The Empire Film Podcast

#625 ft. Maika Monroe, Griffin Dunne

This week's Empire Podcast has another brace of cracking guests, as Maika Monroe returns to the show to talk about her terrifying new horror film, Longlegs [25:43 - 39:01 approx], and inadvertently inspires Chris Hewitt to launch the Empire Podcast Hall Of Fame for repeat guests. Meanwhile, making his debut on the pod is the great Griffin Dunne, star of An American Werewolf In London and After Hours, who sits down with Chris in the podbooth to talk about his memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir. [59:29 - 1:19:24 approx] It's a conversation that runs the gauntlet from the funny to the tragic, and we hope he comes back many times — a Hall Of Fame spot awaits. Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and Alex Godfrey to tackle a listener question that allows them to talk in depth about the Gladiator II trailer, discuss the rest of the week's movie news, including a heartfelt tribute to the Avatar producer Jon Landau (this episode was recorded before we learned of the sa

#624 ft. Mia Goth

Maxxxine marks the conclusion of Ti West's horror trilogy that began with X, and continued with the prequel Pearl. Co-stars come and co-stars go, in a bloody fashion more often than not, but Mia Goth is at the centre of all three, as porn star-turned-Final Girl Maxine and elderly psycho killer Pearl in X, a younger Pearl in the prequel, and now an older Maxine, who finds herself the target of a shadowy killer on the streets of mid-80s Los Angeles. And in this week's Empire Podcast, Chris Hewitt has a lovely chat with Goth about Maxxxine, being drenched in prosthetics, and much, much more. [41:11 - 53:59 approx] Then, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they don't talk about politics, even though it was recorded on General Election Day, and even though this week's listener question is about movie politicians. They also discuss the week's movie news (no politics, just old-fashioned speculation), and review Maxxxine, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, A Family Affair, a

#623 ft. Michael Sarnoski, Jesse Plemons & Yorgos Lanthimos, Adil & Bilall

We're back in the multi-guest business with this week's episode of the Empire Podcast, folks. First, Ben Travis has a very hushed Zoom chat with A Quiet Place: Day One director, Michael Sarnoski. [22:46 - 40:44 approx] Then, Sophie Butcher talks to Kinds Of Kindness director and star duo, Yorgos Lanthimos and Jesse Plemons. [1:00:42 - 1:15:24 approx] And, finally, we bring you an excerpt from our Bad Boys: Ride Or Die spoiler special interview with that film's directors, Adil & Bilall, in which they speak to Chris Hewitt. [1:37:28 - 1:53:14 approx] The full thing is available to subscribers, and you can subscribe at supportingcast.empire.fm. True story. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Sophie and James Dyer to tackle a listener question that combines two of Chris' obsessions, the MCU and his new love, Taskmaster, which he has only just started watching. In the movie news section, the team pay tribute to Donald Sutherland, while they also review Kinds Of Kindness, A Quiet Place: Day One, and Kevin Cos

#622 — Jeff Nichols

Vroom vroom! This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is something of a rarity, as we only have one guest. But what a guest it is, as Jeff Nichols, director of Take Shelter, Midnight Special and Mud, tells Helen O'Hara all about working with motorcycles and movie stars on his new movie, The Bikeriders. Then, in the podbooth, Chris Hewitt hosts and is joined by Helen, James Dyer and Amon Warmann for another fun episode in which they discuss which movies deserve to have their visual effects overhauled in special editions, look at the week's movie news, discuss who should direct the MCU's Blade movie, and review The Bikeriders, Federer: Twelve Final Days, Under Paris, and The Exorcism. Enjoy.

#621 — Richard Linklater, Stephen Fry

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast invites you to settle into a pair of cracking interviews — first, Ben Travis has a sit-down [22:48 - 42:49 approx] with Richard Linklater, director of the excellent Hit Man (now on Netflix), then Chris Hewitt has a bonny time with the wonderfully loquacious Stephen Fry, star of this week's drama, Treasure. [1:06:39 - 1:26:31 approx] By the way, Fry quotes a movie at one point, and we could give you a thousand guesses and we reckon you'd still not get it. Then, Chris — now free of the gammy leg — enters the podbooth and runs rings round Helen O'Hara and James Dyer (literally, not metaphorically) as they discuss the best sunglasses in the movies, a ton of movie news including the Paddington In Peru trailer and the potentially perilous state of being for the MCU's Blade, and review Inside Out 2, Freud's Last Session, Ama Gloria, and the year's barmiest film, Sasquatch Sunset. After all, a Sasquatch's gotta know its limitations. Enjoy.

#620 — Jerry Bruckheimer, M. Night Shyamalan & Ishana Night Shyamalan, Viggo Mortensen

It's another bumper, jam-packed edition of the Empire Podcast this week, folks, with four wonderful guests. First, legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who has both Young Woman And The Sea and Bad Boys: Ride Or Die in cinemas right now, shares some of the secrets of his success with Alex Godfrey. [21:13 - 38:36 approx] Then, John Nugent has an audience with the Shyamalans — Ishana Night Shyamalan, writer and director of new horror, The Watched (aka The Watchers in the States), and her producer/second unit director, her father M. Night Shyamalan. [1:00:25 - 1:18:40 approx] And finally Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with the great Viggo Mortensen, who writes, directs, composes and stars in this week's Western, The Dead Don't Hurt. If you know anyone who worked at the Australian video store Viggo mentions in this interview, let us know. [1:35:41 - 1:55:06 approx] Either side of all that, Chris dials into the podbooth where Helen O'Hara and James Dyer are waiting, so they can discuss the best glasses in movies,

An Empire Podcast Preview Special: The Acolyte ft. Leslye Headland, Amandla Stenberg, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto

The Acolyte is the latest Star Wars live-action show to hit Disney+ (its first two episodes, out of eight, drop on June 5th), and promises to be one of the most exciting additions yet to that galaxy far, far away. Part murder mystery, part exploration of the High Republic and a time when the Jedi were in their pomp, and the Sith were just beginning to rise again, Leslye Headland's show has a lot going on. And in this special preview episode, Ben Travis talks to Headland and her lead, Amandla Stenberg, plus cast members Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett and, via the aid of an interpreter, South Korean star Lee Jung-jae. Then Ben joins Chris Hewitt in the virtual podbooth for a breakdown of what to expect from the show. Two words: Jedi Wookiee. Enjoy — and don't forget to subscribe, if you haven't already, to the Empire Podcast Spoiler Specials feed to hear weekly spoiler pods about the show.

#619 — Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, Daisy Ridley

The Empire Podcast delivers yet another cracker this week, folks. Guest-wise, Chris Hewitt has a lovely Zoom chat with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, the husband-wife screenwriting team who have become the producers and custodians of the Planet Of The Apes franchise. Here, Chris chats to the pair about how they revived the Apes franchise, how they became a partnership with The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, and their time working on Avatar sequels with James Cameron. [26:10 - 44:53 approx] Then, Daisy Ridley — Star Wars' Rey herself, and the star of this week's Young Woman And The Sea — pops into our studio to have a natter with Alex Godfrey about swimming, sand, and injuries. Oh, and she makes a desperate play for free Honest Burgers, one we can fully get behind. [1:06:17 - 1:22:44 approx] Then, either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to tackle a question from the Empire Podcast subreddit, discuss (most of) the week's movie news, including the latest casting for Wake

#618 — George Miller

On this week's episode of the Empire Podcast, the doctor is in. Doctor George Miller, that is, as the MD turned visionary director returns to the big screen with his latest slice of post-apocalyptic madness, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. So, naturally, our Chris Hewitt went along and had a big old chat with Dr. George, as we're reliably informed they call him in Australia, and we bring you the full version of that engrossing interview. [46:15 - 1:14:25 approx) Then, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, John Nugent, and James Dyer for a fun episode in which they review Furiosa, Jennifer Lopez' Atlas, Richard Linklater's Hit Man, and The Garfield Movie; discuss the week's movie news, including X-Men, Star Trek and Godzilla developments (but not, crucially, the third Benoit Blanc film, which will be discussed next week); and, in a spoilerific listener question section, talk about their favourite movie farewells (this episode is dedicated to Jürgen Norbert Klopp). Hope you guys have seen noted 'Allo 'Allo

#617 — John Krasinski, Ben Schwartz

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast asks the question: 'what if an interview started off the rails and went from there?' And answers it with a tremendously fun and, at times, utterly chaotic, interview between our Chris Hewitt and John Krasinski, writer/director/star of new fantasy movie IF. To listen to the most expensive interview of all time, go to 23:18 (approx). More fun and chaos can be found in our other interview this week [1:06:32 - 1:21:52 approx), as Chris sits down on Zoom with Ben Schwartz to talk about his improv show, Ben Schwartz And Friends, which is at the Royal Albert Hall this Sunday (May 19). Tickets on sale now at royalalberthall.com and rejactedjokes.com (And this is an excerpt from the 45-minute Ben Schwartz special, which is currently available in your podcast feed) Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth for more fun and chaos by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer, as they discuss Dune: Prophecy, sports that deserve good movies (and yes, we are aware of Billy The Kid & T

