The conversation digs into the biggest creative choices behind Animal Farm, including the new piglet character Lucky, the decision to make the film more accessible without abandoning Orwell’s darker ideas, and why Serkis believes the movie should start debate rather than chase an algorithm.
Serkis also explains how Rise of the Planet of the Apes helped inspire his approach, why he wanted the animation to feel cinematic and physically real, and how the voice cast shaped the film. He discusses Seth Rogen as Napoleon, Woody Harrelson as Boxer, Laverne Cox as Snowball, Kathleen Turner as Benjamin, Jim Parsons as the sheep, Glenn Close, and Steve Buscemi.
Highlights include Serkis saying the film was “not made for an algorithm,” explaining why storytelling works as an “empathy machine,” and admitting some fans may argue this version is “not Orwell.”
Chapters:00:00 – Andy Serkis on Why Animal Farm Still Matters02:33 – Why This Animal Farm Targets a Younger Audience03:31 – How Planet of the Apes Inspired the Adaptation05:02 – Lucky the Piglet and the Movie’s Biggest Change07:05 – Designing Animal Farm’s Heroes and Villains09:14 – Why Serkis Wanted Live-Action Style Close-Ups10:19 – Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson and the Voice Cast14:00 – Andy Serkis on Adaptations, Allegory and Fan Expectations18:30 – Why Gollum, Caesar and Animal Farm Stay With Him21:07 – The Debate Serkis Wants Animal Farm to Start

Daredevil: Born Again Episode 1 gets a full non-spoiler breakdown as Sean O’Connell and Rachel Leishman unpack Matt Murdock’s return, Wilson Fisk’s growing power, and the darker direction of Season 2.
In Episode 24 of Heroes Journey, Sean and Rachel keep the focus on Episode 1 while explaining why Daredevil: Born Again already feels bigger, sharper, and more confident this season. They debate whether “Happy Matt Murdock” actually works, why Matt and Karen’s relationship still feels complicated, and how Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force gives the series a timely, uneasy edge. The episode also dives into Matthew Lillard’s standout MCU debut, the Northern Star opening, the question of where Spider-Man and other street-level heroes are, and why Bullseye steals the ending.
This Daredevil: Born Again review is built for fans who want Episode 1 reactions, Season 2 analysis, and Marvel context without getting hit with major spoilers. Sean and Rachel also touch on Punisher, Jessica Jones, Netflix-era tone, and whether the Disney+ version of Daredevil has finally reached the level longtime fans wanted.
What did you think of Daredevil: Born Again Episode 1, and is Season 2 already stronger than Season 1? 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer breakdown starts here as Sean O’Connell and Rachel Leishman dig into every major reveal, theory, and New York-level Spider-Man detail.
In Episode 23 of Heroes Journey, Sean and Rachel react to the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer and unpack what it could mean for Peter Parker after No Way Home. They get into the surprising amount of MJ and Ned footage, why Tom Holland’s new suit feels like the most accurate live-action Spider-Man look yet, and whether Peter’s darker emotional state points to a bigger mutation story.
They also debate the biggest mystery in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer: who Sadie Sink is really playing. Is Marvel hiding a major character reveal, or is the speculation getting ahead of the movie? From Punisher and Bruce Banner to Scorpion, Tombstone, and possible Daredevil connections, this episode stays locked on the street-level side of Spider-Man while asking whether Avengers tie-ins could still be coming.
Sean and Rachel also explain why Peter works best when he feels small against the New York skyline, broke, exhausted, and fully responsible for his city.

Ahmed Best reflects on Jar Jar Binks, Kelleran Beq, and the Star Wars legacy that keeps evolving decades after The Phantom Menace.
In this episode of CBR’s Heroes Journey Podcast, Sean O’Connell sits down with Ahmed Best for a conversation that goes beyond nostalgia and gets at something more meaningful for Star Wars fans: how characters change over time, how fan perception shifts, and how artists reclaim their place in a franchise’s history. 
Ahmed Best looks back on Jar Jar Binks, explains why people are still telling Jar Jar stories all these years later, and opens up about returning to the galaxy far, far away through Kelleran Beq in Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge and beyond.
The interview also reveals the personal side of Ahmed Best’s creative journey, from his earliest comic-book memory with Superman vs. Muhammad Ali to the martial arts influences that shaped Kelleran Beq’s fighting style. Sean O’Connell and Ahmed Best also touch on Yoda, Rob Coleman, Mira Bridger, Grogu, and the kind of interconnected storytelling that keeps Star Wars expanding in surprising ways. 
If you’ve ever wondered why Jar Jar Binks still matters, how Kelleran Beq became such an important new chapter for Ahmed Best, and what his future in Star Wars could look like, this interview breaks it all down.

Seann William Scott interview dives into Dolly’s gnarly prosthetics, his horror-villain Mount Rushmore, and the Hollywood moments that shaped his career.
On Heroes Journey Podcast Episode 21, Seann William Scott breaks down what it’s actually like to wear a heavy, uncomfortable prosthetic on a horror set, why practical effects still hit harder than CGI, and how Dolly’s killer design went from sketch to something genuinely disturbing. He also gets nerdy about the villains that defined a generation, and tells a painfully funny early-career story that proves Hollywood will humble you fast.
This Seann William Scott interview moves past the usual junket beats: you’ll hear how he thinks about fear on screen, why “staying awake” is still the scariest horror concept, and what it felt like sharing scenes with Bruce Willis while filming Cop Out.

Sean O’Connell and Sierra Nutkevitch kick off CBR Horror Week with horror diehards Katie Doll and Caralynn Matassa to crown the scariest monster on screen.    This horror villain bracket isn’t about “best movie.” It’s about who actually haunts you after the credits: the rule-breaking cosmic terrors, the “just a guy” slashers, and the monsters you can’t simply outrun, outsmart, or out-believe.    Along the way, the panel argues Freddy Krueger vs Pennywise, Jason vs Michael Myers, Samara vs Regan, Blair Witch vs The Witch, The Thing vs the Pale Man, Jigsaw vs Ghostface, Hannibal vs. Leatherface and more. If you love friendly chaos with real horror history baked in, this horror villain bracket is for you.    Highlights include: “You can bully Pennywise to death,” the sudden realization that “nothing is scarier than litigation” might be true, and Sean’s eternal survival tip: “Move to Kansas.”    By the end of the bracket, the finalists collide and the winner is decided. Stick around for the tease of Heroes Journey Live at Emerald City Comic Con, featuring special guest Jeff Loeb and on-stage trivia!  https://www.emeraldcitycomiccon.com/en-us/experiences/panels/event-info.html?gtID=918153&panel-name=Heroes-Journey-A-Live-Recording-of-CBRs-Hit-Podcast 

Robin in the DC Absolute Universe is still a mystery, but the new ‘R’ tease tied to DC’s “Absolute Batman” has fans wondering what comes next for the Boy Wonder.
In Heroes Journey Podcast Episode 19, Sean O’Connell and Sierra Nutkevitch unpack why Scott Snyder’s rollout worked, which Robin might emerge in this remix universe, and how the conversation feeds into Robin in DC's Absolute Universe. They also weigh the big-screen problem: why Robin keeps getting sidelined, and whether The Brave and the Bold is the cleanest path versus forcing Robin into Matt Reeves’ The Batman world.