The Empire Film Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#636 ft. Saoirse Ronan & Paapa Essiedu, Josh Greenbaum, Alfred Gough & Miles Millar on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

It's another jam-packed banger on the Empire Podcast this week, folks, as Chris Hewitt sits down for a triple whammy of interviews. First, there's Saoirse Ronan, star/producer of affecting drama The Outrun, and her co-star Paapa Essiedu, who talk about bonding, improvisation, and shooting on location. [19:13 - 33:45 approx] Then, there's Josh Greenbaum, director of Will & Harper, the excellent documentary that follows Will Ferrell and his writer friend of three decades, Harper Steele, on a cross-country road trip in the aftermath of Harper's recent transition to living as a woman. [54:27 - 1:13:03 approx] And finally, there's a big chunk of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice spoiler special goodness with that film's writers and executive producers, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. [1:40:01 - 1:55:27 approx] Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss directors whose careers have received a boost from working in the MCU, take a look at the week's movie news (this was recorded before the sad news of the death of Dame Maggie Smith), and review Will & Harper, Wolfs, The Outrun, and Megalopolis, a review so immense it has added ballast in the form of Alex Godfrey. Oh, and the team discover Bump Juice. To find out what it is, listen on. Enjoy.

#635 ft. Willa Fitzgerald; Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen & Natasha Lyonne Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast comes with an air of carefree celebration, as Chris Hewitt marks his birthday by a) not mentioning his birthday that much, b) interviewing Willa Fitzgerald, star of cracking new thriller Strange Darling, while somehow not actually talking about the movie because it's incredibly hard to talk about without getting into spoiler territory, [23:05 - 40:27 approx] and c) interviewing the powerhouse trio who star in new movie His Three Daughters, Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen and Natasha Lyonne. [1:01:45 - 1:14:52 approx] Then Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss the best movie witches, tackle the week's movie news, including David Schwimmer's revelation that he turned down Will Smith's role in Men In Black, and review His Three Daughters, Strange Darling, and The Substance. Oh, and Helen reveals a shocking old nickname, while Chris doesn't mention his birthday at all. Enjoy.

Agatha All Along: An Empire Podcast Preview Special ft. Kathryn Hahn and Jac Schaeffer Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

Years after she meddled with Wanda Maximoff, sang her own wonderful earworm of a theme song, and waltzed off with WandaVision tucked under her arm, Agatha Harkness is back back back in Agatha All Along, a new nine-part Disney+ MCU show which sees Kathryn Hahn return as Westview's second most powerful witch. Only now she's on the comeback trail and might need help from a brand-new coven. And in this special Empire Podcast preview, the enormously entertaining Hahn and Agatha All Along (and WandaVision) creator Jac Schaeffer sit down with Chris Hewitt and spill the beans on what audiences can expect every Thursday for the next few weeks. And don't forget to sign up to our spoiler specials for weekly episodes from Team Empire as well. Enjoy!

#634 ft. James McAvoy, Kate Winslet, Juliet Stevenson Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

Is it just us, or has the Empire Podcast got more hat-tricks than Erling Haaland? We have another terrific trio of guests this week, as Alex Godfrey speaks no evil with Speak No Evil, and podcast regular, James McAvoy. [19:49 - 34:40 approx] Then, Amon Warmann has a lovely chat with Kate Winslet, star of Lee (and thanks to Sam Clements for loaning us his podcast mics while Chris was away!). [56:50 - 1:12:15 approx] And finally, we bring you the interview the entire podteam (Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Amon) did with Reawakening star, and all-round acting royalty, Juliet Stevenson on last week's live show at the London Podcast Festival. [1:41:33 - 1:57:42 approx] Either side of those, Chris returns after a rare holiday and hosts Helen, James and Alex Godfrey as they discuss films from 1996 that deserve sequels (and why 1996 sucked cinematically), pay tribute to James Earl Jones, and review Lee, Speak No Evil, and Reawakening. Oh, and our old chum Corin Hardy drops in out of nowhere for a shameless plug. Enjoy.

#633 ft. Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Jeremy Saulnier Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

It's another hat-trick of wonderful guests on this week's Empire Podcast. Which is good, as there's only two colleagues of such lethal cunning. Due to a combination of work absences, holidays, and general apathy, only Helen O'Hara and James Dyer are on pod-duty this week and, thanks to Jimbo's unfortunate bout of Covid, they're doing it remotely as well. Never fear, though, they still bring the film-related fun as they take a couple of listener questions, discuss the week's movie news (before the Ocean's 14 story broke, naturally), and review Firebrand, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Starve Acre, and Rebel Ridge. The latter also provides one of our guests, as Chris Hewitt talks to its writer/director, Jeremy Saulnier, about its long route to the small screen (it's a Netflix movie). That's right at the end of the whole pod [ 1:32:47 - 1:51:41 approx] and Firebrand provides the two other guests, as we talk to Henry VIII, aka Jude Law, and the wife who survived him, Katherine Parr, aka Alicia Vikander, who talk to Helen and Chris, respectively. [17:04 - 33:12 approx for Alicia and 51:28 - 1:09:04 approx for Jude] Remember: divorced beheaded died, divorced beheaded survived is not just a great way to remember the fates of Henry VIII's six wives, but also the fate of the podteam members who didn't appear on this week's episode. Enjoy.

