The Pod Universe with Dylan & Dalton
Writers Dalton Deschain and Dylan Roth first joined together to create Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe? a podcast in which they pitched new installments of the canceled Dark Universe of monster movies. After completing their 30-part saga, they’ve set out to do something new - an all-original cinematic universe of imaginary movies, written, workshopped, and performed on all podcatchers and YouTube. To listen from the beginning of Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe, start with THE MUMMY from October 2022. To jump onboard for The Pod Universe, start with WELCOME TO THE POD UNIVERSE, from September 2025.
info_outline
Pod People, Part One
09/14/2025
Pod People, Part One
It's the opening chapter of Dylan & Dalton's original cinematic universe of imaginary sci-fi movies! Pod People is a sci-fi thriller set in Silicon Valley, where a pair of brilliant young engineers discover that their employers, their co-workers, and maybe even their friends and family are being systematically replaced by doppelgängers. But for what purpose, and how deep does the conspiracy go? It’s a modern riff on 1950s paranoid thrillers, most obviously Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but if you know us, then you know we’ve got our own wild twist on the premise. SPONSORS - a podcast that expands on Sony's failed cinematic universe of Spider-Man characters - a fantasy/espionage/romance novel series by Chase McPherson - a horror novella by merritt k. And of course you can join our Patreon at for access to our bonus podcast, Discord server, and other fun perks. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:04:10 - Discussion 00:15:04 - Act One 00:45:07 - Sponsors: Has to Do With Spider-Man, I Think? & Bloodbound by Chase McPherson 00:54:31 - Act Two 01:22:36 - Sponsor: Vampirocene by merritt. k 01:23:24 - Discussion 01:29:37 - Patron acknowledgements
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/38192570
info_outline
Welcome to The Pod Universe
09/07/2025
Welcome to The Pod Universe
In 2022, Dylan Roth and Dalton Deschain set out to finish writing the Dark Universe that began and ended with Universal's 2017 remake of The Mummy. Three years and 29 scripts later, they're embarking on a whole new journey, leaving the realm of fan fiction behind to write, workshop, and perform an entire new universe of imaginary movies on their podcast. You are now entering... THE POD UNIVERSE. This episode was sponsored by three independent creative projects: - Ditch the algorithm with PV Guide, featuring recommendations, reviews, and interviews from former Polygon senior curation editor Pete Volk. Forget the robots: Find what to watch next with a human touch. by merritt k. - When viral pop star Janie Mack "comes out" as a vampire, most people think it's just a play for attention. But when she launches a new movement to stop climate change, people start listening... by Chase McPherson - Bloodbound is a gripping saga of identity, resilience, and redemption—where every choice could save two worlds… or doom them both. Learn more at byChaseMcP.com for direct links to your favorite online book retailers. Want to promote your art on our show? Look us up at for details. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - What is the Pod Universe? 00:38:00 - Sponsor: PV Guide 00:40:15 - Slate Reveal, Part 1 00:58:52 - Sponsor: Vampirocene 01:01:11 - Slate Reveal, Part 2 01:14:03 - Sponsor: Bloodhound 01:19:28 - Pod People teaser trailer
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/38110380
info_outline
BONUS: Harry and the Wickermen
08/17/2025
BONUS: Harry and the Wickermen
This month's episode of the bonus pod, Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton? is free for everybody, and there's even a video version available on our YouTube channel! Become a Patron at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton to get access to the whole series and all future episodes. (Most of them are just audio, but we've been doing more video episodes lately!) This month's Studio Mandate, selected by one of our Patrons, is "Harry and the Hendersons!" How will Dylan & Dalton reimagine this 1987 family film into a canonical chapter in our bootleg Dark Universe? We've got movies to review, including the head-to-head superhero blockbusters Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman! PLUS: It's the final installment of our first movie exchange series, "Treks Education" and "The Dalterion Collection." Dalton completes their mandated watchthrough of the entire Star Trek film series with 2016's Star Trek Beyond, while Dylan watches one last prestige picture in "The Wicker Man!" What did they think? Click on through to find out. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intro! 00:02:59 - Bev Check 00:05:45 - Dylan & Dalton At Da Movies 00:06:04 - 28 Years Later 00:07:45 - Presence 00:08:43 - Final Destination: Bloodlines 00:11:51 - Interview with the Vampire 00:13:49 - Eddington 00:18:03 - Oh, Hi! 00:21:20 - Fantastic Four: First Steps & Superman 00:28:17 - Studio Mandate: Harry & the Hendersons 00:37:32 - Our pitch for Harry & the Hendersons 00:49:37 - Dylan guest stars on Original Podcast Do Not Steal 00:51:47 - What's next after Treks Education & The Dalterion Collection? 00:55:46 - Treks Education - Star Trek Beyond 01:07:07 - Dalton's final Star Trek rankings 01:13:21 - The Dalterion Collection - The Wicker Man
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/37850450
info_outline
BONUS: Into the Weeds
08/03/2025
BONUS: Into the Weeds
You didn't think we'd go radio silent for August, did you? While we toil away at the next phase of our show, we'll be keeping the party going by releasing a few of our favorite bonus episodes — usually exclusive to our Patreon — onto the main feed. Enjoy! Sign up at to enjoy more goofy nonsense like this. Originally published to Patreon on February 16th, 2025. On this episode, D&D stray from the path and grant one Patron's wish: to create a Dark Universe version of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods! Dalton has an unexpected reaction to one of Trek fandom's least favorite features, and Dylan auditions Audition! Heads up that we will be FULLY spoiling Audition. PLUS: The hosts try to agree on when the last good Marvel movie was. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intro and Dylan’s Makeover 00:02:34 - Bev Check 00:07:42 - Dylan & Dalton At Da Movies - Babygirl, Flow, Emilia Perez, The Brutalist, Captain America: Brave New World 00:18:52 - When was the last good Marvel movie? 00:23:54 - Studio Mandates - Into the Woods 00:54:33 - Treks Education - Star Trek: Insurrection 01:08:37 - Dalton’s updated Trek rankings 01:12:12 - The Dalterion Collection - Audition FULL SPOILERS
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/37648765
info_outline
Revisiting The Mummy / Fan Q&A
07/20/2025
Revisiting The Mummy / Fan Q&A
In the final episode before the big relaunch, Dylan & Dalton take one last look at the film that started it all, 2017's The Mummy, and try and figure out what they'd do differently if they'd been able to start the Dark Universe totally from scratch. Then, at long last, we answer as many fan questions as possible before closing Death's Door for good. PLUS: A clip from this month's new episode of the bonus pod, in which we pitch a Dark Universe horror-western based on a forgotten Universal flick, Curse of the Undead. Become a subscriber at to listen to all of our bonus episodes, plus join our lovely Discord community. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intro & why we’re remote this week 00:04:04 - Reflecting on Hell on Earth 00:19:12 - Dylan & Dalton watch The Mummy (2017) AGAIN. 00:31:01 - How would we have done the Dark Universe? 00:54:00 - Clip from the Bonus Pod 00:55:53 - Fan questions: Process 01:30:23 - Fan questions: Hypotheticals 01:42:01 - Fan questions: Semantics 01:46:46 - Fan questions: Kudos
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/37468405
info_outline
Finding "Hell on Earth" - The Last Dark Universe Story Break
07/06/2025
Finding "Hell on Earth" - The Last Dark Universe Story Break
Back in April, Dylan & Dalton sat down to decide how to end their Dark Universe. This is the entire story break meeting in which the two hosts determined how to make their two separate visions for Dark Legion: Hell on Earth into one cohesive story. IN TWO WEEKS: One last look back through Death's Door, before venturing out into a new frontier... TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Planning 00:22:46 - Field of Nightmares Deleted Post-Credits Scene 00:25:12 - Planning Continued 00:59:13 - The Ending
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/37280385
info_outline
Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part Three
06/22/2025
Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part Three
Three years ago, we resurrected the Dark Universe. Now, we're ending it. It's the finale to the Death's Door Saga, and this era for our podcast. We're so grateful to everyone who's been with us for this journey, and we're so excited to embark on a new one. In two weeks, as always, we'll post the complete story break session we recorded before writing the script to Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, then one more episode to wrap up our Dark Universe experiment. After that? A blank page... TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:02:43 - Act Three 01:17:29 - Credits 01:22:19 - Post-Credits Scene 01:23:47 - Discussion And now, a bunch of credits and acknowledgments, which may contain spoilers. STARRING Julian Ames as Larry Talbot Ella Dawson as Jennifer Halsey Dalton Deschain as Nick Morton & Victor Frankenstein Anique Evans as Marya Zaleska and Emily Abe Goldfarb as The Master, Henry Jekyll, and Eddie Hyde Jenna Kass as Caroline Clerval Tyler McCall as Carol’s Mother Victoria McNally as Angela Rachel Millman as Gwen Conliffe Sarah Norcross as Evelyn O’Connell and Young Carol Sam Paxton as Arm Demon & Carol’s Father Dylan Roth as Dracula & Rick O’Connell Steph Salo as Carol Laemmle Joe Stando as Jack Griffin Frankie Starker as Ahmanet Andy Webb as Dr. Chapman and Chris Vail Kendra Wells as Hunter Marin And Patrick Willems as David MUSIC Original score by Dylan Roth Includes themes from "The Mummy" by Jerry Goldsmith, "The Mummy Returns" by Alan Silvestri, "The Mummy" by Brian Tyler "DESTROYA" by My Chemical Romance "Love Never Dies" by Andrew Lloyd Webber "Stork & Owl" by TV on the Radio "We're the Dark" by Dylan Roth
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/37101560
info_outline
Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part Two
06/19/2025
Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part Two
