Sign in

JP Mangalindan

@jpmanga.bsky.social
130 followers 183 following 199 posts

Culture Writer TIME, EW, ELLE, TVLine, L.A. Times Scene and Unheard newsletter Television Critics Association + GALECA member Proud Dog Dad

PostsRepliesMedia
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 4h
I spoke with 'Verity' author Colleen Hoover and director Michael Showalter about the film: the letter, Team Manuscript vs. Team Letter, those alternate film endings, and giving Verity the very last word. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
Making Sense of Verity's Ambiguous Ending
Michael Showalter and Colleen Hoover break down the chilling ending of his adaptation of her bestselling novel, starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I’ve played 'Resident Evil' games for years, and the new movie captures what kept me coming back: low ammo, tough calls, dread behind every door, and that weird satisfaction when you make it through. I wrote about why filmmaker Zach Cregger cracked it. scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com/p/resident-e...
scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com
'Resident Evil' Finally Feels Like Playing the Game
Director Zach Cregger skipped the well-known characters and plots, and made the first franchise movie in more than 20 years to understand why anyone loved these games in the first place
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Thirty years ago today, 'The First Wives Club' opened in theaters. I wrote about why its story of friendship, aging, and starting over feels richer now, and why that final “You Don’t Own Me” sequence has even more weight three decades later... scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com/p/the-first-...
scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com
At 30, 'The First Wives Club' Still Proves You Can't Be Owned
Thirty years ago today, three women danced into the street victoriously singing “You Don’t Own Me.” The sleeper hit about starting over has only grown richer with time
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Spending Friday night at a screening of Apple TV’s 'Tenzing,' about legendary mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Jennifer Peedom and stars Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, and Genden Phuntsok, plus a reception.
042
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Guy Ritchie told Pierce Brosnan not to worry about finding Conrad Harrigan’s accent until the day they shot it. “Set me free with those words,” Brosnan recalled. Minutes before the cameras rolled on 'MobLand,' Ritchie told him: Go Irish. scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com/p/pierce-bro...
scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com
Pierce Brosnan on 'MobLand' and the Voice That Made Conrad Harrigan
At a screening on September 17, the actor explained how his character's accent came to him with minutes to spare, and looked ahead to a season in which the patriarch begins to come apart
021
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Wrapping up today with Disney’s Emmy Awards Celebration downtown. Looking forward to celebrating some of this year’s incredible nominees.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I interviewed Andrew Garfield, filmmaker Paul Greengrass, and historian Dan Jones for TIME’s feature on ‘The Uprising.' We discussed the making of the film, the real history behind it, and its ties to the Robin Hood tradition. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
How the Bold and Bloody True Story Behind 'The Uprising' Reverberates Today
How Paul Greengrass approached his account of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, which stars Andrew Garfield as an anonymous rebel with nothing left to lose.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
My latest for TIME: the true story behind HBO’s 'A Killer Story,' a double homicide case spanning more than two decades, three trials, and two citizen sleuths who gave nearly everything to proving Dana Chandler was innocent. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
How Two Citizen Sleuths Spent Decades Trying to Solve the Double Homicide of 'A Killer Story'
Eileen and Keen Umbehr spent decades seeking a different verdict to the answer of who killed Karen Harkness and Mike Sisco in Kansas, 2002.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Tonight: an early screening of A24’s 'Club Kid.' Jordan Firstman’s feature directorial debut, followed by a Q&A + reception with the filmmaker.
010
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
'The Pitt' is so compelling, because it shows an emergency room where nobody falls apart alone. Noah Wyle, John Wells, R. Scott Gemmill, and the team recently talked about the hard work, the nurses, and learning to dance through the darkness. scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com/p/the-pitt-c...
scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com
'The Pitt's' Cast and Creative Team on Dancing Through the Darkness
At this year's HBO Max's Emmy Nominee Celebration, the most-nominated show on TV spent its afternoon reflecting on Season 2 and giving credit where it's due
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
My can't-miss Sunday night appointment viewing: Lanterns.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Colman Domingo and Tom Pelphrey have been watching each other work for a decade. At HBO Max’s Emmy Nominee Celebration, they interviewed each other about fatherhood, craft, and the losses that shaped 'Task' and 'Euphoria.' scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com/p/colman-dom...
scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com
Colman Domingo and Tom Pelphrey on Acting and Going to the Darkest Places
The two Emmy nominees interviewed each other at HBO Max's Emmy Nominee Celebration about fatherhood, craft, and the losses that shaped 'Task' and 'Euphoria'
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
For 'Spider-Noir,' the assignment wasn’t simply to make a black-and-white noir, but to also make sure the same footage worked just as beautifully in color. The show's crew recently discussed effectively making two shows at once. scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com/p/spider-noi...
scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com
Dispatch • How the ‘Spider-Noir’ Crew Made Two Shows at Once
At a Prime Video celebration of the series’ 11 Emmy nominations, the nominees retraced how they made a black-and-white noir that also had to work in color
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
How do you say goodbye to 'Hacks'? Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky recently looked back on five seasons of comedy and a finale they’d been working toward for years. scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com/p/dispatch-t...
scene-and-unheard.beehiiv.com
Dispatch • The 'Hacks' Stars and Creators on Going Out on a High Note
At this year's HBO Max Emmy Nominee Celebration, Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, and the show's three creators—Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky—looked back at the emotional finale
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I interviewed Anya Taylor-Joy, and co-showrunners Cassie Pappas and Jonathan Tropper about the series finale for 'Lucky.' We discussed Lucky’s last con, an alternate ending, and why she ultimately had to reach the ocean without John. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
Breaking Down the Cathartic Ending of 'Lucky'
The heist thriller series, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as a con artist on the run, comes to a gripping conclusion
001
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Spending today at HBO Max’s Emmy Nominee Celebration, with panels and conversations featuring talent from across its nominated shows. A pretty great way to spend my Sunday.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
My Friday is reserved for this 'Spider-Noir' team panel + reception...
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
The 'House of the Dragon' season 3 finale changes everything. Tumbleton burns, Aegon returns, and Rhaenyra is forced to confront what her reign has become. (And poor Helaena…) My finale recap for ELLE Magazine: www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
The 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Finale Hints at Rhaenyra’s Downfall
Read our recap.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
In this week’s 'House of the Dragon,' Rhaenyra’s faith in Daemon collapses, Aegon discovers Sunfyre is still alive, and Ormund begins turning Ulf’s resentment to his advantage… My Episode 7 recap for ELLE is up now. www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
‘House of the Dragon’ Sets Up a Surprising Betrayal for Rhaenyra
Read our recap.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I interviewed Amy Adams, Javier Bardem, Patrick Wilson, and creator Nick Antosca about the 'Cape Fear' finale. We covered everything from Max Cady’s devastating discovery to the Bowdens’ brutal fight for survival. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
Breaking Down the Bloody Finale of 'Cape Fear'
Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, and showrunner Nick Antosca break down the final act of the Apple TV adaptation.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Settling in for an afternoon with an early look at Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of 'Carrie,' followed by a reception with Flanagan and stars Summer H. Howell and Samantha Sloyan.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
In this week's 'House of the Dragon,' Criston Cole meets his fate, but he's hardly the only character discovering that no one is safe. My Episode 6 recap for ELLE Magazine is now up... www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
'House of the Dragon' Season 3, Episode 6 Delivers Some Dangerous Plot Twists
Read our recap.
010
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
In this week’s 'House of the Dragon,' the City Watch is dealt a devastating blow. My Ep. 5 recap for ELLE covers Ormund’s shadow war, Alicent and Helaena’s escape attempt, and Rhaenyra’s growing certainty that the REAL threat is inside her city. www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
In 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, Episode 5, the Greens Strike a Crucial Blow Against the Blacks
Not even Daemon’s own men are safe from Ormund’s scheming.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
My review of 'The Odyssey' is finally up! Christopher Nolan’s latest has gods, monsters, storms, and a scale designed for IMAX. It’s also his most human and aching film yet. jpmanga.substack.com/p/the-odysse...
jpmanga.substack.com
'The Odyssey' Is Christopher Nolan's Most Haunting Epic About Being Seen
Homer's poem becomes the most human film Nolan has made yet
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Seated for a screening of 'The Odyssey.'
