TDS Time Machine | Summer Blockbusters

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: TDS Time Machine | Summer Blockbusters
Date: May 25, 2026

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Overview

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition dives into the world of summer blockbusters, both new and classic. Hosted mainly by John Oliver, with signature appearances and comedic insights from the News Team — Stephen Colbert, Rob Riggle, Samuel L. Jackson, Sigourney Weaver, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Downey Jr., and a sit-down with George Lucas — it’s an energetic, nostalgia-fueled look at what makes popcorn movies tick, why we love trailers almost as much as films, and how technology, fandom, and storytelling intersect in the biggest franchises. The tone is sharp, irreverent, and always ready to poke fun at Hollywood, the fans, and itself.

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Key Discussion Points

1. The Magic of Trailers vs. the Reality of Movies

Segment: Trailer Reactions and Summer Movie Anticipation
Timestamps: 01:17–04:57

• Stephen Colbert humorously breaks down his obsession with movie trailers, especially the new Star Wars: Attack of the Clones trailer.
  • “The TV trailer has only whet my appetite. The feast is this Friday.” (Stephen Colbert, 02:36)
  • “Movies are just watered down trailers.” (Stephen Colbert, 04:36)
• John Oliver and Colbert lampoon the habit of getting hyped over the same content in different formats ("It's the same trailer! But it's on the big screen!").
• Colbert delivers "trailertainment": trailers as the Platonic form of films, advocating that everything would be better in trailer form.

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2. Samuel L. Jackson on Superheroes and Technology

Segment: Interview with Samuel L. Jackson
Timestamps: 04:57–10:22

• Jackson discusses the evolution of Nick Fury and superhero movies:
  • “Nick Fury was around when I was a kid. He was a white guy with a cigar and a patch. But then he became David Hasselhoff for a while and then he became me.” (Samuel L. Jackson, 05:56)
• Advances in film technology finally match childhood superhero fantasies, blurring comic-book and real-world boundaries.
• Jackson relishes the freedom of acting with green screens (“You kicked all the ass you want. We will make sure it looks like you’re the baddest mother in the universe.” (Jackson quoting Lucas, 08:29)), and the unique thrill of seeing the finished product.
  • “This is happening. I put my eyepatch on, I walk out there, and I'm invincible, man.” (Samuel L. Jackson, 07:54)

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3. Sigourney Weaver on Avatar and Motion Capture

Segment: Interview with Sigourney Weaver
Timestamps: 11:19–17:26

• Weaver explains James Cameron’s pioneering motion capture process on Avatar—from performance capture suits to virtual cameras.
  • “He invented special 3D cameras so he could put his actors in little black suits with helmets with cameras and ears and tails in what he called a volume, which is a big empty space.” (Sigourney Weaver, 13:29)
• The process humanizes technology: “The special effects are all sublimated to [the story].” (Sigourney Weaver, 17:08)
• John Oliver jokes about Cameron as a technological wizard and Weaver’s willingness to wear “ears and a tail” for a role.
  • “You offer me ears and a tail and I’ll go anywhere.” (Sigourney Weaver, 15:57)

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4. Lupita Nyong’o on Star Wars Secrecy and Fame

Segment: Interview with Lupita Nyong’o
Timestamps: 17:37–21:36

• Nyong’o admits she learns little about Star Wars movies before seeing them, sharing the notorious secrecy of production.
  • “They give you just what you need to know. So I’m curious as well. I can’t wait.” (Lupita Nyong’o, 19:40)
• She enjoys that her motion-capture role as Maz Kanata means some “lighter” fans don’t recognize her in public.
  • “The real buff know that I’m in the movie. But yeah, just like, you know, lighter Star wars fans don’t. So I get away with being in it and also not being in it, which I like a lot.” (Lupita Nyong’o, 21:27)

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5. Robert Downey Jr. on Pop Culture and Blockbuster Madness

Segment: Interview with Robert Downey Jr.
Timestamps: 22:24–29:36

• Downey Jr. reflects on childhood, Superman movies, and how modern effects have elevated superhero films.
  • “You really believed a man could fly. Well, cause the effects weren’t very good back then.” (Interview exchange with John Oliver, 24:36)
• The global fandom of Iron Man, the surreal joy of being like a Beatle to fans worldwide.
  • “The fans for this franchise are really artistic, too. So they give me like painted helmets and sometimes they weep, you know, I mean, I’m 48 years old… I get to feel like a Beatle.” (Robert Downey Jr., 28:00)
• Hints at contract negotiations, the unpredictability of Marvel’s future, and jests about doing his own stunts.