It's Act Two of our massive saga-ending crossover, and this time, we'll see you in Hell. Only one episode left in the Death's Door Saga, coming in just three days... There are some MAJOR SPOILERS in the cast credits below, so most of this description is going to be us warning you to stop scrolling. Last chance to avoid cast spoilers. Okay, here we go. FEATURING THE VOICES OF... Julian Ames as Larry Anique Evans as Marya Abe Goldfarb as Jekyll & Hyde Jenna Kass as Caroline Tyler McCall as Mother Victoria McNally as Angela Sarah Norcross as Evelyn and Girl Sam Paxton as Father Joe Stando as Jack Frankie Starker as Ahmanet Andy Webb as Dr. Chapman Kendra Wells as Hunter and Patrick Willems as David TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:06:03 - Act Two 00:38:25 - Discussion 00:44:15 - Act Two Continued 01:28:01 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/37066375
info_outline
Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part One
06/15/2025
Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part One
Here we are, at the end of the line. The final chapter in the Death's Door Saga is being divided into THREE parts. This is Act One, with all of our usual preamble, fan predictions, and some big announcements. Act Two will be released on Thursday, June 19th, and Act Three arrives on Sunday, June 22nd. After that? Oh, we'll get there. But for now... FEATURING THE VOICES OF... Anique Evans as Emily Abe Goldfarb as The Master Sarah Norcross as Evelyn O'Connell Patrick Willems as David and Sam Paxton as Arm Demon TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:03:23 - Discussion 00:07:38 - Big announcement! 00:11:09 - Fan predictions 00:20:41 - Director Choice 00:21:50 - Act One 00:48:32 - Discussion 01:01:26 - Act One Continued 01:25:03 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/37012915
info_outline
Incubus w/Calvin Kasulke & Mattie Lubchansky
06/01/2025
Incubus w/Calvin Kasulke & Mattie Lubchansky
For our last guest episode before HELL ON EARTH, we've brought back two of our past guests to create our most manic creative jam session yet! Hot off their tour and in the best comedy form of their lives, author Calvin Kasulke and cartoonist Mattie Lubchansky return to pitch a remake of Incubus, the 1966 occult horror flick starring William Shatner and performed entirely in Esperanto! Plus, a clip from our latest bonus episode, in which D&D came up with a wild new spin on Wes Craven's Shocker! Join the Patreon for $5/mo and get caught up on Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton! Start your 7-day free trial at . 00:00:00 - Start 00:02:10 - Re-Introducing Calvin Kasulke & Mattie Lubchansky! 00:04:07 - Incubus Recap 00:43:56 - Incubus Pitch 01:30:02 - Plugs 01:33:03 - Prevues of Coming Attraction
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/36802835
info_outline
TRAILER: Dark Legion: Hell on Earth
05/25/2025
TRAILER: Dark Legion: Hell on Earth
IN THREE WEEKS, the Death's Door Saga comes to an end. Since you've all been so patient, we thought we'd treat you to a little sneak peek... Featuring Frankie Starker as the voice of Ahmanet. First person to detect what song Dylan has trailer-fied in the middle chunk of the trailer gets a high five. NEXT WEEK: Incubus with Mattie Lubchansky and Calvin Kasulke!
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/36701565
info_outline
C.H.U.D. w/Patrick Gill
05/18/2025
C.H.U.D. w/Patrick Gill
As we inch ever-closer to Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, journalist, streamer, and video producer Patrick Gill joins us to pitch a fresh, modern take on the cult classic monster movie C.H.U.D.! What compelled Patrick to rent this movie from the old mail-order Netflix? What does this high-end B-movie have in common with Jaws? How will Patrick, Dylan, and Dalton reimagine it to speak to modern New York? What, if anything, will "C.H.U.D." stand for this time around? Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start 00:02:18 - Welcome Patrick Gill! 00:05:27 - Why C.H.U.D.? 00:09:13 - Patrick’s Dark Universe credentials 00:15:02 - C.H.U.D. Recap 00:39:17 - Patrick’s pitch for a better C.H.U.D. 01:14:49 - Casting 01:25:30 - Plugs 01:26:41 - Patron Thanks 01:27:55 - Prevues of Coming Attractions
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/36584035
info_outline
DU Plus: 5 TV Pitches w/Joseph Fink
05/04/2025
DU Plus: 5 TV Pitches w/Joseph Fink
Back in 2024, we appointed Welcome to Night Vale co-creator Joseph Fink to be the Dark Universe's Head of Television. Now, he's returned to the show to pitch Dylan & Dalton FIVE new TV ideas that run the gamut from hospital drama to reality competition show! It's a jam-packed one-hour creative jam session like nothing we've done before. Check out Joseph's new podcast , and find out if is coming to a city near you this summer, fall, or winter! Our podcast partner this week is , on which filmmaker David Dylan Thomas and a parade of filmmakers, fans, and historians discuss the inspiration and production of his upcoming zombie horror-comedy about the bodies of enslaved people rising from the grave with a powerful and very specific hunger for the flesh of white people. If you like hearing us yammer on about our imaginary movies, go follow someone who's actually making one! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:03:21 - Re-introducing Joseph Fink! 00:07:11 - Dr. Frankenstein, MD 00:22:09 - A Graveyard Smash 00:30:34 - Prodigium 00:44:47 - Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe? 00:53:39 - The Invisible Family 01:05:40 - Plugs 01:07:41 - Show announcements!