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
This week’s 'House of the Dragon' episode reveals an important Targaryen in Tumbleton, while the situation in King’s Landing grows only more complicated. I recapped Episode 4, “And Now We Begin,” for ELLE... www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
'House of the Dragon' Season 3, Episode 4 Finally Reveals an Essential Character
He might look familiar.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
This week’s 'House of the Dragon' recap for ELLE is up. Ep. 3 finds Rhaenyra finally on the Iron Throne and discovering that winning the crown and ruling the realm are two VERY different things. www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Throws a Plot Twist at Queen Rhaenyra
The newly crowned queen is already contending with betrayal.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Happy Fourth!! 🇺🇸 To mark the holiday, I revisited the ultimate disaster movie—'Independence Day'—which turned 30 this week. The visuals still dazzle, but it’s more human moments like Bill Pullman’s presidential speech that endures decades later. jpmanga.substack.com/p/thirty-yea...
jpmanga.substack.com
Thirty Years Later, 'Independence Day' Is Still the Ultimate Disaster Movie
Director Roland Emmerich’s 1996 blockbuster is remembered for blowing up the White House, but its real staying power comes from the people standing beneath the wreckage
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
'House of the Dragon' episode 2 begins in the wreckage of the Battle of the Gullet and ends with Rhaenyra, at last, claiming King’s Landing. So much to unpack in my recap this week for ELLE Magazine!! www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
'House of the Dragon' Takes a Big Swing in Season 3, Episode 2
Rhaenyra’s ascent comes at a painful cost.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Honored to be recapping 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 for ELLE, starting with the premiere. Dragons soar and victory comes with a body count. www.elle.com/culture/movi...
elle.com
'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Is Already Doling Out Devastating Losses
The season opener depicts one of the most legendary battles in Game of Thrones history.
010
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Noah Wyle, John Wells, and the cast of 'The Pitt' gathered for a panel to discussing making the medical drama. Of his character, Wyle saw something closer to a wish. “He wants to leave the place in the best place he could possibly leave it,” he said. jpmanga.substack.com/p/dispatch-n...
jpmanga.substack.com
Dispatch • Noah Wyle, John Wells, and the Cast of 'The Pitt' on Making a Hospital Drama Without Escape Routes
At an HBO Max panel on June 9, the cast and creative team of the Emmy-winning drama unpacked the discipline, the stakes, and what it costs to make a show this unflinchingly honest
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
'Leviticus' really got under my skin in a good way. The horror movie follows two teen boys stalked by an entity that takes the form of the person each desires most, which, in their case, is each other. What could be gimmicky becomes tender + bruising: a queer story ABT desire treated as a curse.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I interviewed Padma Lakshmi for my newsletter about making 'America’s Culinary Cup' from scratch, and why fear can be a compass for creative growth. “Whenever I’m terrified or scared of doing something, I think that’s a good argument for doing it,” she said. jpmanga.substack.com/p/close-up-p...
jpmanga.substack.com
Padma Lakshmi on Making the Show She Always Wanted with 'America’s Culinary Cup'
In a conversation with Scene and Unheard, Lakshmi reflects on the most ambitious project of her career, and what she found when she got to call the shots
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones and the creative team of 'Task' gathered to discuss making the HBO Max show. “These were two men sort of trapped by their circumstances, and you want them to be free,” Ruffalo said of the show's two central characters. jpmanga.substack.com/p/dispatch-m...
jpmanga.substack.com
Dispatch • Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, and the Creative Team of 'Task' on Making a Show About the Cost of Being Human
At an HBO Max panel on June 3, Ruffalo, Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, and their collaborators unpacked the moral gray zones and grace at the heart of 'Task'
010
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
My 'Disclosure Day' review. In this rip-roaring sci-fi chase, Steven Spielberg returns to the question he's been asking his whole life and finds a new answer. jpmanga.substack.com/p/weekend-wa...
jpmanga.substack.com
Steven Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' Reminds Us What Movies Are For
In a rip-roaring sci-fi chase, the director returns to the question he's been asking his whole life and finds a new answer
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Richard Gadd, Jamie Bell, and 'Half Man’s' cast + creative team reflected on the show. “Every time I see somebody come up to me and tell me their theory [about the end], I see excitement in their eyes,” Gadd said. “I never want to take that from them.” jpmanga.substack.com/p/dispatch-r...
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Lisa Kudrow, Michael Patrick King, and 'The Comeback's' cast and creative team reflected on the final season and the show across 20 years. “When a line would come out and Michael’s eyes exploded in tears, then we knew that was right,” Kudrow said. jpmanga.substack.com/p/dispatch-l...
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Returning to 'The Pitt' tonight for a panel and reception with the cast and creative team. Looking forward to celebrating the people who brought one of the year’s best shows to life.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, and the creative team behind 'The Beast in Me' unpacked the Netflix psychological thriller during a panel over the weekend. They reflected on grief and what happens when a writer gets too close to their subject. jpmanga.substack.com/p/dispatch-c...
jpmanga.substack.com
Dispatch • Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, and the Creative Team Behind 'The Beast in Me' on Finding Monsters in Plain Sight
At a Netflix panel on June 6, the creative team and cast of the psychological thriller unpacked what happens when grief makes you capable of the very thing you fear
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Plunging back into the world of Netflix's 'The Beast and Me' with a cast and creative team panel + reception.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
'Black Rabbit' starts as a crime drama but reveals itself to be a story about two brothers who can’t stop hurting and loving each other. Jason Bateman, Troy Kotsur, and the creative team unpacked the show’s roots and the building that helped inspire it. jpmanga.substack.com/p/dispatch-j...
jpmanga.substack.com
Dispatch • Jason Bateman, Troy Kotsur, and the Creative Team of 'Black Rabbit' on Brothers and the Grit Beneath the Glamour
At a Netflix panel on May 16, the cast and creative team unpacked the show’s New York DNA and how a battered building became its soul
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Revisiting the world of HBO Max's 'Task' with the cast and creative team...
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Five seasons in, 'Abbott Elementary' is still making hard work look easy. At a recent panel, Quinta Brunson and the cast reflected on Season 5, the show’s beloved characters, guest stars, and the care that goes into making one of TV’s warmest comedies. jpmanga.substack.com/p/dispatch-t...
jpmanga.substack.com
Dispatch • The 'Abbott Elementary' Cast on Five Seasons of Making Hard Work Look Easy
At an ABC panel on May 31, Quinta Brunson and her cast reflected on the comedy’s fifth season and its beloved characters
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Dipping back into 'Half Man’s' haunting world tonight at HBO Max’s cast and creative team panel here in Los Angeles.
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
For nearly 20 years, supermodel Hoyt Richards gave his life and millions of dollars to a cult called Eternal Values. Ahead of HBO’s 'Bring Me the Beauties,' I spoke with Richards and director Chris Smith about the unsettling true story behind the docuseries. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
The True Story Behind 'Bring Me the Beauties' and the Eternal Values Cult
A new HBO docuseries tells the story of the charismatic Frederick von Mierers, who lured models and other attractive young people into a cult in 1980s New York.
100
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Five seasons in—and still going strong. Time for that 'Abbott Elementary' cast panel and reception...
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Spending an afternoon with the casts and creative teams of Paramount+'s 'Landman' and 'The Madison.'
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
An early afternoon with the cast and creative team of Hulu's 'The Testaments.'
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Primed for a night of comedy with a cast/creative team panel + reception for HBO's 'The Comeback.'
000
JP Mangalindan @jpmanga.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
I spoke with 'The Boys' creator Eric Kripke about the series finale, and he broke it down: Frenchie’s farewell, Ryan’s choice, Butcher’s ending, Homelander’s fate, and what the show really said about power all along.
time.com
Breaking Down the Brutal Series Finale of 'The Boys'
Creator Eric Kripke on bringing the audacious and darkly funny show to a close
000