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6. George Lucas on Nostalgia, Criticism, and World-Building

Segment: Interview with George Lucas
Timestamps: 29:36–36:47

• Lucas takes jokes about Star Wars plot “holes” in stride (“I never thought of that… But you had to have talked to me about it 40 years ago before I would have included it.” (George Lucas, 30:50)).
• On fandom across generations and how new entries are met with both adoration and backlash:
  • “We have now three generations of Star wars fans. The first generation saw Episode four and the next two, and then when the next three came out, they hated it… and that’s when we first discovered that there was a whole new group of kids out there that loved it.” (George Lucas, 32:08)
• Lucas describes his book Blockbusting as a data-rich, non-elitist, business-and-technology-focused look at blockbuster filmmaking.
  • “Anybody who loves movies will love this book because it’s not the sort of ivory tower opinion… This is like a history of the business and the technology and the art and how they all intersect with each other.” (George Lucas, 35:52)

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7. Rob Riggle’s Summer Movie Review

Segment: "Wriggle’s Reel"—Evan Almighty
Timestamps: 37:52–42:13

• Riggle fiercely pans Evan Almighty as “a visual extravaganza full of amazing special effects… and boy, does it suck.” (Rob Riggle, 38:37)
• A comedic back-and-forth with John Oliver over Riggle’s possible jealousy of Steve Carell’s career (“I’d rather have my hate. It’s always been there for me, John.” (Rob Riggle, 42:08)) provides the trademark Daily Show self-aware bitterness.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephen Colbert on trailers:
  “That, my friend, is trailertainment.” (03:49)
• Samuel L. Jackson’s dream fulfillment:
  “Now, you know, I put on that costume and I fall into that Marvel playground. I’m like, I’m in heaven… I put my eyepatch on, I walk out there, and I’m invincible, man.” (07:43, 07:54)
• Sigourney Weaver on performance capture:
  “You offer me ears and a tail and I’ll go anywhere.” (15:57)
• Lupita Nyong’o on Star Wars secrecy:
  “They give you just what you need to know. So I’m curious as well. I can’t wait.” (19:40)
• Robert Downey Jr.:
  “I’m 48 years old. … I get to feel like a beetle.” (28:00)
• George Lucas on fandom duality:
  “Life is duality.” (31:18)
• Rob Riggle’s parting shot:
  “I’d rather have my hate. It’s always been there for me, John.” (42:08)

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Episode Structure, Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is fast-paced and packed with celebrity interviews, skewering and celebrating blockbuster movie culture.
• The hosts express genuine awe about the technological advances in summer movies (CGI, VFX, performance capture), while taking light-hearted jabs at their sometimes overblown hype and fervent fandom.
• There’s a recurring theme of dual perspective: fan joy vs. nostalgia, art vs. commerce, celebrity vs. “real person.”
• The humor is topical, self-reflexive, and meta; there’s constant awareness of both the viewers’ expectations and the constructed nature of blockbuster myth-making.
• The episode closes with Rob Riggle’s comic deconstruction of movie reviewing and career envy, rounding off the summer blockbuster experience with a Daily Show wink.

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Essential Listening Guide

| Segment | Timestamps | Notables | |--------------------------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | The Hype and Magic of Trailers | 01:17–04:57 | Colbert’s “trailertainment” routine | | Samuel L. Jackson on Superhero Movies | 04:57–10:22 | Reflections on Nick Fury, Marvel technology, and childlike wish-fulfillment| | Sigourney Weaver on Avatar | 11:19–17:26 | Performance capture and the human core of new blockbuster filmmaking | | Lupita Nyong’o on Star Wars Secrecy | 17:37–21:36 | Secrets, fame, and public/fan interactions | | Robert Downey Jr. on Being Iron Man | 22:24–29:36 | Peak fandom, the global Marvel phenomenon, contract jokes | | George Lucas on Nostalgia & Blockbusters | 29:36–36:47 | Intergenerational fandom and the “business-art-technology” triangle | | Rob Riggle’s Summer Movie Roasting | 37:52–42:13 | Comedy segment on Evan Almighty |

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This summary captures the essence, substance, and lively spirit of the episode, offering newcomers a vivid sense of what makes summer blockbusters and The Daily Show’s comedy take so irresistible.

Transcript

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[George Lucas]

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[John Oliver]

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[Samuel L. Jackson]

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[Rob Riggle]

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[Sigourney Weaver]

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[John Oliver]

You talking to me?

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[Samuel L. Jackson]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[John Oliver]

Welcome back to the program. This past Sunday was a banner day for fans of the Star wars series as Fox aired the first glimpse of the latest installment of the saga, Attack of the Clones.

[George Lucas]

We must stop them before they're ready.

[Stephen Colbert]

Begun this Clone war has.

[John Oliver]

Joining us now are resident expert in all things science fiction, Stephen Colbert. Stephen, you've worked with Bradbury, with Huxley, understudied many of them. What did you think of this particular trailer, John?

[Stephen Colbert]

I loved it. The special effects were mind blowing. The editing was crisp. Jimmy Smits was in it. I don't want to tell you the ending, but what the heck, I'll just show it to you.

[John Oliver]

Your first chance to see the trailer for Star Wars.

[Rob Riggle]

Look at this.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, for those of you who don't know how to read, they're telling you that this is the exact same. You can see this Friday during previews before the showing of the new Fox animated classic, Ice Age. I have got to see that Ice Age. No, the new Star wars trailer.

[John Oliver]

But it's. It's the same trailer you just saw on Twitter. Right, right, right.

[Stephen Colbert]

But it's gonna be on the big screen in a big theater. I can't impress upon you how the largeness of it will increase its size. You see, at home, I'm bigger than my tv, but in a movie theater, the screen dwarfs me. The TV trailer has only whet my appetite. The feast is this Friday.

[John Oliver]

So you're. You're really looking forward to this movie? No.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

No.

[John Oliver]

Did you not like Episode one?

[Rob Riggle]

No.

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, I loved the trailer, but I heard the movie was terrible. You know, it was like 133 minutes. I could watch 30 or 40 trailers during that same time.

[John Oliver]

You just like trailers.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's not to like, John? I mean, you got the buttery voiced narrator asking me to imagine a world where something happens or every so often a film comes along that does something. You know, I love the excitement when the trailer is fun and upbeat and then you hear that needle scratch like, and everything sort of stops. And then someone mugs for the camera like. Or when someone's about to say a dirty word. Then they cut to a tanker truck exploding like suck my. You know that. That, my friend, is trailertainment.

[John Oliver]

It is, it is, it is. You don't like movies at all?

[Stephen Colbert]

I love movies, John. I just don't see why they have to be so long. You know, nobody walks out of trailers because they're perfect. In fact, there is nothing in this world that wouldn't be better in trailer form. I mean, take this Star wars commentary for instance. Wouldn't it have been a lot better if we had just done it like this in a world where one man loved it, John. I loved it. Jimmy Smits was in it. He's about to get more than he bargained for. I'm pregnant. Movies are just watered down trailers. The Stephen Colbert trailer commentary, winner of the coveted Palme d' or Suck My coming to the Daily show three minutes ago.

[John Oliver]

John, Welcome back. My guest tonight, an actor whose new film is called Captain the Winter Soldier. Please welcome back to the program Samuel L. Jackson. Look at him enjoy. Soak it in.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Soak it in.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

GM baby. Song about that. Right?

[John Oliver]

This is a continuing saga of the badassery of Samuel Jackson.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Well, thank you.

[George Lucas]

More.

[John Oliver]

More and more. These films, these characters have been around for 50 years.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

60 years.

[Rob Riggle]

Yeah.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I mean, Nick Fury was around when I was a kid. I used to read Nick Fury comic books. You know, he was a white guy with a cigar and a patch.

[John Oliver]

Yes.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

But then he became David Hasselhoff for a while and then he became me. So the evolution of Nick Fury continues.

[John Oliver]

It does indeed. Ye may I say it's been upgraded, I believe.

[Rob Riggle]

Thank you.

[John Oliver]

I believe the Samuel L. Jackson.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I like to feel that way too.

[John Oliver]

But I almost wonder, you know, they were never able. The technology of movies was never at the advanced level that it is now, that these superheroes could on screen really appear realistic and you could get the jolt. I wonder if that's why it's only now that these movies are so big.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I think part of it's the technology and I also think part of it is the accessibility of what we're able to do as real people now. You know, when I was a kid, I would read a comic book, and I would want to be in a world where, you know, there were women walking around in tights with green hair and blue hair and folks had capes on and they were wearing boots and.

[John Oliver]

Yeah, they called that San Francisco, I believe, back then.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Oh, yeah, exactly. And now, you know, we have all that, and people are walking around, you know, people are walking around talking on things, and they're looking at stuff on the little devices. So it's all very real for us. The only thing missing is this cat that actually flies.

[John Oliver]

Yes.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

You know, that lands somewhere, you know, and he's probably out there somewhere just, you know, waiting to come out.

[John Oliver]

I believe that's right. Yeah. I wonder. I've always thought that science takes its cues from, you know, all the great Asimov and Wells and all the great sort of fiction writers and science fiction writers, and they see something like that in a comic strip and go, I bet I can make that.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Yeah.

[John Oliver]

You know that they are taking their cues almost from the imaginations of a guy like Stan Lee.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Yeah, well, there's that. And, you know, there's also the fact that I used to dream I could fly.

[John Oliver]

Right.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I used to dream I could breathe underwater, you know, and all that kind of stuff. And I wanted to do it really badly, you know. And now, you know, I put on that costume and I fall into that Marvel playground. I'm like, I'm in heaven.

[John Oliver]

Yeah.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

You know, it's like, ha, ha. This is happening. You know, I put my eyepatch on, I walk out there, and I'm invincible, man.

[John Oliver]

And they create it realistically. You know, in the old days, a superhero like Hulk, they just find the biggest guy they could and paint him green back in the day, and that would be.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Yeah, yeah.

[John Oliver]

You know, but the effects now and everything else that surrounds it, is it. When you're doing it, when you're making it, is it tedious? Is it. Do you feel the excitement? Or is it just you in spandex in front of, like, a green flat? And they're just like, now the monster's coming.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Like, in the beginning, you sort of felt that way back when I first started doing Star Wars. It was just a big green room, and we had some things in there. And then, you know, I had my lightsaber, and George will say, okay, there's this thing attacking you. And I go, how big is it? He says, it's as big as an S, Big as an suv. And I go, really? And how fast is it? He says, fast as you want it to be. So I'm like, so I can do anything I want and you'll draw stuff around me? He said, you kicked all the ass you want. And we will make sure it looks like you're the baddest mother in the universe. So I'm back in my room.

[John Oliver]

You know, I love it.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I got my music going in my head.

[John Oliver]

I'm like,

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I'm jumping and running. And then all of a sudden when I go to the movies, it's like, yeah, amazing. Look at me.

[John Oliver]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

So, yeah, it's all that and more. But when you're doing like that car chase.

[John Oliver]

Yeah, yeah.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

We had like.

[John Oliver]

But that looks actually dangerous. Like, are you.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Well, we had like 12 cars that all did different. So when you see the movie, there's one point where it's like 19 guys firing bullets at it.

[John Oliver]

Right.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

The windows are just resisting the bullets. And I'm just sitting in the car like. And that's like a dope ass feeling, you know, you sitting there like, yeah, mother.

[John Oliver]

And it's actually happening while you're in

[Samuel L. Jackson]

there and you're just in the car, you know, and we were shooting in Cleveland, so we're on the streets of Cleveland and people in the office buildings. Like,

[John Oliver]

I'm excited. They have made. I'm telling you, Marvel Studios, they have made these movies so well and they're doing tremendous stuff with this. I've been loving it. Cause I love the best.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I think this is the best one. I was a kid so far, really. Like I told you backstage, this one actually has a story, has a plot.

[John Oliver]

Yeah.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

You know, I mean, it's more than just.

[John Oliver]

That doesn't often happen.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

It's more than bad guys punching, you know, good guys and good guys punching bad guys. I mean, there's a big ass mystery going on in here. And I still haven't figured out how they got Robert Redford to do this movie.

[John Oliver]

It's awesome. You know, it's like, is there ever

[Samuel L. Jackson]

any moment in this movie, are you

[John Oliver]

ever tempted at any point in the movie to just move your eyepatch to the other side just to see if anybody. No.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Cause my scar's over here. You know, it's like, yeah.

[John Oliver]

Captain America. Winter Soldier theaters on Friday. Samuel L. Jackson.

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[John Oliver]

Welcome back. My guest tonight, a tremendous actress. Her latest film is called Avatar Parker.

[Sigourney Weaver]

You know, I used to think it was benign neglect, but now I see that you're intentionally screwing me.

[Stephen Colbert]

Grace, you know I enjoy our little talks.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Oops. I need a researcher, not some jarhead dropout.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, actually, I thought we got lucky with him.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Lucky?

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Yeah.

[Sigourney Weaver]

How is this in any way lucky?

[Stephen Colbert]

Lucky your guy had a twin brother and lucky that brother wasn't some oral hygienist or something. A Marine we can use. I'm assigning him to your team as security escort.

[Sigourney Weaver]

The last thing I need is another

[John Oliver]

trigger happy jar head and then they turn blue. Please welcome Sigourney Weaver. Nice to see you.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Nice to see you. Great to be here.

[John Oliver]

The movie. And I'm going to be perfectly frank with you.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yes.

[George Lucas]

All right.

[John Oliver]

I heard a lot about this movie before it came out and I'd seen a couple of pictures of the thing and this thing looked like what we call in the business a giant turd. This thing looked like it was a freight train out of control into water World. World.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Right, right.

[John Oliver]

It has since come out and it is blowing people away. It is on Rotten Tomato. It's like 90 something percent. People are saying it has reinvented filmmaking in a way. What was your feeling as you were going through? How long did this process take?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Well, I think Jim Cameron has been working on it about 12 years. But I got involved in 2006 and we started rehearsals and performance capture 2007 and then did live action 2007, 2008.

[John Oliver]

See, right there, I started performance capture. I know, in 2007. Now that is to the layman.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah.

[John Oliver]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Sigourney Weaver]

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.

[John Oliver]

What did he do?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Well, he invented special 3D cameras so that he could put his actors in little black suits with helmets with cameras and ears and tails in what he called a volume, which is a big empty space. And he had a virtual camera where you could look in and see your character in the actual environment of the movie.

[John Oliver]

The Pandora, the virtual world.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Pandora, absolutely, the Pandoran rainforest. And we were 10ft tall and blue with ears and tails.

[John Oliver]

And you could see that in the moment.

[Sigourney Weaver]

You could see a roughed out version of it. And then we would do our scenes just like you would in a kind of early theater rehearsal, you know, using like this would be like a bush or something, you know, or A tree or, you know, he'd give us things to represent certain things, just, you know. But he would do everything he could to make it as organic for us as possible. And in fact, the level of technology is now so refined with this particular movie that all of the facial expressions. That's why we have a camera right here. Everything you see, it's not painted on. It's not. It's not us voicing these. These faces, these puppets. This is the actors coming through the Na' Vi identity as these other people.

[John Oliver]

Let me ask you a question, and I mean this seriously, okay? Is this man a wizard?

[Sigourney Weaver]

You know, that's great.

[John Oliver]

And is he using his powers for good

[George Lucas]

so far?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Let's not cross him, though.

[John Oliver]

How does he even think of this? And what is it going to cost me for children's toys?

[Sigourney Weaver]

Well, I don't know the answer to the second one he's been dreaming of. This is the movie he wanted to see when he was 14. He's been doodling. He's been drawing ever since then, honestly.

[John Oliver]

Yeah, mine was a. Took place in a woman's prison. But the important thing to remember is

[Sigourney Weaver]

this, with the new technology, that's going to be an old movie.

[John Oliver]

No, I know. You don't even have to go to prison. It's just they put the camera right on their heads and you're transported to Sing Song.

[Sigourney Weaver]

But he's. He's an amazing guy, but as an actor.

[John Oliver]

You're an actor of great renown. You do beautiful stage work, You Subtle things. And he puts you in a blue tail and you're 10ft tall, which is like a half a foot taller than you are. And he. Is it comfortable as an actor to do this? You're wearing a virtual world on your head.

[Sigourney Weaver]

Yeah, well, actually, it did take them a couple of tries to do that, but I think, you know, you offer me ears and a tail and I'll go anywhere.

[John Oliver]

The Curious George people are on the

[Sigourney Weaver]

line right now, but, you know, he is a weight.

[John Oliver]

What does it weigh? How does it. What does it weigh?

[Sigourney Weaver]

It's just like a little bicycle helmet, but it has a camera right here. One dreaded to think of how they would use that shot, but I think it was mostly for reference. And you got used to it very quickly. It was just sort of there, you know, it was just sort of. You didn't. You kind of looked right past it.

[John Oliver]

Is this a new kind of filmmaking that opens up a whole other. Has he created a new way of filmmaking?

[Sigourney Weaver]

I think he has. You know, I Think he once he took our master shots with all of us in our suits, we could then all leave and he could do all the coverage with the information he had in that virtual camera. He didn't need anyone else. So I think a lot of these techniques, I do think it's ushering in a brand new way to make film. I think it's going to be a positive thing. I think it will certainly raise the bar for big movies. But I also think some of these techniques will be good for it.

[John Oliver]

As an actor, as an actor of note, as an actor who is used to the human interact. You're down. It's okay.

[Sigourney Weaver]

This is human. The thing that's most moving about this experience, when you see it, forget the 3D, is the story, the adventure, the romance, the experience of the movie. The special effects are all sublimated to that.

[John Oliver]

You know what? I'm gonna go see it.

[Sigourney Weaver]

All right.

[John Oliver]

And I'm gonna buy the toys. Avatar is in the theaters on Friday. It's gonna be huge. My friends, Sigourney Weaver.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

My guest tonight is an Academy Award winning actor who can be seen in the highly anticipated Star wars the the Rise of Skywalker. She's also written a children's book called Sulwe. Please welcome Lupita Nyong'. O. Welcome back to the show.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

And let's start by saying congratulations on all of your nominations. How many nominations do you have? Cause sometimes I feel like. Like Instagram is just repeating a post. And then I realize you've just. No, you've gotten nominated for another thing. What's your latest nomination now?

The Screen Actors Guild.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I mean,

[George Lucas]

that's for us.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

Yes, for us. Yes, yes.

Are you a little bit worried that when you go to accept your award, you are gonna kidnap you and then go accept the award on your behalf? It's like a tiny. Like, how do we know it's. How do we. Do you ever think of that?

All the time.

Welcome back to the show.

Thank you for having me.

Let's start off by talking about Star wars. New movie coming out.

Yes.

Maz Kanata.

Mm.

Maz Kanata is your character.

Yes.

And you're coming back again. These are the most secretive movies, though. Like, the trailer doesn't give anything away.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Right.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

Which I enjoy. They don't let you tell us anything.

[John Oliver]

Like.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

Like, why are we here?

Well, you know, I don't know. I don't know. But it seems to work every time.

It works every time. Yeah. Cause the movies are amazing. But then, like, you can't, you can't tell me anything. Like, normally I can ask you, like, what happens in a story? And I can be like, will this happened or that happened? I can't see it. Like, nobody knows what's gonna happen. It's like lock and key. Okay, one question. Maybe you can tell us. What's Baby Yoda like? Is he, Is he in the movie? No, there's another story.

You know, I know almost as much as you do, to be very honest. That's crazy. They give you just what you need to know.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Right.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

So I'm curious as well. I can't wait.

Is it because they want you to go and watch the movie as well?

I think so. They're that hard pressed for cast?

[John Oliver]

Yeah.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

Yeah. Disney's just hardcore. They're like, no, Lupita, you're gonna come and watch the movie, you're gonna pie. But it must be, it must be really special for you being a part of such a major franchise. I mean, you've done so many epic films, you're an Oscar winning actor, but at the same time you're part of Star Wars. Was that something you thought about when you were growing up? Is like, I'm going to be part of the biggest franchise ever.

It never occurred to me, I have to admit. And I watched Star wars growing up, but I didn't know that it was a cultural phenomenon.

Right.

You know, I just liked like C3PO. It just come on on public holidays, you know, so it was a public holiday movie. And then I got cast in Star wars and my brother cried. And that's when I was like, okay. And then I was watching what Is It, Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Yes.

And I realized that Star wars, like, it was pervasive in all popular culture because one of the questions was like, oh, you're Darth Vader. And I was like, wow. Like, everyone is all about Star Wars.

Yes.

And then there was this big splash about me being a part of it and I was like, oh, oh, shit.

[John Oliver]

Let me ask you this then.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

Is there a part of you that's happy that your character is like, you wear the dot things and you do the acting.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Right.

[Lupita Nyong'o]

I am so glad I.

Because then you don't have. Cause Star wars fans are like the best fans in the world. But they will chase you. They're intense and they'll chase you with lightsabers to get like a selfie, but they don't. Like, a lot of people might not know that you're in the movie.

Yeah. The real buff know that I'm in the movie.

Got it.

But yeah, just like, you know, lighter Star wars fans don't.

Right.

So I get away with being in it and also not being in it, which I like a lot.

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[Narrator]

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[John Oliver]

What about my gu tonight? Oh, he's got a new film. Marvel's Iron Man 3.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Jarvis, where's my flight power?

[John Oliver]

Working on it, sir. This is a prototype. Robert downey jr. So, so, you know, I hope this works out for you.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Thanks, John. I'm plugging away.