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/36421775
info_outline
Field of Nightmares
04/20/2025
Field of Nightmares
Nearly two years ago, Dylan announced that he'd be writing a Dark Universe take on Field of Dreams. Now, for his last solo pitch of the Death's Door Saga, he finally has to pitch it, and it's not remotely the script he initially planned. So, is that a good thing, or a bad thing? What the Hell is Field of Nightmares, and how will it be recieved by Dalton, who has no fondness for the 1989 baseball film on which it's based? PLUS: A quick clip from this month's bonus episode, on which D&D pitch a chapter in the Jenny & Carol saga based on the obscure TV movie Snow White: A Tale of Terror! Dylan would also like to acknowledge the late, great film composer James Horner, whose themes from the original Field of Dreams feature heavily in his score to this episode. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:32 - Why Field of Dreams? 00:07:28 - Dalton hates Field of Dreams 00:08:57 - A brief Field of Dreams recap 00:11:44 - Fan expectations 00:15:00 - Director choice (or is it?) 00:21:02 - Prologue 00:25:31 - Discussion 00:27:00 - Act One 00:42:57 - Discussion 00:46:46 - Act Two Part One 01:11:01 - Discussion 01:21:23 - Bonus pod clip 01:22:27 - Act Two Part Two 01:31:54 - Discussion 01:38:13 - Act Three 02:03:00 - Mid-Credits scene 02:04:48 - The Post-Credits scene that WASN’T 02:06:02 - Discussion 02:11:15 - The ACTUAL director choice! 02:12:24 - Coming up next… 02:16:02 - Patron acknowledgement
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/36232840
info_outline
Waterworld: The Stunt Show w/Danielle Radford
04/06/2025
Waterworld: The Stunt Show w/Danielle Radford
Actor, writer, podcaster, and professional funny person join the Dark Universe to pitch what might be our most unhinged installment yet. It's not "Waterworld," it's "Waterworld: The Stunt Show... The Movie? Learn how this beloved theme park attraction based on the maligned box office boondoggle found a special place in Danielle's heart, and how we can possible turn this into a franchise extension of our sprawling Dark Universe! Our podcast partner this episode is , a new podcast reporting bravely and boldly every Wednesday as the news breaks from the center of the multiverse (by which we mean the DC Comics Universe). Hosted by Alex Jaffe. PLUS: Stick around to the end to hear the new single from Dylan's band , "How to Make it In America!" Now streaming wherever you're listening to this. Plus, there's a . TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intros 00:03:33 - Introducing the Waterworld Stunt Spectacular 00:16:33 - Danielle talks horror 00:21:17 - I guess we'll also summarize Waterworld the Movie 00:33:25 - Stunt show plot summary 00:45:12 - Break, DC Action News promo, quick Dylan announcement 00:46:28 - Danielle's pitch 00:53:49 - D&D workshop the pitch 00:01:17 - "How to Make It In America" by No Jersey
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/36021255
info_outline
The Exorcist
03/23/2025
The Exorcist
It's Dalton's final solo pitch of the Death's Door Saga, and not coincidentally the bleakest and most disturbing! In the spirit of the original Exorcist and their beloved Exorcist III, Dalton's reimagining is obscene, blasphemous, but also totally sincere and even a little bit profound. Be aware that this episode is not for the faint of heart and we've included a LONG list of content warnings that you should not take lightly. (See: 02:20:17) But, if you like shocking, transgressive horror stories, you may well get a lot out of it. Either way, our next few episodes are guaranteed to be a lot lighter in tone! This episode includes a clip from the latest bonus podcast, which you can check out by joining our Patreon at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton for as little as $5/month. Start your 7-day free trial today! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:03:23 - Fan Expectations 00:11:11 - Trigger Warnings 00:13:13 - Dylan’s Expectations 00:14:49 - Director Choice 00:17:57 - Act One - Station 1: Jesus is Condemned to Death 00:24:46 - Discussion 00:27:28 - Station 2: Jesus Takes Up His Cross 00:38:49 - Discussion 00:42:37 - Station 3: Jesus Falls for the First Time 00:47:17 - Station 4: Jesus Meets His Mother 00:48:16 - Discussion 00:52:14 - Act Two - Station 5: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross 00:58:35 - Discussion 00:59:58 - Station 6: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus 01:05:31 - Discussion 01:08:10 - Station 7: Jesus Falls for the Second Time 01:12:54 - Discussion 01:18:21 - Station 8: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem 01:25:36 - Discussion 01:28:11 - Station 9: Jesus Falls for the Third Time 01:35:40 - Station 10: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments 01:37:14 - Discussion 01:39:39 - Act Three - Jesus is Nailed to the Cross, AKA the Three Hours’ Agony 01:53:38 - Discussion 02:01:06 - Station 12: Jesus Dies on the Cross 02:04:08 - Station 13: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross 02:08:27 - Station 14: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb 02:10:59 - Station 15: The Resurrection of Jesus 02:17:14 - Discussion 02:20:17 - Trigger Warnings (SPOILERS) 02:22:27 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/35823020
