Franchisography

We interrupt our regularly scheduled mini-series with a BONUS FEATURE as we return to the Scream franchise for a look at its latest entry, 2023’s SCREAM VI. Only 1 year after the success of 2022’s Scream, writers James Vanderbilt & … Continue reading →

We interrupt our regularly scheduled mini-series with a BONUS FEATURE as we return to the Rocky franchise for a look at its latest entry, 2023’s CREED III. Eight years after stunning the boxing world with his electric debut against “Pretty” … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of the Star Trek mini-series, the future of the franchise, rank all 13 films, and announce our next mini-series (beginning on May 5th)! Next Week: CREED III FRANCHISE … Continue reading →

After the controversy of Into Darkness, and in need of a new Trek film for its 50th anniversary, Paramount wanted a fresh take with a safe, geek-friendly writer, so they turned to actor/writer Simon Pegg and paired him with an … Continue reading →

2009’s Star Trek was a huge success and a sequel was greenlit quickly, but with Abrams busy making Super 8, writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci turned in a script that was too long and didn’t feature a traditional villain, … Continue reading →

We interrupt your previously scheduled mini-series with a Franchisography Bonus Special! Round 1 of this year’s Listener Pick Tournament is over and Nick & Scott are here to discuss where the choices made by our listeners on Discord and Patreon … Continue reading →

After the failure of Nemesis, the Star Trek brand was put on ice for a while only to be resurrected as a reboot (which was the style at the time) that was also a sequel (which was not) in an … Continue reading →

The creative and commercial failure of Insurrection required a slight reset. Producer Rick Berman was determined to continue the TNG film franchise, but Paramount was hesitant. Ultimately, to get the next film greenlit, Berman would have to agree to hire … Continue reading →

After the success of First Contact, writers Braga & Moore decided to go out on top and leave Star Trek behind as they moved on with their writing careers, leaving producer Rick Berman in search of a new writer. With … Continue reading →

After the success of Generations, it was time for the TNG crew to try and make a go of it on their own. Producer Rick Berman returned to writers Braga & Moore for the screenplay with two stipulations: it had … Continue reading →

With The Undiscovered Country, the original Enterprise crew had taken their final bow and with the end of The Next Generation on the horizon after seven seasons, it was time for Picard’s crew to pick up the mantle of Big … Continue reading →

We interrupt your previously scheduled mini-series with a Franchisography Bonus Special! March is nearly upon us, so join Nick & Scott as they discuss the changes being made to the voting process in this year’s Listener Pick Tournament (bye, Twitter!) … Continue reading →

Paramount Pictures had a Star Trek problem. After the muted reception to The Final Frontier, the studio was unsure of what direction to take their still potentially lucrative franchise next. Longtime producer Harve Bennett suggested a Top Gun-like origin story … Continue reading →

After The Voyage Home hit big at the box office and scored four nominations at the 1987 Academy Awards, producer Harve Bennett and the whole Trek team felt unstoppable. But before heading into Trek 5, they had one commitment they … Continue reading →

Sometimes everything works out and everyone is happy. Sometimes filming a movie is a breezy, enjoyable experience made up of energized creatives working in an environment built on mutual respect and singular vision. Sometimes that movie is the critical and … Continue reading →

After the critical and fan acclaim won by The Wrath of Khan, Paramount’s new heading for the Trek franchise was clear: Harve Bennett was the captain now. Original Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had even less power than he did before, … Continue reading →

In the wake of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE’S divisive release, Paramount put the entire franchise on red alert. Their first step in assembling a crew for the sequel was selecting a new creative lead; Harve Bennett, a television producer … Continue reading →

Star Trek. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the podcast FRANCHISOGRAPHY. Their 13-film mission: to learn the history behind the Star Trek film franchise. To understand the complex and frustrating tug of war between creator Gene Roddenberry, director … Continue reading →

It’s a Betweenisode! Join Nick & Scott as they discuss the conclusion of the Rocky/Creed mini-series, rank all 8 films, and discuss the start of the Star Trek mini-series beginning next week. FRANCHISE POTENTIAL: Real Steel (2011) episode now available … Continue reading →

Three years after his loss to “Pretty” Ricky Conlan, the world now knows Adonis Johnson Creed by a different name: The Champ. But his victory comes at a cost: Adonis’s sudden fame catches the attention of Ukrainian boxer Viktor Drago, … Continue reading →

In the early 2010s just as his promising film career was beginning to take off, an unexpected family crisis found writer-director Ryan Coogler’s dreams drifting to thoughts of a childhood cinematic hero, and an exciting way to continue his story … Continue reading →

Sixteen years after the failure of Rocky V and thirty years after his first round as the character, Stallone was ready to get back in the ring one more time for 2006’s ROCKY BALBOA.  After letting the character rest through … Continue reading →

Five years after the most successful Rocky movie ever made, Stallone decided to write a bittersweet ending for his character that attempted to bring him back to his Philadelphia roots in 1990’s ROCKY V, this time with original director John … Continue reading →

After the immense success of Rocky III, Stallone looked to a real pair of boxing matches between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling for inspiration, updating the conflict with WWII Nazi Germany to Cold War Soviet Union. But to make it … Continue reading →

We pity the fool who skips this episode! As Stallone puts it, Rocky made him famous, but Rocky II made him rich. And with this newfound success, he wanted to give his underdog boxer character a similar trajectory, turning him … Continue reading →