Intro

Masters of the Universe (2026)

This week on Thank God for Movies, special guest Brogan Luke Bouwhuis joins the show with Jon Negroni! Brogan is an InBetweenDrafts film writer, film programmer, and co-host of Franchise Fiends. And he's here to talk about Masters of the Universe, the 2026 live-action He-Man reboot starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, and Jared Leto as Skeletor.

With Will Ashton sitting this one out due to what can only be described as a dark personal history with Eternia, we dig into why this long-delayed Mattel blockbuster feels stranded between decades. In fact, we discuss the movie’s troubled development history, Travis Knight’s role as director, the odd timing of He-Man nostalgia, and why a film based on such a knowingly silly toy-line mythology keeps apologizing for being a Masters of the Universe movie.

Lastly, check out Jon's review of Masters of the Universehere, Brogan's review here, and Brogan's piece about Mattel blockbusters here.

SHOW NOTES:
00:00:00 – Intro: Welcoming back Brogan!
00:05:40 – Review: Masters of the Universe (2026)

LINKS:
Email your feedback for the show to cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com
Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a TGFM channel here.
Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

This week on&nbsp;Thank God for Movies, special guest Brogan Luke Bouwhuis joins the show with Jon Negroni! Brogan is an InBetweenDrafts film writer, film programmer, and co-host of&nbsp;Franchise Fiends. And he's here to talk about&nbsp;Masters of the Universe, the 2026 live-action He-Man reboot starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, and Jared Leto as Skeletor.
With Will Ashton sitting this one out due to what can only be described as a dark personal history with Eternia, we dig into why this long-delayed Mattel blockbuster feels stranded between decades. In fact, we discuss the movie&rsquo;s troubled development history, Travis Knight&rsquo;s role as director, the odd timing of He-Man nostalgia, and why a film based on such a knowingly silly toy-line mythology keeps apologizing for being a&nbsp;Masters of the Universe&nbsp;movie.
Lastly, check out Jon's review of Masters of the Universe <a href="https://thankgodformovies.com/masters-of-the-universe-2026/">here</a>, Brogan's review <a href="https://inbetweendrafts.com/masters-of-the-universe-review/">here</a>, and Brogan's piece about Mattel blockbusters <a href="https://thankgodformovies.com/mattel-barbie-spoiler-review/">here</a>.
SHOW NOTES:
<ul>
<li>00:00:00 &ndash;&nbsp;Intro:&nbsp;Welcoming back Brogan!</li>
<li>00:05:40 &ndash;&nbsp;Review:&nbsp;Masters of the Universe (2026)</li>
</ul>
<hr>
LINKS:
<ul>
<li>Email your feedback for the show to&nbsp;cinemaholicspodcast [at] gmail.com</li>
<li>Join our Discord and chat with us! We have a TGFM channel&nbsp;<a href="https://discord.gg/wG5g8RR4m2">here</a>.</li>
<li>Connect with us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thankgodformovies/">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thankgodformovies/">Instagram</a>.</li>
</ul>

In a world that's always on fire, Thank God For Movies. Formerly known as Cinemaholics, join film critics Jon Negroni and Will Ashton as they discuss the latest films coming to theaters or streaming online.

In a world that's always on fire, Thank God For Movies. Formerly known as Cinemaholics, join film critics Jon Negroni and Will Ashton as they discuss the latest films coming to theaters or streaming online.

Thank God For Movies

TGFM

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud “A Little Something” by Vaidhy Mahalingam, which is a literary fiction story about an Indian immigrant trying to build his American Dream one meticulously inspected borehole at a time. When a building inspector’s exacting standards make him wonder whether the man might be waiting for “a little something,” memories return of the bribes, bureaucrats, moral compromises, and carefully maintained principles he thought he’d left behind in India.

You can find the written version of this story right here.

About the Author

Vaidhy Mahalingam came to the USA from India for graduate school, completed his PhD in Naval Architecture, and had a 29-year career in the tech industry. In retirement, he spends his time cherishing moments with his family and putting into words the stories that have lived in his thoughts for years. His short stories have been featured in Arkana, Pembroke Magazine, Solstice, MudRoom, The Temz Review, and The Write Launch.
Tip the author to support them and say thanks
Explore our full archive of stories and poetry.
Submit your own story to be featured on Cetera.

About Cetera Magazine

We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.

Credits
Author: Vaidhy Mahalingam
Narrator: Jon Negroni
Editor: Natalia Emmons
Artwork: Jon Negroni
Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud &ldquo;A Little Something&rdquo; by Vaidhy Mahalingam, which is a literary fiction story about an Indian immigrant trying to build his American Dream one meticulously inspected borehole at a time. When a building inspector&rsquo;s exacting standards make him wonder whether the man might be waiting for &ldquo;a little something,&rdquo; memories return of the bribes, bureaucrats, moral compromises, and carefully maintained principles he thought he&rsquo;d left behind in India.
You can find the written version of this story <a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/a-little-something/">right here</a>.
About the Author
Vaidhy Mahalingam came to the USA from India for graduate school, completed his PhD in Naval Architecture, and had a 29-year career in the tech industry. In retirement, he spends his time cherishing moments with his family and putting into words the stories that have lived in his thoughts for years. His short stories have been featured in&nbsp;Arkana,&nbsp;Pembroke Magazine,&nbsp;Solstice, MudRoom, The Temz Review,&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Write Launch.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/a-little-something/#/portal/support">Tip the author</a> to support them and say thanks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com">Explore our full archive</a> of stories and poetry.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/submit-to-cetera/">Submit your own story</a> to be featured on Cetera.</li>
</ul>
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
<ul>
<li>Author: Vaidhy Mahalingam</li>
<li>Narrator: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Editor: Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Artwork: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0&nbsp;<a href="Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></li>
</ul>
Share This Episode If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