info_outline
The Invisible Woman w/Stella Sacco
03/09/2025
The Invisible Woman w/Stella Sacco
In 1940, Universal cashed in on the success of their Invisible Man films with a spin-off, The Invisible Woman, which was very much not a horror movie! Instead, we got an extremely slight and forgettable screwball comedy. Now, in 2025, our guest writer/video game narrative designer Stella Sacco has been tasked with creating a new darker, scarier and (if you can believe it) gayer version of The Invisible Woman for our Dark Universe! Our podcast partner for this episode is , a show about the most important comic of the 21st century, and the greatest series you’ve never heard of. Each week Journalist Gita Jackson and DC Historian Alex Jaffe read and explore an issue of 52, a 2006 exploration of the DC universe by a legendary team of talent that shaped everything that came after it. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:01:37 - Welcome Stella Sacco! 00:13:17 - Choosing The Invisible Woman 00:23:08 - Plot Summary 00:50:30 - Stella’s Abandoned First Draft 00:53:25 - Stella’s Pitch 01:41:16 - Stella’s Plugs
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/35588465
info_outline
Mystery Men
02/23/2025
Mystery Men
Hell has broken loose in the Dark Universe, and we could really use some levity — both there and in the real world! Fear not, for our heroes may be dead, but at least there's, uh, these guys. Time to meet Dark Universe MYSTERY MEN! For the first time, the Didactic Mr. Dylan has (mostly) stepped off his political soapbox to deliver a pure action-adventure romp whose primary objective is to show the fans at home a good time. Hear how Dylan took his mission to create some frivilous fan-service way too seriously and wrote a massive tome that had to be cut almost in half to make it to air. PLUS: A clip from our latest bonus episode, in which D&D workshop a Dark Universe version of Sondheim's "Into the Woods." TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:06:03 - Fan Expectations 00:14:24 - Act One 00:40:13 - Discussion 00:45:11 - Act Two Part One 01:07:54 - Discussion 01:13:41 - Act Two Part Two 01:29:37 - Discussion 01:37:07 - Act Three 02:10:56 - Mid-Credits Scene 02:12:27 - Post-Credits Scene 02:13:44 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/35392215
info_outline
The Covenant w/Lindsey Kelk
02/09/2025
The Covenant w/Lindsey Kelk
Author, journalist, and co-host of the wrestling podcast Tights and Fights joins Dylan & Dalton to revisit a cringey teen-targeted dark fantasy from 2006 — The Covenant, starring current Oscar-nominee Sebastian Stan! What makes this film so memorably bad, and how will Lindsey reimagine it into something worthy of our Dark Universe? Plus: Lindsey tells us about her latest novel, , a YA/crossover fantasy with some very interesting (and entirely accidental) parallels to this week's movie! AND THAT'S NOT ALL! Before we sign off for this week, Dylan's prepared a special teaser for his next canon pitch, Mystery Men! Our podcast partner for this episode is not a podcast, but a novel, written by AYADU cast member Ella Dawson! Check out her new romance novel, available now in print, e-book, and audio formats. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intro and meeting our guest, Lindsey Kelk! 00:05:42 - Breaking The Covenant (2006) 00:40:59 - Quick break for Ella Dawson to talk about But How Are You Really? 00:41:49 - Workshopping Lindsey's pitch for a prestige TV reboot of The Covenant 01:35:15 - Lindsey Kelk tells us about The Bell Witches 01:41:31 - A teaser for our next episode, Mystery Men
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/35206340
info_outline
The Old Dark House
01/26/2025
The Old Dark House
2025 kicks off Big, Old, and Dark with Dalton's first solo pitch of the season! It's a modern twist on gothic horror, based on a 1928 novel by J.B. Priestley and a James Whale Universal horror classic that was almost lost forever. How will Dalton reimagine this spooky tale to fit into the HELL ON EARTH era of our ongoing Dark Universe? We'll be real with you - this is a heavy episode, so we've included a trigger warning section that you can skip to before proceeding to the script reading. Listeners sensitive to depictions of sexual assault or trans characters in mortal peril may want to visit the timestamp below before proceeding into the episode. 02:15:26 - Trigger Warnings (SPOILERS!) This week's episode is brought to you by our Patreon, where we've posted the uninterrupted and unabridged reading of Dalton's script, which was just too plain long to keep in this episode. Also, this month on Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton? we pitched a Dark Universe take on the Disney classic The Parent Trap! Enjoy a peek during this episode's intermission and start a 7-day free trial at . TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:06:43 - Fan Expectations 00:10:05 - Dalton’s Approach 00:15:54 - Trigger Warning Warning 00:17:21 - Episode Format 00:19:04 - Director Choice 00:20:55 - Act One 00:53:19 - Discussion 01:04:24 - Act Two Part One 01:28:11 - Discussion 01:38:09 - Act Two Part Two 01:52:48 - Discussion 01:57:36 - Act Three 02:15:26 - Trigger Warnings (SPOILERS!) 02:17:09 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/35008925
