The Empire Film Podcast

In what is sure to be The Bee Gees' favourite episode of the Empire Podcast, it's Ewan again as Chris Hewitt has a chat with Ewan McGregor about returning to the small screen with Long Way Up, in which McGregor reteams with Charley Boorman for another epic motorbike odyssey. Ewan also talks about his penchant for reflective roles of late, including the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series, and dishes on the return of a fan-favourite Star Wars character. Maybe. Possibly. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, in the rotating fourth chair, Alex Godfrey for an episode in which they discuss the films they'd like to see directors have another crack at; talk about the week's movie news, including the first trailer for Dune (Jamesplaining ahoy!); and review The Painted Bird, The Roads Not Taken, and Les Miserables. No, not that one. This episode was recorded just before the sad death of the great Dame Diana Rigg. We'll pay tribute to her on next week's episode.

We're not usually happy to see another podcast enter this increasingly crowded market, but we'll make an exception for Alan Partridge. This week sees the launch of the first Partridgecast, an Audible Original series entitled Alan Partridge: From The Oasthouse, and to mark the occasion, Chris Hewitt has a very special Zoom audience with the man who is Alan, Steve Coogan. Needless to say, you'll have the last laugh. Then, in an episode that flips the pod-format on its head, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Amon Warmann, and James Dyer to pay an extended tribute to the late, great Chadwick Boseman. They also discuss the latest No Time To Die trailer and more in the News section, talk about their experiences back in the cinema in the listener question section, and review Mulan, The New Mutants, and Charlie Kaufman's brain-baking I'm Thinking Of Ending Things. Enjoy.

Bona fide Hollywood legend Annette Bening steps into our custom-built virtual podbooth this week, telling Chris Hewitt all about her new film, Hope Gap. The duo also talk about dancing, Dick Van Dyke, and being pulled over by the accent police. Chris also talks to Amy Seimetz, the talented writer/director of the pitch-black comedy-horror, She Dies Tomorrow, about recruiting her cast, Twitter, and the infectiousness of ideas. Either side of those, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Amon Warmann for a bumper-sized edition featuring the quickest Film Fact Section yet; much discussion of Sean Connery, as he turns 90 (which means many, many Sean Connery impressions); an extended chat about the news emerging from last week's DC Fandome; and reviews of Hope Gap, She Dies Tomorrow, and The Lost Prince. Oh, and... Forget Maui.

This week's Empire Podcast sees two genre directors step into our Interviewtrona3000 for a Paxman-like grilling from Chris Hewitt. First, Mortal director André Øvredal (as in, he's the director of Mortal; he's also mortal, we reckon, but that's irrelevant) talks Norse mythology, Stephen King and Draclier with Chris. And then actor/director Jay Baruchel talks about his blood-soaked meta-horror Random Acts Of Violence, aka How To Dismember Your Dragon, and recalls his last visit to the cinema. It was a doozy. Then, in the Podboothatron3000, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, making his long-awaited return in the rotating fourth chair, John Nugent for an episode in which the following occurs: they exchange film facts, grumbling as they do so; they discuss the best Netflix original movies; they talk about the week's movie news (this is pre-Batfleck Returns, folks; we'll talk about that next week); and then review The One And Only Ivan, Random Acts Of Violence, and Tenet. Or, more accurately, Helen and James review Tenet, while Chris just gets increasingly confused. How confused? Picture Zoolander and Hansel trying to access computer files, and you're halfway there. Yojne.

This week's regular Empire Podcast featured two interviews that were just too darn long, and just too much darn interview, to fit into the show. So we decided to bring you them both as specials this weekend. First up is an extended interview with Josh Lucas, the star of The Secret: Dare To Dream, which is now available to rent on PVOD. Here, he and Chris Hewitt talk about that movie, and how its principles appealed to Josh, plus how he's coping with lockdown, how Ang Lee continues to help him long after they worked together on Hulk, and how Josh came to terms with some of his higher-profile flops, like Poseidon and Stealth. It's a candid, funny, interesting chat, and we hope you enjoy.