[John Oliver]

Yeah, yeah, no, I think that's right. I think that's right. This phenomenon, right, is insanity, right? It's worldwide insanity.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Yeah.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

I should come out right now.

[John Oliver]

No, it would be dramatic. There would be a flare to it. There are people here, they're shaking with excitement and glee.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Right. Well, I mean, I feel this way about, you know, the movies that I was really into growing up and I love the enthusiasm.

[John Oliver]

Who did you. Were you a superhero guy growing up? Now your father was a director, so you involved in film?

[Robert Downey Jr.]

I mean, I was around movies all the time. They were underground movies, so it was kind of odd.

[John Oliver]

Putney Swoe blues. Yeah, yeah.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Very cool stuff. But I mean, I remember when I saw the first Superman movie with, you know, Christopher Reeve. It's fun.

[John Oliver]

You believed a man could fly. Well,

[Robert Downey Jr.]

no, I mean. Cause the effects weren't very good back then.

[John Oliver]

The effects in this are really ridiculous even. This is the thing with. Do you remember, okay, so the first three Star wars movies you see.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Yeah.

[John Oliver]

And you're like, these are excellent movies. That's how I got involved in science fiction and these types of things. But then you see the next three where the level of special effects have gotten so great.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Right.

[John Oliver]

But they're prequels to the other ones.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Yeah.

[John Oliver]

Which look like old timey talkies and I can't explain that to an 8 year old.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Right.

[John Oliver]

This doesn't suffer from that.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

No, not yet.

[John Oliver]

Are you gonna keep Going, I don't know. They don't tell you.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

What do you think?

[John Oliver]

Don't you have to sign? Don't they make you sign like you're involved now for 12 of these?

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Right, Right.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Well, no. I mean, I had a long contract with him, and now we're gonna renegotiate.

[John Oliver]

Really? You are Iron Man. You are this in this one, it's the Mandarin.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Yes.

[John Oliver]

Now, this is a. The Mandarin is a classic. Yeah. The fact that they're bringing back the Mandarin, this is from a villain from when I was a kid in the 60s and all those old cartoons is the thought process to reintroduce some of those classic villains now?

[Robert Downey Jr.]

I guess so. I mean, Kevin Feige, who's the president of Marvel, is really the guy who had the vision this whole time. He's a big fan of the show, by the way. I'm gonna bring him the baseball cap. And I remember on the first Iron Man, I was like, all right, well, we gotta use the Mandarin. And he's like, hold on. And then the second time, I was like, Mandarin? He's like, no, we got Mickey Rourke. Relax. And then in Avengers, I was like, well, clearly for all of us, he was like, don't worry about it. It's his brother,

[Samuel L. Jackson]

so.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

And fortunately, this time, I mean, we have Sir Ben Kingsley. And I think that it was the right time and the right guy to play this part. And, you know, whole thing's just magical. John,

[John Oliver]

you're gonna be done. There is. You know what? I think there is probably. I think there is a movie promotion suit that you get into. You go like this and it just goes. Yeah. You jet off to the other things.

[Rob Riggle]

Yeah.

[John Oliver]

Now, are they still putting you in danger? Are you too valuable now to the franchise to be suspended from wires? Are there people now that they must.

[Rob Riggle]

Right.

[John Oliver]

What is your boy.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

You're really onto something, aren't you?

[John Oliver]

I really am onto something.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

I like doing that stuff, you know, and once in a while, you take a spill or, you know, you shut down production for a bit while you heal up.

[John Oliver]

Sure. No, I'm the same. I do all my own.

[Rob Riggle]

Really?

[John Oliver]

Look how close you are to the edge. There are many times I just rol. Roll off the back.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

No pads, no back pad, nothing.

[John Oliver]

What? Are you kidding me? Look at me. I'm 150 pounds of osteoporosis. I can handle it. On the thing, what country's most like, if you went anywhere, who is the most whacked out about this? Who is the most.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Everywhere was great. Korea Was amazing. China was mind blowing.

[John Oliver]

It had a ball. Is there any place where you've been stunned that they get it, that they see it, that they.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

I mean, honestly, I was really. I was humbled this time. Just because the fans for this franchise are. They're really artistic, too. So they give me like painted helmets and sometimes they weep, you know, I mean, I'm 48 years old. I'm looking at the back nine. I get to feel like a beetle.

[John Oliver]

That's nice. Let me ask you something. You're 48 years old?

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Yes, sir.

[John Oliver]

You really think you're looking at the back nine? Cause I'm 50. Yeah. And I'm heading to the 19th hole. I got. I got. I got maybe three or four good holes left in me. Yeah, but you think you got another nine coming here?

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Well, I mean, you know, I believe in science.

[John Oliver]

If you find something out right. I beg of you. Sure, call me because I would like to play through. I'm the same as you. I would like to play through.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Well, optimism is key in all areas.

[John Oliver]

Are you an optimistic.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

Here's what I heard. This was a discussion between a Russian military guy and Chuck Missler, who's a Christian. I love Chuck Missler.

[John Oliver]

All right.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

He asked the Russian guy, is there hope for Western civilization? The Russian guy said, well, you have to understand the difference between. Between an optimist and a pessimist. The optimist believes the future is uncertain. The pessimist is always right. So it's our duty to be optimist. But clearly the pessimist has more information. Right, because he's always right.

[John Oliver]

Because he's always right.