info_outline
Another Dark Universe Holiday Special
12/15/2024
Another Dark Universe Holiday Special
ED. NOTE: At 5:04 in this episode, Dylan says that National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is "not good" and that he "watched it for Dalton," only laughing "one time." However, if you check Dylan's Letterboxd review from last year, he ADMITS he only watched the first half hour before tapping out. That, in this reporter's opinion, does not count as watching the film and I move that his comments be stricken from the record. -Dalton It's that time of year again, the time when we take a break from punishing our beloved characters and let them enjoy a nice, low-stakes holiday adventure. What do we have in store for the Dark Legion this time? Will they face another mythical Christmas creature? Will we riff on another time-honored holiday classic? You'll never guess. Special thanks to our voice cast: Kendra Wells, Ella Dawson, Patrick Gill, Gita Jackson, Jo Kroger, Rachel Millman, Branson Reese, Steph Salo, and Joe Stando. This episode is brought to you by the new EP from Dalton's insane side-project, The B-69s, and their new EP brat but it's in the style of the B-52s so it's not, and wherever you stream music! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:07:18 - Fan Expectations 00:18:23 - Another Dark Universe Holiday Special 01:14:45 - Discussion 01:43:52 - Fireside 01:47:16 - This Christmas Is Yours
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/34447465
info_outline
The Real Dark Universe Theme Park w/Alicia Stella
12/01/2024
The Real Dark Universe Theme Park w/Alicia Stella
After two years of plotting and discussing totally imaginary films and television shows, isn't it about time we got real?!?! Theme park journalist Alicia Stella of Orlando ParkStop joins us to discuss the upcoming Dark Universe land at Universal Studios: Epic Universe in Orlando Florida. Learn how she got the scoop about the Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wolf Man themed rides and attractions. Then, hear her, Dalton, and Dylan pitch their own ideas for Dark Universe rides that could incorporate the podcast's expansive canon. Our partner podcast for this episode springs from our very own listenership and format! gives the AYADU treatment to the floundering Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Movies, pitching new installments of the film franchise that, despite being a terrible idea, apparently can't be killed. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Opening bits 00:02:17 - Introducing our guest, Alicia Stella 00:07:21 - A history of the Dark Universe park concept 00:22:22 - Alicia’s Universal Monsters credentials 00:26:42 - The real rides and attractions of the Dark Universe 00:46:39 - Partner podcast ad: Has to Do With Spider-Man, I Think? 00:48:55 - Alicia pitches her Frankenstein Haunted Mansion ride 00:55:55 - Dylan pitches his Phantom of the Opera stunt show 01:02:03 - Dalton pitches their Beneath the Black Lagoon coaster 01:12:19 - Dylan pitches his The Mummy: Heaven’s Gate coaster 01:17:28 - Dalton pitches their Invisible Chef restaurant 01:21:39 - Alicia plugs her stuff! 01:24:06 - Patron acknowledgement
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/34164095
info_outline
Night of the Living Dead
11/17/2024
Night of the Living Dead
Dark Legion: Death's Door unleashed Hell on Earth. Now, Dylan & Dalton are exploring their universe's terrifying new status quo with a season of standalone stories packed with new (read: expendable) characters. First up, Dylan is taking a swing at a Dark Universe reimagining of one of the most important horror films of all time: Night of the Living Dead. The last version of this script was killed before it went to air. Can Dylan pull off a resurrection? Our partner podcast for this episode is , the show that dares to ask "If this movie is so bad, why do you like it so much?" Hosts Chris, Anna, and Greg confront guests about their own personal favorite bad movies, including AYADU's own Dylan Roth and his beloved The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:08:17 - Fan Expectations 00:15:37 - Director Choice 00:17:17 - Prologue 00:29:02 - Discussion 00:33:23 - Act One 00:55:10 - Discussion/Fight! 01:06:56 - Act Two, Part One 01:17:46 - Discussion 01:21:52 - Act Two, Part Two 01:33:02 - Discussion 01:53:48 - Act Three 01:59:52 - Discussion 02:02:22 - Act Three Continued 02:17:17 - Post-Credits Scene 02:18:08 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/33957247
