Our sixth season is Cleopatra, a six-episode series about one of the most expensive and infamous movies ever made. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra should have been a smash. Instead, it was a shoot plagued by medical emergencies, climate disasters, nervous breakdowns, and the most scandalous love affair to ever hit a movie set. Join host Ben Mankiewicz as he digs through his own family stories to understand how it turned out so badly for his Oscar-winning uncle. Cleopatra starts July 17.

Step into the shadow of the Corleone family as Paramount Pictures unveils the enduring saga of The Godfather as never experienced before in this captivating Audible Original. With exclusive insights from the legendary cast, including Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Robert Duvall, and Talia Shire, and commentary from a diverse array of film experts and ardent aficionados, we dissect the film’s magnetic allure and its pervasive influence across our culture. Journey alongside Rebecca Keegan, the acclaimed senior film editor at The Hollywood Reporter, as she explores the heart of this cinematic masterpiece through a new lens. From the complexities of family to the nuances of gender dynamics, from the echoes in pop culture to the culinary connections it inspires, The Godfather is more than a movie—it’s a cultural phenomenon that continues to enthrall and intrigue us. Together, we’ll ultimately seek answers to the enigma: Why does The Godfather hold such an indelible place in our lives? Why, after half a century, do we remain spellbound by the Corleone family’s tale of power, loyalty, and betrayal? This is the first chapter of The Godfather: A Film We Can’t Refuse. Hear the rest on Audible when you sign up for a free 30-day trial. Go to audible.com/thegodfather 

It’s one of the wildest scandals in Hollywood history: In 1951, major Hollywood producer Walter Wanger (Jon Hamm) went to prison for shooting an agent who he suspected was having an affair with Joan Bennett (Zooey Deschanel), Wanger’s actress wife. When the dust settled, Wanger was accepted back into Hollywood’s inner circle with open arms, while a puritan panic virtually ended Bennett’s career in movies and her family would never be the same. How did Joan — the youngest member of one of America’s most famous acting families, and one of the key femme fatales of 1940s film noir — end up a real-life fallen woman, paying a public price for her husband’s crimes? In this limited podcast series, Joan and Walter’s granddaughter/filmmaker Vanessa Hope, and film historian/podcaster Karina Longworth (You Must Remember This), tell the untold story of the Bennett/Wanger romance and professional partnership — a film noir played out in real life.