Film Stories with Simon Brew

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, nipples on the Batsuit, and a franchise-starting spoof. Warner Bros wanted Batman & Robin quickly, it wanted it family-friendly, it wanted lots of merchandise. Director Joel Schumacher? He wanted to do the Batman: Year One story. After Scream hit big in 1996, a couple of comedy projects bubbled up - but it was the Wayans brothers who hit gold with Scary Movie (although they weren't invited back for the third film). Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the 2002 sci-fi blockbuster that wasn't Star Wars, and Harrison Ford's haircut. Minority Report was originally set to be made as a Total Recall sequel - then found itself delayed by nearly two years due to commitments from Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise. Harrison Ford was after a less showy role when he took on Presumed Innocent meanwhile - but the hit book would be changed notably for its screen version. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of movies that left their respective directors working 16 hours a day - sometimes more - to get them finished. Team America: World Police was made by Trey Parker and Matt Stone in the six month gap between seasons of their TV show South Park.  Which still included time for a battle with the MPAA. Pearl Harbor had the biggest starting budget ever when it was greenlit by Disney - yet director Michael Bay would quit the film at least twice, and the studio reportedly tried to shut it down too. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by the UK's most prominent film critic, Mark Kermode. They chat about the new series of Mark Kermode's Secrets Of Cinema, as well as the current state of film criticism, Wittertainment, and a film that Simon thinks Mark should never have chosen for worst of the week... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the film that was supposed to win Martin Scorsese an Oscar, and a sequel that originally wasn't going to happen. Back in the late 70s, Martin Scorsese took out an advert declaring Gangs Of New York to be his next film. When he finally got to make it, it'd be something of a nightmare production. Crocodile Dundee II was a happier ship - but it ran into a dispute of its own while shooting in New York. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Saturday Night Fever and WarGames director John Badham for a special episode. They chat about Badham's updated book, and then explore films he's not asked about quite as much: Drop Zone, The Assassin/Point Of No Return, The Hard Way and Nick Of Time for instance. That, and stories of A Perfect World and So I Married An Axe Murderer too... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the festive favourite realised on a slim budget, and a British Christmas film that had to battle to get to the screen. It's well known that Warner Bros passed on 1990's Home Alone, but even when Fox picked the project up, the budget was tight - leading to some neighbourhood disturbance. Get Santa was ready to go back in 2011 - but the overlooked, charming British festive film would take a few more years yet to make. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Frank Marshall and producer Nigel Sinclair. They chat about making Bee Gees: How Do You Mend A Broken Heart, and the challenges of narrowing down the story. Plus, who can resist asking Frank Marshall about directing Congo? Simon certainly couldn't... Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. You can find the Film Stories website here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the practical challenges of bringing small creatures to life, and an overlooked Christmas movie. 1984's Gremlins was quietly groundbreaking, with effects work being cracked often just hours before it was needed. Plus, it caused ratings problems. In The Bleak Midwinter meanwhile soon found an American studio wanting to release it - but there was a sizeable condition attached. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how the world first met John McClane, and the world's only Christmas comedy horror musical. 1988's Die Hard got the greenlight quickly once Fox realised it was short on a summer release that year - but it had to negotiate a contractual obligation first. Anna & The Apocalypse meanwhile did something very different with the Christmas movie - and its origins lie in part with Ryan Gosling and some breakfast cereal. Stories of both are told in this episode. Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices