Now You Know

British-Indian actor Dev Patel makes his directorial debut in the action thriller Monkey Man. Patel, who is best known for films such as Hotel Mumbai, The Green Knight, Lion, and the multiple-Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, plays the lead in this film, which is being described by some as “John Wick in Mumbai”. The film garnered praise from critics when it premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and some even went on to say that it is an ambitious action film with the perfect blend of socio-political commentary. Sharlto Copley, Pitobash Tripathy, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, Sobhita Dhulipala, and Zakir Hussain among others play important supporting roles in Monkey Man. We have curated six lesser-known facts about Monkey Man for today's Now You Know podcast.

Acclaimed British filmmaker and novelist Alex Garland, who is best known for Ex Machina and Annihilation, has returned with his latest passion project – the dystopian thriller Civil War. The film is set in the near future when the United States is grappling with a new civil war. The film has garnered critical acclaim after it premiered in the US on April 12, and is A24’s biggest box office debut in history. The film features a star-studded ensemble that includes Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, Sonoya Mizuno, and Nick Offerman among others.

Amazon Prime Video’s attempts to release a compelling video game adaptation like Netflix’s Arcane and HBO’s The Last of Us, have been successful with the release of Fallout. The post-apocalyptic series set in a retro-futuristic alternate history Earth has garnered immense praise from critics. It offers a gripping narrative, wrapped in humour, violence, gore, and thought-provoking socio-political themes.

Dune: Part Two, the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi space epic is releasing in theatres this week amidst much hype and excitement. Featuring a star-studded ensemble, led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, the film has garnered significant praise after its World Premiere in London a fortnight ago. Some critics have likened the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed novel to a masterpiece – one that could rival iconic sequels such as Lord of the Rings: The Towers and The Empire Strikes Back. Today’s Now You Know podcast brings you six lesser-known facts about Dune: Part Two.

The highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the acclaimed animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, has been released on Netflix. While fans appear to be divided on some of the creative choices, the series is set to top Netflix’s popularity charts this weekend. So for today’s Now You Know podcast, we take a look at six lesser-known facts about the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The French film Anatomy of a Fall has received several nominations at the Oscars this year, including Best Picture and Best Director. Helmed by Justine Triet, the film tells the story of a woman who is accused of murdering her husband, and their blind son being the only witness. The film has garnered significant praise for its gripping narrative, compelling characters, and riveting performances. For today’s Now You Know Podcast we take a look at lesser-known facts about this critically acclaimed film.

Leo: Bloody Sweet, the third installment of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, stars Tamil superstar Vijay -: the titular star Leo. The film revolves around Parthiban, a simplistic cafe owner in Kashmir who has dedicated his life to rescuing injured animals. As the film progresses, the mild-mannered protagonist becomes inexplicably caught between the crosshairs of a murderous drug cartel, who claims that he was once a part of their gang. The fast paced masala thriller has introduced a whole new section of movie-goers to the Tamil film industry.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe enters Phase Five, the recently-released superhero film, a sequel to Captain Marvel and the 33rd film in the MCU has opened to divided reviews. The Marvels features three female superheroes with complementary abilities – Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Ms Marvel. The film stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani in lead roles and also features Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Samuel L. Jackson. We are dedicating today’s Now You Know to fans of the franchise and here are some lesser-known facts about The Marvels.

Acclaimed Japanese Mangaka Naoki Urasawa’s beloved manga series PLUTO received an anime adaptation produced by Genco, which premiered on Netflix on October 26, 2023. The series is inspired by Astro Boy, one of the pioneering works in the history of Japanese manga and anime by Osamu Tezuka. The series follows Gesicht, an AI detective who attempts to uncover the identity of Pluto — a serial killer targeting the most advanced robots in the world, including the iconic Astro Boy Atom himself, in his quest to become the pinnacle of all machine life-forms. Things keep escalating as Gesicht also understands that he himself might be in danger. The show has been created by Naoki Urasawa and directed by Toshio Kawaguchi, with stellar voice-acting performances by Shinshu Fuji, Yoko Hikasa, Minori Suzuki, Hiroki Yasumoto, and Koichi Yamadera among others. So on today's edition of Now You Know, we take a closer look at some lesser-known facts about Pluto.

Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon starring Leonardo DiCaprio is finally releasing in theatres in India on 20th October 2023. The film is based on the book by David Grann and narrates the true story of the murders of the Native American tribe, Osage Nation after oil was discovered on their land in the 1920s. It is among the several artistic works released over the years, focusing on the Osage Murders. Films such as the 1926 production Osage Hills and the 1959 film The FBI Story explore the pain and injustice suffered by the Osage Nation. Scorsese’s chilling account of the atrocious events has already raked in rave reviews at Cannes this year. It features an ensemble cast of Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser along with lead star DiCaprio. So for today’s Now You Know podcast we take a look at lesser-known facts about Killers of the Flower Moon.

Acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan is set to release his latest Netflix series titled, The Fall of the House of Usher. The TV show is adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s eponymous short story, and stars Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, Mary McDonell, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, and Mark Hamil among others. It tells the story of twins Roderick and Madeline, whose pharmaceutical dynasty begins to unravel when their heirs mysteriously die. The horror series is expected to feature Flanagan’s signature blend of emotional themes and psychological horror, which were instrumental to the success of Flanagan’s previous works such as The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, and Midnight Mass among others. For today’s Now You Know podcast, we take a look at lesser-known facts about The Fall of the House of Usher.

The live-action adaptation of the hit manga and anime series One Piece premiered on Netflix last week. Much to the delight of its faithful fans the series received plaudits, unlike previous anime adaptations such as Death Note and Cowboy Bebop which received divided reviews. The live-action tale of Luffy and the Straw Hat pirates offers a compelling story, stunning visuals, scintillating action sequences, and the franchise’s trademark humour. For this episode of Now You Know, we take a look at lesser-known facts about the latest adaptation of One Piece.

The highly anticipated Neill Blomkamp sports drama Gran Turismo is set to release in India this weekend on the 25th of August. The film stars Archie Madekwe in the lead, with David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Geri Halliwell essaying pivotal characters in these high-octane motorsports drama. For this episode of Now You Know, we take a look at six lesser-known facts about Gran Turismo.

As renowned filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s Barbie releases in theatres along with Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus Oppenheimer, we’re in for a box office battle to remember. In fact, the ‘Barbieheiemer’ frenzy has taken over pop culture, with both films garnering rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. So on today’s Now You Know, we take a look at some lesser-known facts about Barbie, the doll who happens to hail from a parallel universe.

The hype and excitement surrounding the release of Oppenheimer is almost palpable. The Christopher Nolan film is expected to be one of the biggest releases this year as it goes head-to-head with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie on July 21st. On today’s Now You Know, we take a look at lesser-known facts about the film headlined by Cillian Murphy.

The latest Tom Cruise blockbuster Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One has been released to universal acclaim, with several critics calling it the best entry in the franchise. The film features gripping set pieces, an immersive plot, and Cruise’s trademark death-defying stunts and action sequences that will surely blow your socks off. In today’s Now You Know podcast we compile some lesser-known facts about Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One that you surely didn’t know.

Geralt of Rivia is back again in the third season of the popular Netflix series The Witcher. Henry Cavill reprises his role as Geralt for one last time before Liam Hemsworth takes over the role from the next season. Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Joey Batey also reprise their roles for the new season as the main characters. For today’s Now You Know we take a look at lesser-known facts about season three of the fantasy series, which is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels.

