Marvel, DC, and Mortal Kombat Collide | Donkey Kong Bonanza Review | Actor Chris Maher Tells All

Frank and Squeaks squeeze a convention’s worth of geek news into one episode. They unpack the Mortal Kombat 2 trailer, debate James Gunn and Kevin Feige’s competing road maps, and rate Donkey Kong Bonanza out of ten bananas. Actor‑producer Chris Maher (Blowback, Mojave Diamonds) stops by to share indie‑film war stories, screen‑test secrets, and hard‑won advice for working actors. Timestamps & Topics 00:00 – Intro and episode roadmap 00:25 – Question of the Week: where David Corenswet should land in Star Wars 02:15 – Mortal Kombat 2 trailer reactions; Karl Urban as Johnny Cage 07:10 – Marvel news: street‑level Spider‑Man, MCU reset, Kang fallout 13:20 – DC slate: Superman spin‑offs, two films a year, animated experiments 20:01 – X‑Men reboot by Jake Schreier, younger roster, villain wish list 23:00 – Spin‑off talk: Mr. Terrific, Jimmy Olsen, Paradise Lost expectations 30:00 – Wonder Woman fast‑tracked with Ana Nogueira scripting 37:45 – Henry Cavill exit explained—who he could play next 42:00 – Donkey Kong Bonanza review: mechanics, nostalgia, 9/10 bananas 46:42 – Interview: Chris Maher on auditions, stunts, producing, new film Nova 1:08:42 – Acting advice & networking: why paid classes matter 1:18:40 – Network news, Sandman binge, Xbox summer sale picks 1:22:53 – Recommendations & outro Key Takeaways Mortal Kombat 2 looks “worthy of theaters” with a Johnny Cage‑centric story. Kevin Feige confirms a post‑2027 MCU reset focused on fewer, higher‑quality releases. James Gunn aims for two DC films plus one animated project annually to combat superhero fatigue. A younger X‑Men lineup is coming; the hosts pitch Henry Cavill as Mister Sinister. Donkey Kong Bonanza nails open‑world exploration and earns 9/10 bananas from Squeaks. Chris Maher reminds actors “the real job is auditioning” and stresses business savvy in showbiz. Boardwalk Winter releases August 5; Maher’s Vindicator distribution news is imminent. Memorable Quotes “I’m a thirty‑year‑old man web‑slinging around my house after Spider‑Man 2.” — Frank “Short films are fun; features are short films times ten headaches.” — Chris Maher “Editors, I love you guys…but I still mess with the clapper.” — Chris Maher “Sandman hits different when you’re reading, listening, and binging all at once.” — Squeaks Call to Action If this episode hit your geek sweet spot, tap Subscribe, drop a quick 5‑star review, and share a screenshot with #GeekFreaksPodcast so we can shout you out next week! Links & Resources All news pulled from GeekFreaksPodcast.com – your one‑stop source Pre‑order Boardwalk Winter (Chris Maher, Natalie Veeder, Victoria Jackson) Follow Chris Maher on Instagram: @chrisfredma Follow Us Facebook: facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast Instagram: instagram.com/geekfreakspodcast Twitter: twitter.com/geekfreakspod Threads: threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast Patreon: patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast Listener Questions What indie comic, game, or film should we spotlight next? Email GeekFreaksPodcast@gmail.com or tag us with #GeekFreaksMailbag and we might feature your question on air. Apple Podcast Tags Marvel news, DC Universe, Mortal Kombat 2, Donkey Kong Bonanza review, Chris Maher interview, acting advice, geek culture podcast