A Little Something – A Literary Short Story by Vaidhy Mahalingam

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud “We All Must Attend the Deathbed of the Lich” by Haden Cross — a dark fantasy story about an immortal ruler finally approaching death and the kingdom ordered to gather at his bedside. Told through a collective “we,” Cross turns a fantasy death vigil into a story about propaganda, obedience, political memory, and the strange moment when a population realizes the supposedly permanent thing governing their lives can end.

You can find the written version of this story right here.

About the Author

Haden Cross is the author of The Uncontinented Stars, which was a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction. Their short fiction has been featured in The Deadlands and Shadowrun: Augment. 
Tip the author to support them and say thanks
Explore our full archive of stories and poetry.
Submit your own story to be featured on Cetera.

About Cetera Magazine

We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.

Credits
Author: Haden Cross
Narrator: Jon Negroni
Editor: Natalia Emmons
Artwork: Jon Negroni
Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud &ldquo;We All Must Attend the Deathbed of the Lich&rdquo; by Haden Cross &mdash; a dark fantasy story about an immortal ruler finally approaching death and the kingdom ordered to gather at his bedside. Told through a collective &ldquo;we,&rdquo; Cross turns a fantasy death vigil into a story about propaganda, obedience, political memory, and the strange moment when a population realizes the supposedly permanent thing governing their lives can end.
You can find the written version of this story <a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/we-all-must-attend-the-deathbed-of-the-lich/">right here</a>.
About the Author
Haden Cross is the author of&nbsp;The Uncontinented Stars, which was a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction. Their short fiction has been featured in The Deadlands and Shadowrun: Augment.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/we-all-must-attend-the-deathbed-of-the-lich/#/portal/support">Tip the author</a> to support them and say thanks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com">Explore our full archive</a> of stories and poetry.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/submit-to-cetera/">Submit your own story</a> to be featured on Cetera.</li>
</ul>
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
<ul>
<li>Author: Haden Cross</li>
<li>Narrator: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Editor: Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Artwork: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0&nbsp;<a href="Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></li>
</ul>
Share This Episode If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

We All Must Attend the Deathbed of the Lich – A Dark Fantasy Story by Haden Cross

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud "The Day Hikaru Died" by Frances Koziar. This is a science fiction story about a family robot given an emotion chip by the man who raised her as his daughter. Blending quiet domestic detail with devastating loss, this story asks what it means to love someone whose life is slipping beyond your reach, and what remains in your hands once they're gone.

The written version of this story was published on May 7, 2026. You can find the written version right here.

About the Author

Frances Koziar is an author with over 200 published stories, poems, and articles. She is a tricenarian (disabled) retiree with a Master’s of Archaeology (Anthropology) from McGill University, where she specialized in cannibalism and Aztec human sacrifice. She is an intersectional social justice activist, a gamer, painter, DM, musician, and a bubble tea fangirl. She lives in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Tip the author to support them and say thanks
Explore our full archive of stories and poetry.
Submit your own story to be featured on Cetera.

About Cetera Magazine

We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.

Credits
Author: Frances Koziar
Narrator: Jon Negroni
Editor: Natalia Emmons
Artwork: Jon Negroni
Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Share This Episode
If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Welcome back to Worlds Without Warning. This week, Jon Negroni reads aloud "The Day Hikaru Died" by Frances Koziar. This is a science fiction story about a family robot given an emotion chip by the man who raised her as his daughter. Blending quiet domestic detail with devastating loss, this story asks what it means to love someone whose life is slipping beyond your reach, and what remains in your hands once they're gone.
The written version of this story was published on May 7, 2026. You can find the written version&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/the-day-hikaru-died/">right here</a>.
About the Author
Frances Koziar is an author with over 200 published stories, poems, and articles. She is a tricenarian (disabled) retiree with a Master&rsquo;s of Archaeology (Anthropology) from McGill University, where she specialized in cannibalism and Aztec human sacrifice. She is an intersectional social justice activist, a gamer, painter, DM, musician, and a bubble tea fangirl. She lives in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/the-day-hikaru-died/#/portal/support">Tip the author</a> to support them and say thanks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com">Explore our full archive</a> of stories and poetry.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ceteramagazine.com/submit-to-cetera/">Submit your own story</a> to be featured on Cetera.</li>
</ul>
About Cetera Magazine
We publish original short fiction every Thursday. Our stories span literary fiction, speculative tales, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. All written without AI assistance and curated by editor Natalia Emmons.
Credits
<ul>
<li>Author: Frances Koziar</li>
<li>Narrator: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Editor: Natalia Emmons</li>
<li>Artwork: Jon Negroni</li>
<li>Music: "Magic Escape Room" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0&nbsp;<a href="Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a></li>
</ul>
Share This Episode If you enjoyed this story, please share it with fellow story lovers. Your enthusiasm helps these stories reach new readers. Thank you!

Masters of the Universe (2026)

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