This week’s Geek Freaks episode hits four lanes at once: big announcements for our community, a news run through adventure franchises and animation, a meaty look at GTA 6’s delay, and a spoiler-lite review of Predator Badlands. We cap it with a creator-to-creator conversation with Ken Maney of ODPH about staying power in podcasting.
The Mummy Returns to Adventure Mode
Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are back for a new Mummy film. The conversation lands on why that pairing works: pulpy archaeology, practical creature work, and banter you can take the whole family to. The hope is a swashbuckling tone that treats Rick and Evelyn like seasoned heroes while passing the torch to fresh faces. Think big set pieces, real-world locations beyond Egypt, and a rogues’ gallery built around resurrecting the dead. Done right, this scratches the same itch as Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure.
K Pop Demon Hunters Targets 2029
Netflix and Sony are reuniting for a 2029 sequel, and the long runway might be a blessing. Expect higher-tier animation, bigger music partnerships, and choreography-driven action. We kick around story angles too, especially Remi’s lineage and the history of the previous trio. With the first film finding its audience, a follow up that leans into global collabs could turn a cult hit into a pop event.
GTA 6 Moves to November 19, 2026
Rockstar nudged Grand Theft Auto VI to November 19, 2026. Frustrating, sure, but the case for patience is strong. This game will dominate conversation beyond gaming. Studios will dodge the release window, collectors will eye premium editions, and mainstream shows will cover launch week like it’s a national event. That scale leaves no room for a shaky release. A later date that lands clean is better than a rushed launch that burns goodwill. The industry will plan around it either way.
Predator Badlands: Small Story, Big Pulse
Frank’s take: Predator Badlands rules by keeping it simple. Dan Trachtenberg centers character intent over lore dumps, and it works. The film plays like a survival mission on a hostile world, pairing a young Predator proving himself with an Elle Fanning performance split across two synth roles with different temperaments. Practical effects do a lot of the heavy lifting, with CGI used to amplify rather than replace. Fights sometimes lean digital-on-digital, but the standout moments land, including inventive weapon work that will light up cosplay brains.
The best compliment is that you don’t need franchise homework. Motivation is crystal clear, geography is readable, and the movie moves. It sets the table for a sequel without needing one, and it earns an 8/10 on pure watchability. If you love Star Trek-style away missions, survival games, or the “that was cool” charge you got from Fury Road and similar theater bangers, this hits that groove.
Ken Maney of ODPH
We close with a conversation that longtime podcasters will feel in their bones. Ken Maney traces ODPH’s start in 2017, the meaning behind the name, and the early days of buying gear, rehearsing, and shipping even when it wasn’t perfect. It’s a practical look at building a multi-topic show with friends, sustaining a brand through platform shifts, and finding your voice without waiting forever for “perfect.” It’s also a nice time capsule of the Twitter era’s podcast communities and how collaboration keeps you in the game.
Thanks for listening and hanging with us at events. If you’re a patron, double-check your address so your package lands on time.
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