Mythmakers

Julia Golding is joined today by Jacob Rennaker to look back at the summer for fantasy in the movie theatres and look forward to the major fantasy TV series coming up over the next few months. What tone will the first season of Harry Potter strike—more child-friendly like the first film, or darker to appeal to adult audiences? What’s happening with Season 3 of The Rings of Power? Which characters will we be rooting for? And what about a talking Balrog played by Simon Pegg? Julia and Jacob then turn to news about their own fantasy books and discuss what it’s like to be part of a publicity drive, before wrapping up with Brandon Sanderson’s latest updates on the Mistborn screenplay. 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Fantasy News Catch-Up 00:59 Christopher Nolan's Odyssey: The Big Summer Fantasy Film 06:30 The Gods Question: Divine or Psychological? 10:48 Sirens and Disappointments: What Didn't Work 11:29 The Greek Myth Renaissance: What's Next for Fantasy? 13:53 Hadestown: Greek Tragedy Meets American Folk 20:02 Backrooms and Horror: Liminal Spaces on Screen 22:23 HBO's Harry Potter Series: First Impressions and Expectations 28:13 Rings of Power Season 3: Fixing the Story Problem 29:32 Tolkien's Letter 131: The Second Age Masterclass 37:10 A Talking Balrog: Simon Pegg and the Cockney Question 42:21 The Storytelling Challenge: Where Are the Hobbits? 44:53 Book News: Jacob's Quest of Wonders 51:01 Julia's New Book: History of Trees and Castle 54:34 The Art of Book Promotion: Readings, Videos, and Finding Your Hook 58:10 Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Screenplay: Author Transparency 1:01:14 Looking Ahead: Narnia, Andy Serkis, and More Fantasy Films For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.  00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Return of the King 01:26 Synopsis and Setting the Stakes: The Final Darkness 03:07 Pippin Takes Center Stage: A New Point of View 05:31 The Journey to Minas Tirith: Gandalf's Ride and the Beacons 09:14 The Beacons of Gondor: History and Film Comparison 11:59 Comedy and Stakes: Pippin Falls Asleep During the Lecture 14:16 The Pelennor Wall and Meeting Ingold: Pippin's Honesty 16:41 First Sight of Minas Tirith: Piercing Beauty and Seven Walls 22:29 The Court of the Fountain: The Dead White Tree 23:24 Confrontation with Denethor: A Clash of Leaders 28:43 Pippin's Pledge of Service: Pride and Purpose 31:03 The Joust Between Gandalf and Denethor: Smoldering Fire 34:03 Two Stewards: Gandalf's Greater Purpose Revealed 35:55 Gandalf's Laughter: The Fountain of Mirth 37:39 The Chessboard is Set: Strategy and Pieces Moving 38:05 Meeting Beregond: Breakfast and the Old Campaigner 40:18 The Deep Breath Before the Plunge: Waiting for Battle 41:34 Pippin the Hero: My Heart Will Not Yet Despair 42:38 The Prince of Halflings: Walking Through the City 43:21 Meeting Bergil: Boy Challenges and Teasing Friendship 44:35 The Arrival of Leaders: A Roll Call and Sombre Sunset 45:26 Blackout and No Dawn: Gandalf's Dark Prophecy For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

In this bonus episode of Mythmakers, Julia Golding looks at the latest trailers and interviews for the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series, reading the tea leaves to consider what approach the creators may be taking. She then expands the discussion to other major fantasy and sci-fi reboots, from Star Trek to Star Wars. When is it too soon to return to a beloved story? And could a Lord of the Rings series be made within the next decade? 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and HBO's Harry Potter Series 02:11 First Impressions: Tonal Shifts and Natural Landscapes 03:12 The New Young Cast: A More Natural Performance 05:39 Knowing the Ending: A Different Creative Challenge 09:08 Expanding the Wizarding World: IP, Theme Parks, and Video Games 10:14 Why Remake Harry Potter? The Question of Necessity 11:59 The Creative Team: Television Writers Take the Helm 15:23 Lessons from Other Reboots: Star Trek's Success 18:59 When Reboots Fail: Star Wars and Retreading Old Ground 20:55 Looking Ahead: Could Lord of the Rings Be Next? Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

Julia Golding returns home for the ninth season of Mythmakers by looking at literature’s first famous homecoming king: Odysseus. Beginning with a brief survey of Homer’s original Odyssey, Julia explores what makes this ancient epic feel like one of the original fantasy stories, as well as the many books and retellings it has inspired through the ages. She then turns to the new Nolan film, noting some key differences from the original poem and considering how the story has been reshaped for the screen. There is much to praise, but Julia also has one major difference with the filmmaker—one that, for her, makes this a good film rather than a great one. Listen in to hear Julia’s verdict, and let us know whether you agree. 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and The Odyssey 00:39 Who Was Homer? The Mystery Behind the Epic 01:17 Reading The Odyssey: Structure and Dactylic Hexameter 02:23 The Plot and Themes: Homecoming, Hospitality, and War's Aftermath 04:01 The Gods and Nolan's Internalization: A Key Difference 05:00 The Odyssey's Legacy: From Virgil to the Renaissance 06:01 Modern Retellings: Tennyson, Joyce, and Contemporary Authors 09:50 Women Reclaim the Narrative: Atwood, Miller, and Barker 12:28 Circe's Island: Magic, Transformation, and Unexplained Elements 15:22 Calypso and Lost Levity: The Missing Joy of the Original 19:43 The Violence Problem: What the Film Avoids 22:57 Sexual Violence Reversed: Clytemnestra and Agamemnon 24:48 What Worked: Imagery, Performances, and Fantasy Elements 26:44 Final Verdict: A Good Film, Not a Great One 27:09 Closing Thoughts: Join the Conversation For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

Let's celebrate the contribution to fantasy of our favourite illustrators. Today we start with the grandaddy of Oxford Fantasy Illustration, Sir John Tenniel, the illustrator behind the Alice in Wonderland images. Find out about the unfortunate accident in his youth that he hid from his father, his extraordinary memory and his artistic influences. Guess who was at his retirement dinner? It is quite a fantasy dinner party moment! 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Celebrating Illustrators 01:07 John Tenniel: The Man Behind Alice's Wonderland 02:22 A Victorian Life: Family, Tragedy, and the Fencing Accident 05:49 Artistic Influences: From Theatre to the Nazarene Movement 08:37 Breaking Through: The Houses of Parliament Competition 09:24 The Craft of Victorian Illustration: From Drawing to Woodblock 10:26 Meeting Lewis Carroll: The Perfect Collaboration 11:23 Words and Images United: The Alice Books as Visual Experience 12:22 A Knighted Legacy: Sir John Tenniel's Retirement and Recognition 13:28 Enduring Impact: Tenniel's Legacy in Fantasy Illustration For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok