‘Project Hail Mary’ Will Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! With Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins open the episode with movie news before focusing on "Project Hail Mary," the new Amazon MGM adaptation of Andy Weir's novel directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. They review the film positively, highlighting its practical effects and emotional core, then interview the directors on the production challenges and choices that distinguish it from typical digital-heavy blockbusters.

Oscars Ratings and Industry Shifts

The Oscars telecast drew 17.86 million viewers, down 9% from last year and the lowest since 2022, despite post-COVID upticks in prior years. Hosts attribute this to linear TV's broad decline outside sports, an overly long awards season extending into March (when audiences shift to spring activities), and competition from the World Baseball Classic semifinal (7.86 million viewers). They note ABC's final two years with the Oscars before the Academy moves to YouTube, speculating on adaptations like gamification, direct address, and bite-sized clips to suit platform dynamics, contrasting traditional passive viewing. Other news includes a dim "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" trailer (July 31 release, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton), featuring Tom Holland (29, playing teen Peter Parker post-mind wipe), villains like Punisher (John Bernthal), Scorpion (Michael Mando), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Sadie Sink possibly as Jean Grey; Kirste