#632 ft. Colman Domingo, Elliot Page & Dominic Savage, Fede Alvarez Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is — yes, you guessed it — absolutely jam-packed with amazing guests. Alex Godfrey gets to admire Colman Domingo's trophies, and then talk to the great actor about his new movie Sing Sing, which might just add one or two to his shelf. [14:46 - 32:42 approx] Then Beth Webb has a lovely chat with Elliot Page and director Dominic Savage about their new movie, Close To You. [54:56 - 1:12:53 approx] Finally, we bring you a lovely excerpt from our Alien: Romulus spoiler special interview with director Fede Alvarez, as he spills the beans about all things spoilerific to Chris Hewitt. So be warned: spoilers lurk within! [1:42:57 - the end of the show] Either side of those, Helen O'Hara hosts James Dyer and Amon Warmann in the podbooth as they talk about great movie dogs, discuss the week's movie news, and review Sing Sing, Close To You and The Count Of Monte Cristo. Enjoy.

The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power — An Empire Podcast Preview Special Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

One pod to rule them all? This Thursday (August 29) sees the return of Prime Video's epic J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation, The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, and to mark the occasion we've put together a little preview special, just for you. In it, you'll find an in-depth interview with showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, in which they tease and tantalise John Nugent about what people can expect from this second season (hint: lots of Sauron), and then a shorter but no less wonderful chat between Helen O'Hara and Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel, and Sam Hazeldine, who plays Adar in this season. (That interview has slight sound issues, by the way) The first three episodes of The Rings Of Power s2 drop on Thursday, and then return to a weekly schedule, so give this a listen before you stock up on second breakfasts and strap yourselves in for a binge. Enjoy.

#631 ft. Jeff Goldblum, Rupert Sanders Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is jampacked with joy, folks. Guest-wise, we have a big old chunk of the Empire VIP Club live Q&A Chris Hewitt did with Jeff Goldblum, star of new Netflix show KAOS, a short while ago. And it's as gloriously Jeff Goldblumy as you could hope for. [24:13 - 42:52 approx] Chris is also joined this week by Rupert Sanders, the director of the brand new version of The Crow, as they talk about grief, love and wrestling with iconography. [1:05:04 - 1:24:24 approx] Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis and — in her final pod before she leaves Empire — Sophie Butcher to discuss the news of The Acolyte's cancellation, create a brand new sport, and review Kneecap, Blink Twice, and Cuckoo. And, as it's Sophie's last show, the listeners' questions segment is dedicated almost entirely to her, as she answers your questions about her brief but brilliant time at the world's biggest movie magazine (and award-losing podcast arm). Enjoy.

#630 ft. Paul Feig, Henry Selick & Teri Hatcher Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt sit down on Zoom with Mr. Fitz, aka Paul Feig, the dapper and debonair director of Bridesmaids, Spy, The Heat and new action-comedy Jackpot!, to talk about working with Awkwafina and John Cena, the difficulties of getting an original movie off the ground, and whether Feig could murder somebody for money. (FYI, Feig's microphone wasn't working as it should for the first six or seven minutes of this interview) [23:34 - 42:47 approx] Then, we bring you an extended excerpt from our exclusive Empire VIP Club Q&A with Coraline director Henry Selick and The Other Mother herself, star Teri Hatcher, as that film celebrates its 15th anniversary with a timely re-release. [1:04:32 - 1:19:27 approx] Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Nick de Semlyen, and Alex Godfrey for a jam-packed episode in which they discuss their favourite creatures from the Alien movies, discuss the week's movie news including D23 announcements galore, and review Alien: Romulus, Trap, and Jackpot! Oh, and Alex comes up with a new catchphrase. You'll know it when you hear it. Enjoy.

#629 ft. M. Night Shyamalan & Josh Hartnett, Dafne Keen, Ryan Reynolds & Shawn Levy Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

This week's Empire Podcast is jam-packed full of goodness, including three tremendous interviews well worth your time. First off, Alex Godfrey sits down with M. Night Shyamalan and Josh Hartnett to discuss their first film together, Trap, and talk about why it's taken them so long to work together. [19:49 - 37:12 approx] Then, Dafne Keen pops into the podbooth to tell Chris Hewitt how her appearance in her new film, [REDACTED], came about. [54:02 - 1:14:53 approx] And finally, we bring you a meaty chunk of our Deadpool & Wolverine spoiler special interview with Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy. [1:35:54 - 1:56:42 approx] To hear Team Empire banging on about the film, do subscribe to our spoiler special feed, if you don't already. Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, briefly, John Nugent to discuss great wedding movies, talk about the week's movie news (what there is of it pre-D23, where we expect some pretty big announcements), and review Borderlands, It Ends With Us, Tuesday, and The Instigators. Lovely stuff. Enjoy!

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