info_outline
BONUS: Smokey & the Bandit / Generations of Murder
11/10/2024
BONUS: Smokey & the Bandit / Generations of Murder
Dylan needed an extra week to get his Night of the Living Dead script up to code, so as a consolation we're releasing this month's bonus episode to the main feed, plus we're making the video version available to all paid subscribers. Dalton Deschain & Dylan Roth answer a challenge from Studio Executive Birras to come up with a Dark Universe version of the 1977 comedy Smokey & the Bandit! To both of their surprise, this turns out to be their favorite Studio Mandate pitch yet. PLUS: Dalton muddles through Star Trek: Generations, Dylan conjures up Memories of Murder, and they both stress over the US presidential election. Get every episode of Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton? every month by joining our community at Thanks for your support! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intro, and SURPRISE it's a bonus episode! 00:06:02 - Bev Check! and election anxiety 00:09:41 - Looking at 1977's Smokey & the Bandit 00:25:50 - Pitching our Smokey remake 00:36:50 - Casting our Smokey & the Bandit 00:44:27 - Patron acknowledgement 00:45:29 - Treks Education - Star Trek: Generations 01:07:13 - The Dalterion Collection: Memories of Murder
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/33849007
info_outline
House of 1000 Corpses w/Abe Goldfarb
10/27/2024
House of 1000 Corpses w/Abe Goldfarb
It's the crossover nobody asked for, least of all Dylan & Dalton! And yet, in this FULL VIDEO, SEASON 4 premiere of AYADU, guest Abe Goldfarb (Beetlejuice: The Musical, First Time Caller) sells our hosts on a Suicide Squad-style romp in which Otis and Baby Firefly bring their bloodlust into the Dark Universe's new status quo! This episode is available as a video podcast on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/zE-jsrRBnH8 You can find our guest Abe Goldfarb across social media, at either abegoldfarb on Twitter and Bluesky or abrahamgoldfarb on Instagram! His film "First Time Caller" is now streaming on Tubi, Vudu, and Prime Video. Join the Dark Legion starting $5/mo at dylananddalton.patreon.com, and get access to our lovely Discord community and our monthly bonus podcast! Benefits at higher tiers include the video version of the bonus pod, shout-outs on the air, and the ability to pick the topic of a future bonus pod pitch! Comment below to let us know what you think of the new video format, why doncha? TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Opening banter! 00:03:30 - Introducing our guest, Abe Goldfarb 00:08:12 - Entering the House of 1000 Corpses 00:39:47 - Abe waxes rhapsodical about the Universal Monsters 00:49:31 - Patron acknowledgement 00:50:30 - A little sample of the latest bonus episode 00:51:42 - Abe pitches his DU/Fireflies crossover 01:27:15 - Plugs!
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/33626057
info_outline
Unlocking Dark Legion: Death's Door
10/13/2024
Unlocking Dark Legion: Death's Door
Here it is at last: The complete story break conversation in which Dylan & Dalton determined when, how, and why the Dark Legion would meet their terrible fates in Dark Legion: Death's Door! How much did our storytellers know before they broke ground on their sadistic sequel? How much of their plans changed between this initial discussion and the final draft? Have they let any clues or crumbs slip through about the grand finale they've got planned in Dark Legion: Hell on Earth? Listen and find out! PLUS: A track from Bodies for the Geek Pit, Pt. 1, the new EP by Dalton Deschain & the Traveling Show! Let the soothing love song "Supernova" soothe your soul halfway through our depressing conversation. (Starts at 00:47:41)
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/33433267
info_outline
Dark Legion: Death's Door, Part Two
09/29/2024
Dark Legion: Death's Door, Part Two
WHO WILL SURVIVE? Part One of the Phase Three finale put our heroes — and our audience — through Hell. The stakes are higher than ever. What fate awaits the Dark Legion? Our partner podcast this month isn't a podcast, but an honest to god book, by our friend and voice of Dr. Jennifer Halsey — Ella Dawson! Check out wherever books or audiobooks are found. GUEST CAST (watch out for spoilers!) Ella Dawson as Dr. Jennifer Halsey Gita Jackson as Countess Marya Zaleska merritt k. as Adelaide Van Helsing Sarah Norcross as Demi Lavelle Frankie Starker as Princess Ahmanet Kendra Wells as Hunter Marin TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:04:45 - Act Two, Part Two 00:32:41 - Discussion 00:38:34 - Act Two Continued 00:45:42 - Discussion 00:49:11 - Act Two Continued 00:56:56 - Discussion 01:09:46 - Act Three 01:37:17 - Discussion 01:38:06 - Post-Credits Scene 01:40:14 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/33243247
info_outline
Dark Legion: Death's Door, Part One
09/22/2024
Dark Legion: Death's Door, Part One