Ben Schwartz: An Empire Podcast Interview Special

Ben Schwartz isn't just a terrifically funny actor (he's Jean-Ralphio in Parks & Rec, for the love of Pete!), insanely gifted VoiceOver artist (he's the voice of Sonic, for the love of Knuckles!), writer (he helped write dialogue for C-3PO in J.J. Abrams' Star Wars movies, for the love of Babu Frik!) and all-round geek. He's also one of the greatest improvisational comedians on the planet, and he's bringing his incredible improv show, Ben Schwartz And Friends, to the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday May 19, for the love of Queen Victoria! And so our Chris Hewitt felt it was a simply capital time to fire up the old Zoom and head straight into an extended, epic, and very funny conversation with Schwartz about improv, about what people can expect from Ben Schwartz And Friends when they buy tickets via rejectedjokes.com or royalalberthall.com, about his IMDb trivia and mini bio, about voicing Sonic, and his time spent working on Star Wars. Oh, and much more, obviously. Enjoy.

#616 — Josh O'Connor, Owen Teague, Freya Allan & Kevin Durand, Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Another guestapalooza on this week's Empire Podcast, folks! First up, Chris Hewitt has a lovely chat with Josh O'Connor — not about his talk-of-the-town tennis movie, Challengers, but his new film, Alice Rorhwacher's La Chimera, for which O'Connor learned Italian and, effectively, manifested into his life by way of a letter. [20:12 - 35:25 approx] Then, Dan Jolin, our very own Planet Of The Apes expert, sits down with Owen Teague, Freya Allan, and Kevin Durand, the lead trio of the new movie, Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, for a chaotic chat about rapping apes, deadly spiders, and bare feet. [58:00 - 1:14.05 approx] And finally, Chris has a heartfelt talk with Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the director of the legendary Beatles documentary Let It Be, which is getting a wide release on Disney+ this week after years of being placed on the shelf. [1:39:45 - 1:53:05 approx] Either side of those is a fun episode in which Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer, as they discuss the best films to b

Sands Film Festival 2024 Special ft. Joe & Anthony Russo, Debra Zane, Alan Silvestri & Ania Trzebiatowska

The St. Andrews International Film Festival — or Sands, for short — is now in its third year, bringing some amazing films and filmmakers to the beautiful Scottish town of St. Andrews. It's already something of a tradition for the Empire Podcast's Chris Hewitt to pop up there and have a natter with some of those filmmakers, including Joe Russo, who is one of the festival's chief benefactors. This year, Joe brought his brother Anthony with him for a special screening of Welcome To Collinwood and a Q&A with that film's producer, and the brothers' mentor, Steven Soderbergh, and in this podcast, Chris sits down with the Russos to talk about their experiences on that film, the advance of A.I., nearly killing Spider-Man, and much, much more. But that's not all – this is a Sands special, folks, and within you'll also find Chris chatting with top casting director Debra Zane, Sands Festival Director Ania Trzebkiatowska, and Alan Silvestri, the legendary composer of Back To The Future, Predator, Forrest Gump, and Avenge

#615 — Rose Glass, Winston Duke

It's another cracking episode of the Empire Podcast, folks, as Rose Glass, director of Love Lies Bleeding, becomes the first guest to pop into our brand new studio, as she tells Sophie Butcher all about the brilliant and bizarre thriller that is her follow-up to Saint Maud. And Chris Hewitt has a fun and frank chat with the wonderful Winston Duke, star of The Fall Guy, in which they talk about stunts, sponsorship, and a poignant moment that almost made it into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Kobi Omenaka to tackle a handful of listener questions about Star Wars (May the Fourth be with you, folks), review The Fall Guy, Love Lies Bleeding, and The Idea Of You, and discuss the week's movie news, with an emphasis on trailers. Warning: several wild Lion King-adjacent claims are made that may see your blood pressure rise. Just repeat after us: hakuna matata. There you go. Sorted. Enjoy.

