House of R: The 2026 Hype Draft

Podcast: House of R (The Ringer)
Hosts/Panel: Joanna Robinson, Mallory Rubin, Rob Mahoney, Sean Fennessey
Date: January 29, 2026
Special Guest Appearances: Ben Lindbergh (Button Mash, via audio)
Episode Theme: Annual “Hype Draft” – panelists draft their most anticipated nerd-culture releases (TV, movies, adaptations, sequels, etc.) coming in 2026.

Episode Overview

The 2026 Hype Draft is a spirited, hilarious, and deeply nerdy look ahead at the year's most anticipated pop culture releases in the realms of sci-fi, fantasy, comics, and more. Joanna, Mallory, Rob, and Sean each build their own "team" in a draft format, selecting their most exciting, buzzy picks across new movies, TV series, sequels, adaptations, and wild cards. Along the way, they debate what belongs, reminisce on previous years' victories and regrets, and delve into what genuine hype means for lifelong fans.
Tone: Warm, sharp, infectiously enthusiastic, frequently irreverent, peppered with in-jokes and genuine recommendations.

Key Sections & Timestamps

1. Pre-Draft Banter & Last Year's Recap (00:00–13:28)

• Hosts and guests settle in, roast each other, and recap ongoing House of R programming.
  • Joanna teases, "That is the beautiful Malia Rubin. That is the wonderful Rob Mahoney. And Sean Fennessey is also here." [00:00]
• 2025 Hype Draft recapped: Reflections on what delivered and what didn’t.
  • Mallory: “I feel pretty good about picking Superman in the first round. [...] I'll take a do-over on rounds two, three, and four.” [10:06]
• Discussion about “winning” the hype draft – Is it for personal hype or pleasing the voting fandom?
  • Mallory: “The point is to build a team of excitement that represents what's in [your heart].” [20:47]
  • Sean: “I'm going to do whatever the fuck I want.” [21:05]
• Quick plug: You can vote for your favorite draft on Ringoverse socials and Spotify episode page. [22:28]

2. Draft Rules & Categories (13:28–23:04)

• Draft categories for 2026: Movie, TV Show, Sequel, Adaptation, Wildcard (animation can fit anywhere).
• Eligibility: Any nerd culture property confirmed or reasonably expected for a 2026 release.
• Clarifications: Sequels can be TV or film; adaptations include any source material conversions (books, comics, journalism).
• Joanna: “You need to play by our rules on our podcast.” [15:05]
• Romantasy’s rise discussed, with a string of sex jokes and clever banter about genre crossovers.
  • “Romantasy is not infecting, it’s penetrating Hollywood.” – Mallory [17:52]

3. Draft Begins: Round 1 (23:07–38:36)

Each panelist picks across five categories, choosing with heart and/or gamesmanship.

Notable First Round Picks

• Sean Fennessey: Dune Part 3 (Sequel)
  "The Dune movies are improving... I’m really stoked on that." [24:40]
• Mallory Rubin: The Odyssey (Adaptation)
  “We love mythology here on the House of R. We love a Nolan film. Look at this cast…” [31:20]
• Joanna Robinson: Disclosure Day (Movie)
  “Spielberg, potentially back to his roots... Wouldn’t it be sick if Spielberg made an incredible sci-fi movie this year?” [34:50]
• Rob Mahoney: Project Hail Mary (Adaptation)
  “I love Gosling. Honestly, I am quite—as a non-book reader—this is infuriating.” [36:37]

4. Key Highlights & Quotes from the Draft (38:36–90:40)

Major Picks & Commentary

Joanna

• Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Lestat (TV) [44:24]
  "If you liked heated rivalry and you like toxic gay yearning, have I got a show for you..."
• Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (Adaptation) [63:00]
  "I hope it's good. I'm actually more high on this than if it were The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."
• Practical Magic 2 (Sequel) [73:14]
  “Sandy and Nicole are back... Against all odds, I’m quite excited for Practical Magic 2.”

Mallory

• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (TV) [48:29]
  “This television show is wonderful... an energetic return to Westeros. I love Thrones.”
• The Mandalorian and Grogu (Movie) [57:56]
  “We’ve been waiting since 2019... Grogu is one of the most important people in my life.”
• Toy Story 5 (Sequel) [76:27]
  “Porting us into a certain headspace and a shared experience. I really am looking forward to this.”

Rob

• Doomsday (Sequel) [38:37]
  “I hope, I hope to God this movie is good. I hope it’s just watchable.”
• X-Men 97 Season 2 (TV) [68:01]
  “As long as it maintains that energy [from S1]... I choose to hold out hope.”
• The Bride (Movie) [70:10]
  “I just need it to work for me. Test audiences: kick rocks!”

