Wingfeather Saga’s Immersive Premier / One-On-One with Podo

Deep in the heart of a retrofitted cave in Pelham, Tennessee sits The Caverns, a beautiful concert and event venue, but for one night that all changed! The team at Angel Studios brought the beloved world of The Wingfeather Saga vividly to life for the Season 3 premiere. I had the joy of attending the event Read More

Deep in the heart of a retrofitted cave in Pelham, Tennessee sits The Caverns, a beautiful concert and event venue, but for one night that all changed! The team at Angel Studios brought the beloved world of The Wingfeather Saga vividly to life for the Season 3 premiere. I had the joy of attending the event with my two daughters, and from the moment we stepped onto the grounds, it felt like we’d entered Aerwiar itself.

The evening was designed to be a fully immersive experience, and every detail was well thought out. Guests were invited to explore the grounds, enjoy story time sessions, create themed crafts, attend Q&A’s with the cast and creators, and meet larger-than-life costumed characters from the series. A real-life black carriage stood ready for photos, alongside life-sized statues of a Fang. The scavenger hunt, complete with stamp-collecting stops, kept fans of all ages exploring every corner of the venue.

One of the most magical touches? As guests arrived at the entrance of the Caverns, snow began to fall and a cool fog dispersed around the crowd, a dazzling, cinematic effect that perfectly set the tone for the adventure ahead.

Inside the Cavern, the enchantment continued. Delicious fall drinks and popcorn awaited, and a pre-show presentation featured fun facts from the cast and crew, along with behind-the-scenes photos and videos from production. Before the screening began, Wingfeather author and creator Andrew Peterson took the stage to perform a pirate shanty he wrote for an episode in season 3, a fitting and heartfelt moment that brought his imaginative world full circle. His daughter followed with a stunning cover of an Ellie Holcomb song, weaving together faith, family, and creativity in a way that felt deeply true to the spirit of the show.

Then came the main event: the premiere of the first three episodes of The Wingfeather Saga Season 3. As the lights dimmed and the story unfolded against the backdrop of the Cavern’s natural beauty, it was hard not to feel swept away by the power of storytelling, and by the joy of sharing it all with my daughters. There were big laughs, flowing tears, and palpable excitement that lasted well after the credits rolled.

As we exited the cave, cozy in our matching Toothy Cow hoodies, we were in no hurry to escape back to reality. We slowly made our way back through Aerwiar, making sure to memorize each detail, and to say goodbye to all the new friends we made along the way.

The entire night was a reminder that The Wingfeather Saga isn’t just another book turned television series; It’s built a community. We spent the evening surround by fellow Wingfeather fans (many in costume!) at a celebration of imagination, courage, and light in dark places.

Many thanks to Angel Studios for inviting us out, and to all of the amazing people behind the event and The Wingfeather Saga for making it such a memorable experience!

One-On-One with PODO (Kevin McNally)

Logan Sekulow had the chance to spend time with Kevin McNally, the legendary British actor best known as Mr. Gibbs from Pirates of the Caribbean and the  Wingfeather saga’s ultimate Grandfather, Podo Helmer. “I played a pirate before, but I’m playing a pirate now. But he’s also a wonderful grandfather and a great family member. And I just love the mix—I thought it was terrific.”

Season three of The Wingfeather Saga premieres today, and its theme “Faith and Courage Run Deeper than Fear” feels tailor-made for the times we’re living in. “Yeah, very much so,” Kevin told me when I brought up the timely nature of the show. “I think family is the most important part of it. Protection. What I love about season three… and season four… is that we learn a lot more about Podo’s past. He wasn’t always the lovely man that he is now. So, I love that element to it.” That kind of honesty and redemption makes McNally’s character stand out.

The series, created by Andrew Peterson and produced by Angel Studios, is hitting that rare, sweet spot between imaginative fantasy and faith-based storytelling. “I was attracted to that combination of things from the moment that I read it. I’m only happy that after doing the first series, which they sort of created themselves, it has caught on. And I’m actually in the middle of recording a season four now, so this could go on and on.”

It’s not lost on Kevin—or any of us—that there’s something poetic about the same actor who once guided Jack Sparrow now serving as the grizzled moral compass of Glipwood. “I was a sort of successful character actor in England, Pirates of the Caribbean was a huge change for me because it took me sort of worldwide,” he said. “And for that I’m very grateful.”

I asked if he still embraces the fans who approach him about those iconic films. “I’m much more interested in viewers than reviewers,” he said. “So, it’s lovely to meet people who can actually say to you, ‘This is what this show meant to me.’ I feel very honored by that.”

McNally’s career has spanned decades—from I, Claudius to Supernatural to Downton Abbey, and my personal favorite, Spice World.

Even after all these years, McNally’s enthusiasm for storytelling hasn’t dimmed. “At the moment I’m moving a little bit into directing because of that love of storytelling. And I think with my years of experience, I can tell a good story. So Wingfeather has been a wonderful part of that.”

As a voice actor, he’s discovered a new kind of creative collaboration. “If you’re on stage, you’re completely in control of everything,” he explained. “If you’re on film, the editor has a lot to do with what you choose to do depending on the shot. But in voice acting, it’s very much you and the animators. We create together a character. They do it visually, and I do it vocally.”

By the end of our talk, I told Kevin what I tell other parents I know: The Wingfeather Saga isn’t just another kids’ show, it’s a worthy show. It’s a story about faith, courage, and legacy that the whole family can watch together. As we wrapped up, he smiled and hinted at more to come: “I’m so looking forward to the next few seasons as well, because I think they want to go forward with this.” And if the story keeps growing the way it has, I have no doubt that families everywhere—mine included—will be right there with him.

 The Wingfeather Saga: Season 3 is streaming now via Angel Studios.