The Pod Universe with Dylan & Dalton

BONUS PREVIEW: Boss Baby

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A new era begins on our bonus pod, Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton? in which Patrons get more control over what movies we watch and what stories ...

Late Adopters, Part Two

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dalton's madcap social satire of a post-computer world comes to a conclusion! Can Cora Winters' quantum-proof gadget save the future? Who exactly are ...

Late Adopters, Part One

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Five years ago, in the Prime Universe, the advent of quantum computing led to complete socioeconomic calamity. The Internet is now a thing of the past...

R-Point with Cass Marshall

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Games journalist and co-founder of Rogue.site joins the Pod Universe to pitch an ill-advised American requel to the cult Korean horror film R-Point! L...

Merge Conflict, Part Two

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Despite Dylan's doubts, the first half of his new script "Merge Conflict" gave Dalton (and our audience) chills! But now that his first proper horror ...

Merge Conflict, Part One

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Stay at home dad Grant Goodkin lives a quiet life tending to his loving family. But when he sleeps, he dreams of violence and decay, and every morning...

The Pied Piper w/Tulok the Barbrarian

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gamer and YouTuber extraordinaire TULOK THE BARBRARIAN has come to drag Dylan & Dalton back to the DARK UNIVERSE in this massive guest episode! Fo...

REDACTED (2025 Holiday Special)

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT WARNING: The cold open of this episode includes a description of a suicide attempt. It's brief and you'll see it coming.Dylan & Dalton pre...

The Grinch with Daniel Kibblesmith

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Months ago, Emmy-winning writer and author Daniel Kibblesmith was driving through Burbank, California when he made an astounding realization - The Gri...

The Pod Universe (TRAILER)

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Pod Universe with Dylan and Dalton, the only podcast that's creating a shared universe of original sci-fi movies, one script at a time....

Jurassic Park w/Vera Drew

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Filmmaker Vera Drew (The People's Joker) joins Dylan & Dalton to pitch her own wild reboot to one of Hollywood's most gargantuan film franchises: ...

Los Alamos, Part Two

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dalton's cerebral Cold War time travel thriller heats up! Is atomic spy Adrien Barnier truly doomed? Can his accomplice and lover truly be trusted? An...

Los Alamos, Part One

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1944, scientists in the employ of the United States Military were on the cusp of the most consequential discoveries in history. Fearing that the US...

Ghostbusters with Branson Reese

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fan favorite guest Branson Reese (Swan Boy, Rude Tales of Magic) returns for another insane new take on a classic film property. This time his sights ...

Last Flight of the Stone Hammer, Part Two

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the (hopefully) thrilling conclusion of Dylan's space sci-fi drama, Last Flight of the Stone Hammer! Will the Ley-to and Eridai find a way to sur...

Last Flight of the Stone Hammer, Part One

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the far reaches of space, two civilizations are locked in an endless conflict. The Eridai’s reckless industry cost the Ley-to their homeworld. Th...

The Happening w/Josh Gondelman

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT WARNING: This episode is about "The Happening," a film in which a toxin compels people to kill themselves in a variety of weird and novel ways...

Pod People, Part Two

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the thrilling conclusion to the sci-fi thriller that kicks off our entire shared universe of imaginary sci-fi movies! What's the secret of Alterr...

Pod People, Part One

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Silico...

Welcome to The Pod Universe

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Th...

BONUS: Into the Weeds

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 relea...

Revisiting The Mummy / Fan Q&A

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 fig...

Finding "Hell on Earth" - The Last Dark Universe Story Break

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 det...

Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part Three

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part Two

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Dark Legion: Hell on Earth, Part One

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 usu...

Incubus w/Calvin Kasulke & Mattie Lubchansky

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

TRAILER: Dark Legion: Hell on Earth

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

C.H.U.D. w/Patrick Gill

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

DU Plus: 5 TV Pitches w/Joseph Fink

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Field of Nightmares

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Waterworld: The Stunt Show w/Danielle Radford

06 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Actor, writer, podcaster, and professional funny person Danielle Radford join the Dark Universe to pitch what might be our most unhinged installment y...

The Exorcist

23 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Exorc...

The Invisible Woman w/Stella Sacco

09 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Mystery Men

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Covenant w/Lindsey Kelk

09 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author, journalist, and co-host of the wrestling podcast Tights and Fights Lindsey Kelk joins Dylan & Dalton to revisit a cringey teen-targeted d...

The Old Dark House

26 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Pr...

Another Dark Universe Holiday Special

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 laugh...

The Real Dark Universe Theme Park w/Alicia Stella

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After two years of plotting and discussing totally imaginary films and television shows, isn't it about time we got real?!?! Theme park journalist A...

Night of the Living Dead

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 s...

BONUS: Smokey & the Bandit / Generations of Murder

10 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

House of 1000 Corpses w/Abe Goldfarb

27 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 (Bee...