The second of our too-long-for-the-regular-Empire-Podcast interviews this week sees Joe and Anthony Russo, the brothers who directed four MCU movies we may have talked about on the podcast from time to time, drop by the virtual podbooth for an extended chat with Chris Hewitt. They begin by talking about their new lockdown venture, the Russo Bros. Pizza Film School, all episodes of which are available on their Instagram and YouTube channels, but we spiral off from there into their filmmaking sensibilities, where they were when they found out that Avengers: Endgame had become the biggest movie of all time, and how they're already hard at work at following that up with a ton of content from their new company, Agbo Studios. It's a fun and fascinating insight into the creative minds of two of the best directors working today. Enjoy.

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees our old chums, and directors of the biggest movie of all time, Joe and Anthony Russo, drop by for a slice of metaphorical pizza as they discuss their impromptu film show, The Russo Brothers Pizza Film School, with Chris Hewitt. Chris also has a lovely chat with Josh Lucas, star of The Secret: Dare To Dream, who talks candidly about his career, and how Ang Lee continues to help him, years after they last worked together. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis and, in the rotating fourth chair, Nick de Semlyen, to compare film facts (Helen's got a deadly one this week), discuss movie Vice-Presidents, talk about the week's movie news (Tron! John Wick 5! Three Men And A Baby!), and review Babyteeth, Project Power, and Howard, the Disney+ documentary about Howard Ashman. Oh, and we're trying something a little new and funky with our interviews this week. Let us know what you think. Enjoy.

Another bumper, jam-packed edition of the Empire Podcast this week, as Chris Hewitt talks improv and R.E.M. with Endings, Beginnings star, Shailene Woodley, and discusses much with An American Pickle star/producer Seth Rogen, including a simple question: why do things always go south, and never north? Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Amon Warmann for a fun episode in which Helen fails to focus in the film fact section; they talk about great background gags in the listener's question segment; discuss the week's movie news, including Nia DaCosta directing Captain Marvel 2 and Mulan heading to Disney+; and review An American Pickle, Black Is King, Shudder horror sensation Host, and Endings, Beginnings. Warning: includes much discussion of Bucky Barnes' bare bottom. Someone cover Steve Rogers' ears. This week's episode is dedicated to Empire writer, Seb Patrick, who passed away suddenly this week at the age of just 37. If you want to contribute to the GoFundMe mentioned in this episode, go here: https://gf.me/u/yk2bbk

One of our favourite actors and people, Gemma Arterton, is our guest on the Empire Podcast this week, talking with Chris Hewitt about her new movie, Summerland; how she never fully understands her characters; and her great new working relationship with Summerland writer/director, Jessica Swale, which now has both of them around a virtual keyboard, beavering away on a new script. That's from 31:33.483. Sorry we can't be more precise. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, returning to the rotating fourth chair, Empire's Editor-in-Chief, Terri White, as they exchange film facts that might not even be film facts, discuss the week's movie news including the return of (many) UK cinemas, speculate on the rollercoasters you might find in a theme park dedicated to British cinema, and review Proxima, Summerland, The Fight, The Vigil, and Unhinged. Blimey. It's, as ever, a madhouse. Enter with caution. But once you're inside, do please enjoy.

At the heart of this week's Empire Podcast is an extended interview with the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart, who talks to Chris Hewitt about Shakespeare, sonnets, stage fright, and the worst birthday he's ever had. They also talk about Patrick's new movie, Life With Music, in which he plays a concert pianist, and Patrick delves into his past for a spot of old Yorkshire dialect that has to be heard to be believed. In the socially isolated virtual podbooth, Chris is then joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, in the rotating fourth chair this week, Ben Travis and his incredible quiff, for our most delirious lockdown episode yet. Together, they tackle the new film fact section, discuss great movie tie-in songs of the 80s and 90s (and an old friend returns to the pod as a result), talk about the week's movie news (this was recorded before EVERY MOVIE IN THE WORLD moved back to 2021), and review Life With Music, Saint Frances, and How To Build A Girl. There's also a sweet Sundance London offer for podcast listeners in there too. Enjoy.