[Robert Downey Jr.]

So I'd rather have less information.

[John Oliver]

No, I think that's right. My favorite part about that, you said the word duty. Welcome back. My guest tonight, the director behind some of the biggest films of all time. He also created the idea for the new book, George Lucas blockbusting. Please welcome to the program George Lucas. Please, for you. We're very excited to see you. They waited a long time in the cold weather. It's so nice to see you. Thank you for coming by. I guess my first question is Senator Organa takes Leia to Alderaan and Darth Sidious doesn't feel a disturbance in the force. I mean, seriously, you expect me to believe that he can raise Leah on Alderaan and the Sith Lords? The Sith Lords, they're not going to pick up anything. I mean, Kenobi is on Tatooine. He's living right up the street. I mean, nobody's gonna pick up on this. I mean.

[Kayak Advertiser]

Oh, God,

[George Lucas]

I never thought of that.

[John Oliver]

I know you didn't, but I've been thinking about it for 13 years.

[George Lucas]

Yeah, but you had to have talked to me about it 40 years ago before I would have included it. So I was very young at the time.

[John Oliver]

And how crazy is it that this. The love and adoration and respect that people have for these movies. Also the flip side is the resentment. And, like, do you. How do you deal with the duality that you get?

[George Lucas]

Life is duality.

[John Oliver]

Whoa.

[George Lucas]

Yeah. Page 324.

[State Farm Advertiser]

Done.

[John Oliver]

Are you able to retain a sense of humor? Do you feel you have to answer your critics? Do you feel.

[Rob Riggle]

Feel.

[John Oliver]

Where is it in your. In your mindset?

[George Lucas]

It's a work of fiction. It's a metaphor. It's not real. And therefore you can either like it or not like it, whatever. It's not like.

[John Oliver]

But, George, I've. I've built my life around it. So to suggest that obviously means I have to go down into my panic room and make some. Make some changes.

[George Lucas]

It's whatever you'd like to.

[John Oliver]

You know, we had a piece earlier about nostalgia and about the way is some of it that people view things from their childhood with this glowing lens. That.

[George Lucas]

That was a great piece. Absolutely great piece. And it's absolutely true. We have now three generations of Star wars fans. The first generation saw Episode four and the next two, and then when the next three came out, they hated it. They could not stand it. And that's when we first discovered that there was a whole new group of kids out there that loved it. And they didn't like the first three. You know, they said Episode four, it's boring. We don't want to see that. You know, they love Jar Jar Binks.

[John Oliver]

My son. My son. And you met my son. My son's favorite movie is the Phantom Menace. And I've explained to him, no, it's not. Your favorite movie is A New Hope and Empire 6 vacuum.

[George Lucas]

And now we have a. Now we have a show on Cartoon Network, Clone Wars. And there's a group of kids that are very young and some teenagers and some older people who can't get enough of Star wars. Who. That's their favorite show. And some of the kids have never seen any of the films. That's all they know is the Clone Wars. Right.

[John Oliver]

Where's your mindset on it? Do you still have, like, if I'm you, I'm up at the. The ranch. I'm in the R2 costume naked at around three in the morning, going, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop.

[George Lucas]

You could do that. I'm not that short. I put on my rubber Jar Jar Binks hat.

[John Oliver]

You can fix my heightened post, can't you?

[George Lucas]

I can't fix mine. I've been working on mine for years. And if I can't fix mine, I can't fix yours either.

[John Oliver]

Do you feel. Do you still have the imagination? The worlds that you've created, both in Indiana Jones and in Star wars are so vivid, and there's such attention to detail. And the joke earlier about the different questions and all that occurs. Does that feel like a different guy created that? Is that you? Does your mind still work in that fashion? Are you still thinking in terms of stories like that? What's your process been like now?

[George Lucas]

Yeah, I mean, it's. I mean, I love doing Star Wars. At the beginning, I thought it was gonna be one little movie. Move on. It's not at all what I expected my life to be.

[John Oliver]

But you're disappointed, I guess, in the way things are. Yeah, I was, actually.

[George Lucas]

I expected it to turn into something great. But, you know, you take what you get, and, you know,

[John Oliver]

that's got to be the title of your autobiography. George Lucas. Eh? What are you gonna do?

[George Lucas]

You know, I'm having fun now doing television. It's a lot more goofy and fun, and, you know. You know what that's like. And I am working on a. Producing a feature on African American fighter pilots during World War II called Red Tails about Tuskegee Airmen. A lot of fun.

[John Oliver]

So you're doing all kinds of different things. And if people read this book cover to cover, they will know how to make a blockbuster film that will spin off, I'm assuming, some sequels and some merchandise items.

[George Lucas]

No, no, no. You obviously haven't read it, because there's nothing in it.

[John Oliver]

No, it is.

[George Lucas]

It's the only way I could get on your show.

[John Oliver]

No, that's not true.

[George Lucas]

It's to create a doorstop. Because I know you love doorstops. I know that you're always talking about them. I knew if I presented you with a doorstop, I could get on the show.

[John Oliver]

Can I tell you what I like about this? It's the crazy details. Like you have all these charts in here about different films. Like the idea that Superman shot more footage than Gone with the Wind. I had no idea then. It's filled with those kinds of juxtapositions and facts that for someone like me, I find very interesting. But then Again, I've memorized your films.