Sean

• Brand New Day (Movie; Spider-Man franchise) [52:05]
  “I’ve never not liked a Spider-Man movie. Spider-Man is eternal.”
• Lanterns (TV) [53:31]
  “I do need these Lanterns to do some lanterning... If there’s no lanterning, I’m going to be fucking pissed.” [55:03]
• Resident Evil (Adaptation) [79:14]
  “I've never played a Resident Evil video game in my life... If this movie isn't good, I'll be shocked.”

5. Wildcards, Deep Cuts & Closing Rounds (82:19–90:40)

Unexpected Picks & Passion Projects:

• Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Sean, Wildcard) [82:49]
  • “Don’t care about winning. I think this is just fun to talk about.”
  • Tells the incredible story of Disney trading Al Michaels for the rights to Oswald.
  • “It’s the meta nature of Hollywood history intersecting with IP on Disney.”
• Blade Runner 2099 (Mallory, Wildcard) [87:16]
  • “If this is good, we’re just thriving… it is an under-explored universe.”
• Werewolf by Robert Eggers (Joanna, Wildcard) [89:33]
• Godzilla Minus Zero (Rob, Wildcard) [91:40]
  • "Godzilla has scared me, he’s thrilled me, he’s only once made me cry, and that was Godzilla Minus One. So I simply have to take Godzilla Minus Zero."

6. Lightning Round: “Can't Believe X Didn’t Get Picked!” (90:56–96:03)

Rapid-fire rundown of notable snubs:

• House of the Dragon S3, Supergirl, Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
• The Boys (final season), Super Mario sequel, Rings of Power S3, Ahsoka S2, Daredevil: Born Again, Avatar (animated), Hoppers (Pixar)
• Masters of the Universe, Tron: Ares, Wonder Man, Ready or Not 2, Cat in the Hat

Notable Moments & Standout Quotes

• Sean (on draft strategy): "The Dune movies are improving... I’m really stoked on that." [24:40]
• Mallory, on Grogu: "I was gonna say one of the most important people in my life, and then I thought, that's weird, don't say it. But I decided to say it anyway. So there you are. Grogu is one of the most important people in my life." [58:59]
• Joanna discovers a new vibe: "If you liked heated rivalry and you like toxic gay yearning, have I got a show for you..." (on Interview with the Vampire) [44:24]
• Rob (stealing hype picks): "The listeners of this podcast adore the two of you and adore the things that you introduce them to... so I was looking to grab some of those people to rally them to my cause, that's all." [46:51]
• Mallory on picking Blade Runner 2099: "If this is good, we're just thriving. We're living. How wonderful to be us. And if it's bad, that would really suck." [87:16]
• Sean, on Lanterns: "If there’s no lanterning, if they don’t make a giant tank with a lantern, I’m going to be fucking pissed..." [55:03]
• Ben Lindbergh (via audio drop): "All that I ask is that if none of you drafts GTA 6, that I retain team control for one more year..." [05:44]

Flow & Interpersonal Dynamics

• The draft is, as always, a blend of expertise and gleeful mischief—panelists absolutely pick to bug each other as much as to win.
• Personal passion vs. popular picks is a running question: Are you picking for love, for votes, or just to steal the joy from a co-host?
• The meta-discussion on hype culture, audience voting, and personal canon is as valuable as the draft itself.

The Final Squads (Top Pick Highlights)

Sean Fennessey:

• Dune Part 3 (Sequel)
• Brand New Day (Movie/Spider-Man)
• Lanterns (TV)
• Resident Evil (Adaptation)
• Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Wildcard)

Mallory Rubin:

• The Odyssey (Adaptation)
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (TV)
• The Mandalorian and Grogu (Movie)
• Toy Story 5 (Sequel)
• Blade Runner 2099 (Wildcard)

Joanna Robinson:

• Disclosure Day (Movie)
• Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Lestat (TV)
• Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (Adaptation)
• Practical Magic 2 (Sequel)
• Werewolf (Wildcard)

Rob Mahoney:

• Project Hail Mary (Adaptation)
• Doomsday (Sequel/Marvel)
• X-men 97 Season 2 (TV)
• The Bride (Movie)
• Godzilla Minus Zero (Wildcard)

Takeaways for Listeners

• 2026 is bursting with promising genre media—the field feels deeper and more exciting than the post-strike vacuum of 2025.
• The hype draft is not just about what is coming, but why we’re excited: nostalgia, personal canon, creative teams, and occasionally spite.
• Mallory & Joanna’s deep fandom and sharp wit make House of R a must-listen for anyone eager for community in “nerd spaces.”

Essential Segments & Timestamps

• Intro & last year’s recap: [00:00–13:28]
• 2026 draft rules/categories: [13:28–23:04]
• Draft “top tier” picks/debate: [23:07–38:36]
• Hype-pick justifications (e.g., Lestat, Lanterns): [44:24–61:07]
• Wildcards, deep cuts, and lightning round: [82:19–96:08]
• Wrap-up, sentimental closing: [97:22–End]

Tune in for: massive laughs, surprising picks, behind-the-scenes fandom drama, and proof that your favorite nerds are thinking as hard about the future as you are.