Unlocking Dark Legion: Death's Door

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Dark Legion: Death's Door, Part Two

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Dark Legion: Death's Door, Part One

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ea...

BONUS: Mamma Mia! / Under the Influence of Sybonk

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Robot Monster w/Bill Corbett

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Phase Three Recap! Plus: Dracula in Hell

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dark Legion: Death's Door is just a month away, which means it's time for another rapid-fire Dark Universe recap! Join us as we attempt to coherently ...

Darkman w/Daniel Kibblesmith

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A decade before directing the blueprint for a generation of superhero blockbusters, Sam Raimi attempted to create his own mashup between comic book he...

Van Helsing, Part Two

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for the shocking conclusion of Dalton's Van Helsing pitch, the Carmilla Trilogy, and what I suppose we can start calling the House of Frank...

Van Helsing, Part One

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

They said it would never happen — Dalton has written script too big for one episode! Van Helsing revisits the ruthless Adelaide, last of the Van He...

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir w/Magnolia Porter Siddell

07 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In our latest guest pitch episode, writer and cartoonist Magnolia Porter Siddell brings us her take on the 1947 supernatural romance The Ghost and Mr...

Return to the Black Lagoon

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last season, Dalton brought us a unique and ambitious reimagining of a Universal classic: THE BLACK LAGOON. It's a bleak and surreal horror story abou...

Jaws w/Patrick Willems

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's only one storyteller we would trust to pitch a Dark Universe reimagining of Jaws, one of the greatest films of all time: filmmaker and YouTub...

The Invisible Man's Revenge

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dalton's informal "Carmilla Trilogy" continues with The Invisible Man's Revenge, a sequel to our breakout episode from way back in 2022! The fanbase ...

Village of the Damned w/Avery Edison

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and comedian Avery Edison has come to pitch a new take on Village of the Damned, and she has come PREPARED. It's our most in-depth guest pitch ...

Cat People (OR Kill Your Darlings)

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After a months of sequels and spin-offs, it's time for a wholly new addition to our Dark Universe, and it's even more different than anyone expected. ...

Behind Love Never Dies (AYADD bonus preview)

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hello, gentle listeners, here's a little taste of what you might be missing on our Patreon at Patreon.com/dylananddalton. Once a month, we release a n...

The Thing That Couldn't Die w/Kendra Wells

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Acclaimed writer and illustrator (and voice of Hunter Marin) Kendra Wells joins your hellish hosts to resurrect an infamously bad Universal monster mo...

The Phantom of the Opera: Love Never Dies

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last season, Dylan surprised Dalton by composing four original songs for his Dark Universe take on The Phantom of the Opera. "Fuck," said Dalton, "Now...

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World w/Rax King & Amber Rollo

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You've heard us say it before and it's never been more true than it is now: This is the wildest guest pitch we've ever heard. Rax King and Amber Rollo...

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Part Two

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's the stunning conclusion of our giant-sized action-horror blockbuster, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Will Victor Frankenstein be able to reconcile ...

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Part One

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A pitch too big for one episode! Dylan's brought in a whopping 80-page script for his half of the House of Frankenstein duology, The Hunchback of Not...

The Mad Ghoul w/Ramon Villalobos

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Comics artist Ramon Villalobos joins our devilish hosts to discuss what might be the worst movie we've ever had to watch for this show, "The Mad Ghoul...

A Native American Werewolf in Paris

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At long last, it's Dalton's first solo pitch of Phase Three and the first half of our loose "House of Frankenstein" duology: A Native American Werewo...

Teen Wolf w/Joseph Fink

14 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's the Dark Universe's first ongoing TV series pitch! Our hosts are joined by Joseph Fink, the legendary co-creator of Welcome to Night Vale, to wo...

The Dark Universe Holiday Special

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Because we don't know how not to do shit like this: It's The Dark Universe Holiday Special, a full-script, full-cast episode featuring our entire sur...

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein w/Branson Reese

03 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Because you demanded it: The time has come at last to introduce our Dark Universe's take on the beloved classic, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenst...

The Mummy: Heaven's Gate

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Phase Three is officially in full swing! For the first canon pitch of the season, Dylan takes up the reins of our Mummy franchise, creating a new adve...

Colossus: The Forbin Project w/Gita Jackson

05 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our first guest pitch of Phase Three is a departure from our usual creature feature; It's a bleak 1970s sci-fi thriller, but one that definitely still...

Launching Phase Three of our Dark Universe

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The wait is over! Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe? is back and we're going to keep cranking out movie pitches until you're sick of us. On our sea...

BONUS: Two Weeks to the Season Premiere!

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The wait is almost over! The first episode of the new season is in the can, the first guests are booked, and the first script is in progress. Are You...

BONUS: Introducing Are You Afraid of Dylan & Dalton?

10 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dylan & Dalton's Patreon has surpassed its initial $200/mo goal, which means they're kicking off a new show just for paid subscribers! Sign up at ...

