Say More: R.L. Stine on ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ and Matt Wolf on ‘Pee-wee as Himself’

Today marks the launch of Mashable Say More, a video podcast where Mashable staffers interview your favorite actors, writers, directors, and more for long-form interviews that allow us to dig into their careers, latest projects, and internet obsessions.

Hosted by Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko and Senior Creative Producer Mark Stetson, this weekly video series kicks off with interviews with Fear Street and Goosebumps author R.L. Stine to talk about Netflix’s new slasher, Fear Street: Prom Queen, and director Matt Wolf, to dig into his critically heralded documentary Pee-wee as Himself.

A spinoff of Leigh Janiak’s 2021 Fear Street trilogy, Fear Street: Prom Queen is co-written and directed by Matt Palmer. A more direct adaptation of Stine’s adored YA horror novels, this movie is set in 1988 Shadyside, where a cloaked killer is knocking off would-be prom queens ahead of prom. Who will take the crown, and who will get the axe? You’ll have to tune in to find out.

In his interview, Stine was more interested in talking about his writing process, his funny fandom, and what drives him. Plus, his pitch-perfect comedic timing got the Mashable crew into a giggle fit.

Speaking of giggle fits, Pee-wee as Himself is a two-part doc that explores the man behind the ’80s icon, the late Paul Reubens. The American performer died before the film was wrapped, yet Wolf persevered to create a complex and empathetic portrait of Reubens that invites audiences not only to understand him, but perhaps to better understand ourselves.

Wolf and Puchko got personal talking Pee-wee, relating on how Reubens’ discussion of his own queerness shaped Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Plus, Wolf offers his recommendations to dive down a Pee-wee Herman rabbit hole.

Mashable Say More will have new episodes every Friday, viewable on Mashable and Youtube. You can subscribe to our podcast feed anywhere you download podcasts.