What Went Wrong covers Hollywood’s most notoriously disastrous movie productions, digging into the behind-the-scenes insanity of everything from massive flops to record-breaking blockbusters. In each episode, hosts Lizzie Bassett and Chris Winterbauer dive into a new film to explore the mind-blowing (and sometimes numbing) reasons why making a movie is nearly impossible (especially a good one). Produced by David Boman. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-went-wrong/id1512847066), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/15lonNfWzHLbMepKo0EDjs?si=192c8cfd55544a76) or Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/whatwentwrongpodcast) for monthly bonus episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
What this show covers
film historyfilm productionBehind the sceneshorror filmsHollywood historyPractical Magicmovie productionspaghetti westernsdirectingCalifornia Schemin’filmmakingtrue storyJames McAvoyJames WanLeigh Whannell
What listeners will find here
James McAvoy unpacks the chaos and craft behind California Schemin’
James McAvoy talks about his directorial debut, California Schemin’, a true story about two Scottish rappers who reinvent themselves as Americans to break into the music industry. The episode digs into what drew him to the script, how he built the cast, and what he learned stepping behind the camera.
How Saw turned a scrappy Australian escape plan into a horror phenomenon
Saw is the focus here, as Chris and Lizzie dig into how James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s breakout hit grew from a modest career move into an unexpected franchise. The episode looks at the film’s pressured production, industry hurdles, and the strange gap between the movie its creators planned and the one audiences embraced.
Old Hollywood glamour meets one of its darkest true-crime scandals
Lana Turner’s rise from soda-shop discovery to screen icon collides with the violent saga of mobster Johnny Stompanato. With guests from Hollywood Crime Scene, the episode digs into fame, abuse, scandal, and a homicide that shadowed Turner and her daughter for years.
Carrie at 50: the risky adaptation, the reluctant director, and a terrifying prom shoot
Carrie (1976) revisits Stephen King’s first screen adaptation and the long road to getting it made. Chris and Lizzie dig into why the novel was a tough sell, why Brian De Palma fought for the job, and why the prom sequence was frightening on and off screen.
How Resident Evil turned a zombie clunker into a career and franchise lifeline
Resident Evil (2002) gets unpacked as a surprisingly pivotal video game adaptation for Paul W.S. Anderson, Milla Jovovich, and Constantin Film. Chris and Lizzie dig into the game’s layered origins, the film’s behind-the-scenes dynamics, and the messy effort to connect the movies and games.
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