THE END IS NEAR. The two-part finale of Phase Three begins here. Ahmanet lives. Set is loose. The Dark Legion is in great danger. What terrors await Earth's Mightiest Monsters? PLUS: A bonus clip from the patest episode of Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton?, available for Patrons at . GUEST CAST (watch out for spoilers!) Ella Dawson as Dr. Jennifer Halsey Gita Jackson as Countess Marya Zaleska merritt k. as Adelaide Van Helsing Rachel Millman as Gwen Conliffe Sarah Norcross as Selinsgrove Coroner, Mi Seulgi, Demi Lavelle, and additional voices Steph Salo as Carol Laemmle and additional voices Joe Stando as Dr. Jack Griffin and Selinsgrove Cop Frankie Starker as Princess Ahmanet Kendra Wells as Hunter Marin Patrick Willems as Satan and Selinsgrove Nurse TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:00:37 - Cold Open 00:05:01 - Discussion 00:09:40 - Fan Expectations 00:21:49 - Director Choice 00:23:31 - Act One 01:02:19 - Discussion 01:11:24 - Act Two Part One 01:44:06 - Discussion 01:49:55 - Act Two Continued 02:03:46 - Discussion
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/33152417
info_outline
BONUS: Mamma Mia! / Under the Influence of Sybonk
09/13/2024
BONUS: Mamma Mia! / Under the Influence of Sybonk
While you await DEATH'S DOOR with bated breath, here's this month's episode of the Patron-exclusive podcast Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton? in its entirety absolutely free! Don't worry, we're not just being generous. We're after your money. We're starting an exciting new project on our bonus podcast ARE YOU AFRAID OF DYLAN & DALTON? called Studio Mandates, in which patrons who subscribe at the $25/mo level for at least one month get to request a loose, improvised pitch for a Dark Universe remake of the film of their choosing. First up, by request of Studio Executive Balthazar, we came up with a version of the ABBA musical MAMMA MIA! featuring man-eating sirens and a certain crusty old seaman from our established mythology. PLUS, our ongoing segments: Treks Education, in which Dylan has challenged Dalton to watch every Star Trek movie; and The Dalterion Collection, in which Dalton has selected a list of arthouse faves that Dylan has never seen. This month, it's STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER and John Cassavettes' A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE! All this and more on this episode! For past and future episodes, please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton. If we get our total to $1000/mo, we'll make the bonus podcast bi-weekly instead of monthly! $5/mo gets you the audio version of the bonus pod, plus access to a warm and welcoming creative community on Discord. $8/mo includes the video version of the bonus podcast (which is a new phenomenon - this is only the second time we've done this). $15/mo gets you an on-air thank you every episode $25/mo (even just once!) entitles you to a movie pitch request on a future episode. Start a 7-day free trial today, whydoncha? TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 - Intro! 0:02:15 - Our thoughts on Mamma Mia! (2008) 0:10:51 - Dalton and Dylan's dream jukebox musical projects 0:14:06 - Bev Check! We almost forgot! 0:14:52 - A digression about the Bat Out of Hell musical 0:17:06 - Our Mamma Mia! pitch 0:37:39 - Patreon goal announcement 0:41:50 - We say we don't have time to talk about Alien: Romulus but then we do it anyway 0:52:46 - Patron acknowledgement 0:53:30 - Treks Education - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier 1:09:00 - Dalton's Star Trek rankings, in progress 1:13:43 - The Dalterion Collection - A Woman Under the Influence
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/33043442
info_outline
Robot Monster w/Bill Corbett
09/08/2024
Robot Monster w/Bill Corbett
Heads up: For this, our 50th episode, we have created a full VIDEO VERSION of the episode. Not just a picture of the episode cover with some graphics on it, but an honest-to-god video. Watch it here, if you'd like: One of our comedic heroes, Bill Corbett of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and RiffTrax, calls in to pitch us an updated version of a film that has been tackled by BOTH of his shows - 1953's ROBOT MONSTER! How can we reimagine this cheap, crappy 3D B-movie for a new millennium, and a shared universe that's more about vampires and werewolves than robots and aliens? This episode's ad break includes Dalton's band's new music video in its entirety! Check out "Hell Breaks Loose" by Dalton Deschain & the Traveling Show, and find it on your favorite streaming platforms. Here's a direct link to the official YouTube posting: PLUS: If you like what we do, please consider supporting us at Patreon.com/DylanAndDalton! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Start 00:02:18 - Introducing Bill Corbett! 00:15:13 - Robot Monster History 00:21:11 - Robot Monster Recap 00:43:23 - Hell Breaks Loose 00:47:30 - Patron Shoutouts 00:49:01 - Bill’s Pitch 01:19:40 - Plugs 01:25:15 - Housekeeping
/episode/index/show/3765c428-bc3d-466b-a657-3f2cd78f2448/id/32956737