  OTTplay Now You Know - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 2023: 6 lesser-known facts about the Harrison Ford film - Episode 107Hollywood legend Harrison Ford returns as the iconic swashbuckling adventurer Indiana Jones or Indy in the fifth instalment of the franchise. An archaeologist, professor and full-time explorer,  Indy is often dubbed a grave-digger who inevitably finds himself in near-death situations as he takes on fierce adversaries to retrieve objects of immense cultural and historical significance.Directed by James Mangold, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is set to release in theatres on the 29th of June in India. So for today’s Now You Know, we take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the film. The film’s first script reportedly featured several jokes aimed at Indiana’s age. However, lead star Harrison Ford asked them to be removed as he felt that it would distract the audience from the film’s immersive experience. Well, we feel the jabs would've also been a tad ageist if not entirely insensitive and it was a good call to nip them in the bud.As many fans of the franchise would already know, this film was scheduled to release in 2021 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a few injuries Ford suffered during production, delayed the film – eventually pushing it back by two years.Steven Spielberg was vehemently opposed to the idea of using digital de-aging technology on Harrison Ford for the film, all the way back in 2012, when the plans for a fifth film were being discussed. However, the technology has significantly improved since 2012, and it appears new director James Mangold does not feel as strongly about de-ageing technology as Speilberg did. Ford confirmed that de-ageing technology is used in the film for flashback sequences, in an interview with late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert. In the trailer, Indiana appears to be wearing a gold wedding band. It could be a hint that he is still married to Karen Allen’s character Marion. Even though Allen did not feature in any of the trailers, she is listed as a cast member.The film’s primary antagonist, Jürgen Voller, is played by Mads Mikkelsen. His character is reportedly modelled after Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi who was among the 1600 ex-Nazi scientists who were brought to the United States to work on the top secret government program called Operation Paperclip. Wernher von Braun served as director of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and was instrumental in the US winning the ‘space race’ during the Cold War. There are even theories as to whether the German scientists, including von Braun, were truly ‘former Nazis’ and if they ever truly stopped believing in the principles of the Third Reich. Ironically, it is a Disney TV show that showcased von Braun as an American hero, and the Indiana Jones franchise is owned by Disney, with its latest film featuring a villain inspired by von Braun.Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is best known for helming Killing Eve and as the star and showrunner of Fleabag, essays the role of Indy’s goddaughter Helena Shaw. Her character has essentially replaced Shia LaBeouf’s character, Mutt, Indy’s estranged son from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Director James Mangold revealed that he based Waller-Bridge’s character on Barbara Stanwyck’s character Jean Harrington from the 1941 film The Lady Eve. Well that's the Now you know episode for today on OTTplay, until  the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poochoWritten by Ryan Gomez

Now You Know - Jack Ryan Season 4: Lesser-known Facts about the Hit Prime Video Series - Episode 106The Office star John Krasinski is set to return as the titular super spy Jack Ryan in the fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. The new season will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 30th, and it will focus on Jack as he steps into the role of Acting Deputy Director of the CIA trying to root out the corruption within the organisation. So for today’s Now You Know, we take a look at lesser-known facts about the series that even ardent fans of the show may not know. Lead star John Krasinski revealed that the CIA Headquarters in Langley granted the TV show’s production unit access to locations inside the complex that were never used for filming previous films and TV shows. Talk about keeping it real!The series is based on Tom Clancy’s series of novels, but unlike the previous adaptations, including film and TV shows, the Prime Video series is not based on any of Clancy’s novels. Instead, the series has borrowed the characters and setting from the franchise and created original stories set around contemporary geopolitics. Such creative liberties can sometimes enhance the source material and even result in compelling adaptations.  For the first season, the scenes involving the antagonist Sulamein and his residence were filmed at a 13th-century kasbah, or a fortified citadel, on the outskirts of the Moroccan city Marrakesh.Australian actress Abbie Cornish plays the role of Jack’s love interest, Cathy Mueller, in season one. In the show, she is depicted as an epidemiologist, and her profession is pivotal to the first season’s plot. However, in the books, she is an eye surgeon. Robert Pine essays the role of Gerald Halpert in the sitcom The Office. His character is the father of Jim Halpert, who is played by Jack Ryan lead star John Krasinski. In real life, however, Pine is the father of actor Chris Pine, who played the role of Jack Ryan in the 2014 film Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Now that’s just a beautiful coincidence. In the film Clear and Present Danger, starring Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, Jack is ambushed in the streets of Colombia,  similar to the ambush scene in Venezuela in the second season of the TV series. Coincidentally, scenes set in Venezuela were filmed in the Colombian city of Bogota.German actress Nina Hoss essays the role of the fictional President of the Czech Republic, Alena Kovac. She is depicted on the show as the centre of power in the country, similar to the role of an American President. However, in real life, the Prime Minister in the Czech Republic is considered the ultimate leader of the government, similar to India and other European nations, and is more powerful than the President.  Well that's the Now You Know for today's episode , until the next it's your host Nikhil signing out.Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poochoWritten by Ryan Gomez

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to the Academy Award-winning 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is swinging towards a monumental success. In fact, the film has managed the biggest opening weekend for an animated feature in India so far. The superhero film has been lauded by both fans and critics and is already one of the favourites to win an Oscar next year for Best Animated Feature. For today’s Now You Know we take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the film.