[George Lucas]

Anybody who loves movies will love this book because it's not the sort of ivory tower opinion of somebody about what's a good movie, what's a bad movie, and the art and the whole thing. And it's not a history, which I love. The histories, you know, Kevin Brownlow, you know, very detailed history of film and stuff. This is like a history of the business and the technology and the art and how they all intersect with each other.

[John Oliver]

Those great James sports books, the ones that are just filled with great stuff, statistics and facts from all throughout baseball that you always love to look up and do all that stuff.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

And I thought it was fun.

[George Lucas]

I love these kind of books. I did one before called Cause of Death which didn't go very far. Couldn't even get me on the show.

[John Oliver]

We like to go a little more cheerful.

[George Lucas]

This is the same kind of reading, which is if you're fascinated by this sort of thing, you will really enjoy it.

[John Oliver]

Well, it's a pleasure to have you on the show.

[George Lucas]

Thank you.

[John Oliver]

And you come back again without having to write such a big book, please, because I'm delighted to have you on. And it's, it's. It's great to see you.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

All right.

[George Lucas]

Thank you.

[John Oliver]

George Lucas is blockbusting. Sid, please. It's on the bookshelf now. It's George Lucas. Zootopia 2 has come home to Disney. Let's go get ready for a new case.

[Narrator]

We're gonna crack this case and prove

[John Oliver]

we're the greatest partners of all time. New friends, you are Gary the Snake.

[Kayak Advertiser]

And your last name?

[John Oliver]

Desnake. Dream team Hidden new habitats.

[George Lucas]

Zootopia has a secret rep. How population. You can watch the record breaking phenomenon at home. You're clearly barking at Zootopia 2. Now available on Disney Plus. Rated PG.

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[John Oliver]

The summer movie season's in full swing, everybody. To guide you through the maze of film choices, we present Rob Riggle and his brand new segment.

[Rob Riggle]

Thanks, John. Tonight I'll be talking about.

[John Oliver]

I'm sorry, can I just stop for a second? Did you name your new segment wriggles that's right. That would be a killjoy. But you can't even say that on the air.

[Rob Riggle]

Get the out of here.

[John Oliver]

Really?

[Rob Riggle]

Wow.

[George Lucas]

Wow.

[Rob Riggle]

Oh, sorry. Okay. Anyway, tonight I'll be focusing on one of the summer's most anticipated releases, Evan Almighty. With a budget of $175 million, it's the most expensive comedy in Hollywood history. Sure enough, Evan is a visual extravaganza full of amazing special effects. And boy, does it suck. It sucks. Oh, to have been born a genetic freak with 10 thumbs. So I could point all of them down for Evan Almighty. John.

[John Oliver]

Uh, I, I, I actually, I had an advanced copy this week and I watched it. I really enjoyed it, actually.

[Rob Riggle]

Well, that means a lot coming from a man who played bad guy number three in the Faculty.

[John Oliver]

All right, Rob, you know, you realize the film stars our guest tonight. A very special guest. Steve Carell's gonna be on the show? Yes.

[Rob Riggle]

Yeah, I mean, that particular gentleman plays Evan, a US Congressman ordered by God to build an ark. Becoming a modern day Noah, the film raises an age old theological question. Can God create a turd so big even he can't stand the stink of it?

[John Oliver]

All right, why are you. What are you.

[Rob Riggle]

Let's just see a clip. Let's just see a clip.

[John Oliver]

I want you, Evan Baxter, to build a mark. Oh, look at me. I'm Steve Carell. I'm in a gray T shirt. I'm too lazy to put on any clothes. Cause I just got out of bed. I'm so dumb and stupid. I'm a jackass.

[Kayak Advertiser]

Can we.

[John Oliver]

You're just. You're talking over the entire clip.

[Rob Riggle]

Better than listening to it.

[John Oliver]

All right, you're entitled to your opinion. You're just saying the movie's a waste of time.

[Rob Riggle]

Yeah, well, okay. I mean, Morgan Freeman was great, and there actually were some pretty funny jokes. The story zips along pretty nicely. Oh, and I totally teared up at the end. And the kids love it. Adults, too, really. You know,

[John Oliver]

The only thing you didn't like in the movie was Steve Carell.

[Rob Riggle]

Right? Let's go to. Let's go to another clip.

[John Oliver]

Destroy. Destroy. Destroy. Destroy. Carell. That was just you watching the movie, appearing to train for some type of combat in front of what looked like defiled pictures of Steve Carell. What?

[Rob Riggle]

What are you implying? I mean, what are you saying? That I'm biased in some way consumed with jealousy? That it eats away at me somehow? That he escaped the hell of being a Daily show correspondent to become a big movie star?

[John Oliver]

Huh?

[Rob Riggle]

While I'm stuck here like some schmuck. A schmuck,

[John Oliver]

actually, I.

[Rob Riggle]

That I vowed to do everything in my power to sabotage his career. Because if I can't break out and succeed, nobody will. Because that's crazy.

[John Oliver]

You know, he's. He happens to be a super guy. I can introduce you to him and you guys can talk after the show.

[Rob Riggle]

Really?

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Nah.

[Rob Riggle]

I'd rather have my hate. It's always been there for me. John.

[John Oliver]

Thank you, Rob. Rob Briggle, everybody. We'll be right back.

[George Lucas]

Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.

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