Planning Dark Legion: The Mummy's Hand

27 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Flashback to this past May! Before they started writing Dark Legion: The Mummy's Hand, Dalton Deschain and Dylan Roth sat down to hash out the story,...

Dark Legion: The Mummy's Hand, Part Two

13 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the finale of PHASE 2 of the DARK UNIVERSE, and big changes are ahead! With Imhotep seemingly defeated, what's next for the Dark Legion? Will the...

Dark Legion: The Mummy's Hand, Part One

06 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At last, we arrive at the finale of Phase Two, the double-sized crossover DARK LEGION: THE MUMMY'S HAND! We're picking up threads left over from our ...

Our Story So Far: A Breathless Phase 1 & 2 Recap

23 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In preparation for the upcoming Dark Legion 2 event, hosts Dalton Deschain and Dylan Roth attempt to summarize the entire series as concisely as possi...

Dracula's Daughter w/Dominic Griffin

09 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hot on the heels of Dylan's Dracula Lives, our guest and fellow film critic Dominic Griffin joins us over Skype to pitch a reimagining of Dracula's ...

Dracula Lives

25 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You've waited patiently for our Dark Universe to get its first Dracula movie. Now, in the aftermath of The Dark Legion: House of Dracula, the infamous...

The Black Cat w/merritt k.

11 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Writer, editor, and podcaster merritt k. visits the studio to pitch her remake of the 1934 Universal classic that's kinda-sorta-not remotely based upo...

The Bride of Frankenstein

28 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We might need to subtitle Phase 2 as "The Experimental Era," because once again we've taken a well-known, well-loved Universal monster title and turne...

Ssssssss! w/Mattie Lubchansky & Jaya Saxena

14 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We've worked through all of the major classic Universal Monsters, but our Dark Universe is still going strong! So, in the tradition of Marvel Studios,...

The Phantom of the Opera

30 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's Dylan's turn to pitch a movie, and he's unmasking a new take on The Phantom of the Opera! One of the most unlikely Universal Monsters is also one...

MonsterMania w/Nick Bond

16 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wrestling columnist Nick Bond phones into the show (against former co-worker Dylan's objections) to pitch a WWE match incorporating characters from ou...

The Black Lagoon

02 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brace yourself as we dive into Dalton’s bold and unexpected new take on another Universal classic, simply titled: The Black Lagoon. What are the ess...

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen w/Calvin Kasulke

19 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The success of our revived Dark Universe is bound to spark competition, and that means someone's bound to reboot The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen...

Werewolves of London

05 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for Dylan's first contribution to Phase 2 and our first sequel to one of our own movies: Werewolves of London! What are our characters from...

Dark Universe Fandom w/Frankie Starker

19 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The studio has been closely monitoring Dalton and Dylan's progress with their Dark Universe revamp, and now it's time for them to weigh in! Though the...

The Mummy Returns

05 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our Phase Two begins at last with a sequel to the only Dark Universe film that actually exists. That's right, it's time for Dalton Deschain's THE MUMM...

The Dark Universe Omnibus w/Giovanni Colantonio

22 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dylan and Dalton open up the gates to their Dark Universe for the very first time, as Giovanni Colantonio of Digital Trends and Left Trigger Right Tri...

Launching Phase Two of our Dark Universe

08 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If AYADU had a Comic Con Hall H panel, this is what it would be like. Having completed the six-part opening salvo of movies in their imaginary Dark Un...

The Dark Legion: House of Dracula, Part Two

18 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the exciting conclusion of our giant sized season finale, The Dark Legion: House of Dracula! Can our motley crew of benevolent monsters spoil th...

The Dark Legion: House of Dracula, Part One

11 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The perfect jumping on point for new listeners! It's Part One of our Phase One finale, our Dark Universe's equivalent to Marvel's The Avengers. For th...

Prelude to The Dark Legion: House of Dracula

27 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

SPOILER ALERT! This episode is our brainstorming session in which we break down the story and character objectives for our first major crossover. Sinc...

Jekyll x Hyde

13 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains a brief scene depicting an attempted suicide. Skip from timestamp 36:00 to 36:20 if this is something you'd pre...

The Invisible Man

30 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Dark Universe takes an unexpected turn, as Dalton pitches a kooky comedy take on The Invisible Man starring John C. Reilly! And, no kidding, it's ...

The Wolf Man

16 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's Dylan's first turn at pitching a movie, and he's arrived with a 41-page scriptment for a new Wolf Man starring Amber Midthunder, Mason Gooding, a...

Frankenstein

02 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's our first movie pitch episode, and Dalton has arrived with a brooding new adaptation/sequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, starring the Dark Uni...

The Mummy

02 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Introducing: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK UNIVERSE?Dylan and Dalton have been assigned to pick up the Dark Universe where it left off, and unfortunately...