The Empire Film Podcast

Julia Ducournau, an award-winning French filmmaker known for Raw and Titane, discusses her latest work, Alpha, exploring themes of body, trauma, and society. Tahar Rahim, an acclaimed actor from A Prophet, shares his intense preparation for his role as the drug-addicted uncle. They delve into the emotional core of the film, tackling deep topics like unconditional love and societal stigma. Julia reveals her inspiration drawn from the AIDS era, while Tahar describes his immersive research into addiction, enriching his character's transformation.

Jenny Beavan, a celebrated costume designer with three Oscars and a rich career, shares insights on her latest project, The Choral. She discusses her creative process, revealing how she visualized the muted colors of Yorkshire in 1916. Beavan reflects on balancing historical accuracy with storytelling and how working within different budgets influences authenticity. She also recounts her collaboration with actors, including crafting Ralph Fiennes' costumes. With career wisdom, Beavan offers valuable advice for aspiring designers while recalling her early days with Merchant Ivory.

Daniel Day-Lewis, a three-time Oscar winner known for his roles in iconic films, joins fellow actor Sean Bean, celebrated for his intense performances, alongside Ronan Day-Lewis, making his directorial debut with Anemone. They dive into the challenges of acting and directing, with Daniel sharing insights on his return to film after eight years. Ronan discusses balancing personal stories with surreal imagery, directorial dynamics with his father, and capturing authenticity in the film's violence, creating a unique blend of intimacy and cosmic themes.

This week features acclaimed director Lynne Ramsay, known for 'You Were Never Really Here,' discussing her unique approach to 'Die, My Love' and the emotional landscapes of her films. Actor Elle Fanning shares insights on her role in 'Predator: Badlands,' diving into the intriguing world of synth characters and her on-set experiences. The conversation is filled with creative challenges, cinematic visions, and the art of storytelling that connects both actors and directors in captivating ways.

Discover how Stranger Things landed on the cover of a major movie magazine, nearly upside down! Hear about the creative cover ideas and interviews with the Duffer Brothers and the cast. Chris and Nick dive into quirky stories, from Kate Bush's resurgence to Daniel Craig’s ukulele antics on set. A heartfelt tribute to Robert Redford and engaging interviews with George Clooney and Sam Neill add depth. Plus, a sneak peek into a surprise indie hit and the upcoming live event. This month’s issue truly delivers!

In this spine-chilling installment, filmmaker Edward Berger delves into the creation of *Ballad of a Small Player*, sharing insights on his development process and casting choices. Acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos uncovers the magic behind *Begonia*, discussing unique casting methods and the role of music. Actress Maika Monroe reveals the challenges of stepping into a darker role in *The Hand That Rocks the Cradle*, while Mary Elizabeth Winstead opens up about the emotional landscape of her performance and the collaborative spirit on set.

If you can hear a high-pitched squealing noise in the background of our latest interview special, that's just Chris Hewitt vibrating with excitement. For this podcast puts him in the room with one of his all-time heroes, Liverpool FC icon Kenny Dalglish, who is the eponymous subject of Asif Kapadia's latest documentary, which is out today (October 29) and tomorrow (October 30) in cinemas across the UK, before moving to Prime Video from November 4. In this indepth interview with Dalglish and Kapadia (making a welcome return to the pod), the trio discuss how the documentary came about, Kapadia's aims and creative decisions, Kenny's goals (and goals) and, in the last ten minutes or so, the Hillsborough Disaster, its depiction in the film, and its impact on Dalglish. It's a frank and fascinating chat, and one that we'd recommend even if you're not a Liverpool fan. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt struggle with the enunciation of one word in particular (you'll have to listen to find out which). Incredibly, it's not 'Howl-o-ween', which is just one of the many things discussed by Chris and his three colleagues of such lethal cunning, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis. They get their teeth into movies in which a main character is ill, talk about the shock revelation that Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh had developed a literal Solo movie for Kylo Ren, and review Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Nia DaCosta's Hedda, and Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind. Guest-wise, we have a veritable bounty as Helen has a lovely chat with Nia DaCosta, and Chris talks to Jeremy Strong, star of the Springsteen flick; and has a joyous natter about the end of the world with Rebecca Ferguson and Kathryn Bigelow, star and director respectively of A House Of Dynamite, which is now out on Netflix. No timecodes yet, as the guy who writes this blurb has to leg it to a screening. But they're roughly 23 minutes, one hour and three minutes in, and one hour and 38 minutes in. Enjoy!

This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer pay tribute to two cinematic greats who left us this week: the legendary Oscar-winning actress, Diane Keaton, and Drew Struzan, the artist who defined posters, and people's walls, for decades. Struzan's work inspires this week's question, which asks our trio to identify the greatest poster of all time. Elsewhere in the show, they discuss the week's movie news, including the return of Sam Raimi, and review Roofman, After The Hunt, Black Phone 2, and briefly discuss Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and Edward Berger's Ballad Of A Small Player. Guest-wise, our cup overfloweth yet again, as Chris sits down on Zoom (sorry about his audio track, he didn't have access to his microphone) with Rebecca Miller, director of the excellent Apple documentary about Martin Scorese, Mr. Scorsese, [25:26 - 40:19 approx] and in person with the delightful stars of Roofman, Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst. [1:04:01 - 1:19:13 approx] And Sophie Butcher has a lovely chat with Black Phone 2 stars, Mason Thames (who, contrary to what Chris thinks, does not pronounce his name like the river) and Madeleine McGraw. [1:43:07 - 1:58:08 approx] Enjoy!

Join Alex Godfrey as he talks to Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith about their vibrant on-set experiences for Tron: Ares, from the chaos of night shoots to lively morale-boosting playlists. Robert Aramayo opens up about portraying John Davidson in I Swear, sharing his intensive research and the emotional depths of his role. Gillian Anderson reflects on her role in Tron: Ares, discussing corporate morality and the surreal aspects of production. It’s a delightful mix of insight, humor, and heartfelt storytelling!