#614 — Mike Faist, Kerry Condon

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is a smash, folks. First off, Alex Godfrey talks to ace actor Mike Faist, star of Luca Guadagnino's new tennis movie, Challengers [23:12 - 37:33 approx.], and then Chris Hewitt has a Zoom session (apologies if the sound is slightly distorted — tech issues) with Kerry Condon, Oscar-nominated star of The Banshees Of Inisherin, voice of F.R.I.D.A.Y. in the MCU, and star of this week's Liam Neeson thriller, In The Lands Of Saints And Sinners. [57:25 - 1:15:29 approx.] Either side of those, Chris hosts in the podbooth and is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, for a spell, Sophie Butcher, to discuss the week's movie news, including the latest Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, review Challengers, In The Land Of Saints And Sinners, Boy Kills World, and Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver, and tackle a listener question that has stuck around from last week, and mutated somehow into a Mount Rushmore of directors' tenth movies. Play along at home, why don't you? Enjoy.

#613 — Dan Stevens, Ed Skrein & Fra Fee, Alex Garland

Phew! After last week's single-guest situation, we're back to our bumper-sized best on this week's Empire Podcast. One of our favourite interviewees, Dan Stevens, returns to the pod after a brief hiatus, to tell Chris Hewitt all about his new film, Abigail, and his all-timer of a character intro in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. Warning: Chris and Dan also discuss the origin of Dan's true character name in Abigail, which some might consider a mild spoiler. So be careful! Chris also has a lovely chat this week with Ed Skrein and Fra Fee, the villainous duo from Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver. The trio talk about many things — accents, acting, Northern Ireland — but not, repeat, not football. And finally, the two Alex Gs — Godfrey and Garland — get together for a deep dive into Civil War, in an extended excerpt from our forthcoming spoiler special interview. Either side of that little lot, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Alex Godfrey, Sophie Butcher, and the late James Dyer (he's not dead,

#612 — Marisa Abela

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is perhaps less jam-packed and bumper-sized than normal, as we only have one guest. But what a guest, as Marisa Abela — terrific as Amy Winehouse in Sam Taylor-Johnson's Back To Black, the biopic of the iconic singer — talks to Chris Hewitt about the role, from the moment she got it to the gift she received at wrap. That can be found from 45:15 - 1:03:23 (approx). Then, in the brand new podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Alex Godfrey to discuss Helen's attempt to murder James on the recent tour, tackle a listener question about what they like to watch on planes, discuss (most of) the week's movie news (as this was recorded before a ton of news came out of CinemaCon in Vegas; that will be tackled next week), and review Alex Garland's Civil War, the McGregorapalooza that is Bleeding Love, and Back To Black. Oh, and Chris makes an early play for this year's British Podcast Awards. We're gonna sweep the board in Categories That Don't Exist. Enjoy.

#611 — Jordan Peele, Rufus Sewell & Philip Martin, Nell Tiger Free & Bill Nighy

This week's Empire Podcast has more guests than the Overlook Hotel, all chatting to Chris Hewitt about their new movies. First, producer Jordan Peele tells Chris why he was so taken by Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, that he came on board to help it get a theatrical release. Plus, they also talk why Peele is no longer acting. [15:40 - 30:56 approx] Then, Rufus Sewell — who plays Prince Andrew in Scoop, a film based on the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis — and director Philip Martin talk about the task of playing one of the most famous men on the planet. [44:28 - 59:38 approx] And finally, while The First Omen — the prequel to The Omen, which shall henceforth be known as The Second Omen — is a terrifying tour de force, Chris' interview with its stars, Nell Tiger Free and Bill Nighy, is anything but as they talk about being dressed by the Vatican, being hit by lightning, and decapitations. [1:19:23 - 1:37:04 approx] Either side of all of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by

#610 — Cynthia Erivo, Luke Evans

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is brought to you by the letter E, as Cynthia Erivo and Luke Evans join Chris Hewitt to talk about their new projects. First up, Erivo talks about her astonishing performance in Drift, which she also produced, and in particular one harrowing scene, and its impact upon her. It's an incredibly intense and honest interview and it can be found from 24:11 - 38:18 (approx). Then Evans returns to the pod after a long absence to talk about his role in Our Son, in which he plays a gay man going through a painful divorce, and playing The Crystal Maze with Daniel Levy. That's from 59:17 - 1:16:28 (again, approx.). Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they tackle a vaguely-Easter-themed Mount Rushmore question, discuss the storm over Late Night With The Devil's brief use of A.I.-generated art, talk over the week's movie news, and review Kung Fu Panda 4, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Our Son, Mothers' Insti

#609 — Sydney Sweeney, David Dastmalchian, Ernie Hudson

Halloween isn't for another few months, but this week's Empire Podcast delivers a hat-trick of horrors nonetheless, as Chris Hewitt has spooky sitdowns on Zoom with the stars of three scary fillums that are all out this week. First, Sydney Sweeney, star and producer of nun-more-black horror, Immaculate, talks about sticking the landing and possession. [21:24 - 37:37 approx] Then, David Dastmalchian, star of stylish found footage shocker, Late Night With The Devil, dials in from his trailer in Toronto, where he's currently working, to talk that movie, The Dark Knight, life goals, Ant-Man And The Wasp and more. [55:16 - 1:15:44 approx.] And finally, a man who ain't afraid of no ghost (which is a double negative, the most terrifying thing of all), it's original Ghostbuster, Ernie Hudson, aka Winston Zeddemore, who has a chat about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire that was shorter than usual due to Chris having issues with hotel wifi from Dublin. [1:44:32 - 1:54:43 approx.] Then, in the podbooth in London, Chris is jo

#608 — Ethan Coen & Tricia Cooke, Phillip Noyce

While we're waiting patiently for Joel and Ethan Coen to reunite as the filmmaking entity known as the Coen Brothers, can we interest you in the Coen Brother and Sister-in-Law? For Ethan Coen and his wife, Tricia Cooke, have teamed up to make the rambunctious road trip comedy, Drive Away Dolls, and on this week's episode they tell John Nugent about how they did it, and poke fun at his Star Wars toys. [25:34 - 40:09 approx.] We're also joined by another great filmmaker this week, as Phillip Noyce Zooms in for a chat with Chris Hewitt about life in the Hollywood system, and how his new movie, Pierce Brosnan thriller Fast Charlie, nearly fell apart at the first hurdle. [1:02:57 - 1:24:01 approx.] Then, in the studio, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a fun episode in which they discuss their most recent favourite movies, the films of Ryan Gosling, the week's movie news (including much Oscar chat and Neve Campbell's return to the Scream series), and review Drive Away Dolls, Monster, and The New B

#607 — Robin Wright, DeWanda Wise

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer cram into the podbooth just minutes after returning to London from a live show in Norwich, which was part of the pod's March tour (tickets still available for Sheffield, Dublin, and Salford via empireonline.com/podtour!). And, despite their exhaustion, they throw themselves into a fun episode that involves a deep dive into the filmographies of every actor who's played The Doctor in Doctor Who, an in-depth discussion of the upcoming Oscars that takes up pretty much the entire movie news section, and reviews of Damsel, Ricky Stanicky, and Origin. Guest-wise, it's another belter, as Chris has lovely chats with the wonderful Robin Wright, star of Damsel and Helen's personal fave, The Princess Bride (25:02 - 39:43 approx.), before welcoming back the magnificent DeWanda Wise, star of this week's horror film, Imaginary (1:02:11 - 1:21:17 approx). Does Chris pluck up the nerve to sing Curtis Stigers' I Wonder Why, which he has re

Talking About The Star Wars Prequels: An Empire Podcast Special

The new issue of Empire — on sale now at all good, evil and intergalactic newsagents — is something of a celebration of 25 years of the Star Wars prequels, George Lucas' trilogy of movies that began with The Phantom Menace in 1999 and concluded with Revenge Of The Sith, Order 66 and all that, in 2005. Since then, the prequels have generated more debate among Star Wars fans than pretty much anything else you care to name, something that is very much the case in this special podcast episode, as Chris Hewitt, Alex Godfrey and James Dyer talk through the magazine's world-beating coverage of the prequels, discuss their own complicated feelings about the movies (including, yes, Chris' own history with Attack Of The Clones), and bang the drum for the things they love about the trilogy. Does that mean there are plenty of terrible impressions of Boss Nass, Sebulba, the Emperor and more? Not as many as you'd imagine, thankfully. Enjoy. Peeeeeeeeeeeeace!

#606 — Josh Brolin, Adam Sandler & Paul Dano

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is perfectly balanced, as all things should be. In the first half, Chris Hewitt sits down with ol' Thanos himself, aka the one and only Josh Brolin, for a wide-ranging conversation that takes in birthday parties, Brolin's growth as an actor, his aversion to compliments, and his return as the indefatigable Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part Two, which opens this week (21:56 - 41:02 approx). Chris then ticks another one off his bucket list by having a fun Zoom chat with Adam Sandler, star of the new Netflix sci-fi drama Spaceman, and his co-star Paul Dano (56:14 - 1:10:38 approx). Either side of those, Helen O'Hara hosts from the podbooth this week, and she, James Dyer, Alex Godfrey and Sophie Butcher tackle a couple of listener questions, one involving Muppets; discuss what passes for the week's movie news (this pod was recorded slightly earlier than usual), and give Dune Part Two, Johan Renck's Spaceman, and Zelda Williams' Lisa Frankenstein the review tre