The Empire Film Podcast

Because (four of) you demanded it, and because we finally found some free time to record it, and because we didn't want to bang on for ages about Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on this week's regular podcast, here is a relatively short podcast in which Team Empire - Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis - react to and mull over all the big news from the Marvel Studios panel at last week's San Diego Comic-Con. It's all here: discussion of Black Widow, The Eternals, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Thor: Love And Thunder, the Disney+ shows, the casting of Mahershala Ali as Blade, bad impressions of Dara O Briain and much, much more. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast is all about cats, jellicle and otherwise. Chris Hewitt has a lovely in-depth chat with the wonderful Jon 'Favs' Favreau, who's a cool cat, about his new movie as director, the live-action adaptation of The Lion King, which is about big cats, and there's a little of MCU business thrown in for good measure as well. Because Chris. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to answer a slew of listeners' questions, review The Lion King, Varda By Agnes, and Tell It To The Bees, and discuss the week's movie news, including a Comic-Con preview, speculation about the future of 007, and some trailers. Including the trailer for Tom Hooper's Cats, which they talk about. For a bit. And then a bit more. Because... well. Remember - Jellicles can and Jellicles do! Enjoy.

He's a good egg, that Corin Hardy. He wrapped filming on Gangs Of London, the Gareth Evans-created TV show for which he's directed several episodes, on Thursday, and still found the time and energy to pop into the podbooth for a chat with Chris Hewitt about his... well, actually, Corin doesn't have anything to plug. So, instead, he and Chris talk about life for Corin post-Nun, working on Gangs, and do an impromptu John Carpenter episode of The Ranking. [0:50:33 - 01:20:03] Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis to talk the Harry Potter studio tour, tie-in novelisations, the new issue of Empire, the week's movie news [0:23:50 - 0:48:46], and review Pavarotti, The Dead Don't Die, Annabelle Come Home, and Stuber [01:20:03]. Enjoy.

We've been big fans of Will Poulter at the Empire Podcast, especially since he agreed to be one of the guests on our very first live show back in 2014. So we're delighted to welcome him back for this week's episode, which sees Ben Travis chat to Will about his new film, Midsommar, and much more besides. Then, back in the podbooth, Chris Hewitt is joined by Ben and Helen O'Hara for an episode that takes in The Play That Goes Wrong, great movie weddings, the week's movie news (and there's a lot of it), and reviews of Midsommar, Don't Look Now, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Again. We might review it next week as well. We see this as an absolute win. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt sit down with Himesh Patel, the former Eastender (as in, he was on Eastenders) who stars in this week's Beatle-centric rom-com, Yesterday, and they discover a shared connection. Plus, John Nugent has a chat with the wonderful director, Peter Strickland, about his new movie, In Fabric, in which fashion is, literally, killer. Then, back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by James Dyer and Ian Freer to discuss production companies that changed their lives, the re-release of Avengers: Endgame, the week's movie news, and review Spider-Man: Far From Home, Yesterday, and In Fabric. It's all happening on the movie podcast that couldn't cope without The Beatles' songs. Well, maybe Don't Pass Me By. Enjoy.

This week's episode sees Chris Hewitt welcome Swedish actress Noomi Rapace - the original Lisbeth Salander - into the Empire Podbooth for a fun, frank, and often filthy chat about her new movie, The Captor, her surprising taste in music, life as a Londoner, and much more. Also in this episode, John Nugent chats to Josh Cooley, director of Toy Story 4, about giving audiences a huge Buzz. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to talk about their favourite condiments, discuss the week's movie news, review Toy Story 4, Child's Play and Brightburn, and - in a segment already being hailed as 'too long' - imagine every single film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Keanu Reeves in a starring role. Excellent. Madness, and much talk of big ding-dongs, lies within. Enjoy.

Here it is - the full and unexpurgated (well, a little expurgated) recording of the time a couple of weeks ago when Kevin Smith chose to spend his morning off in London, following a successful live Hollywood Babble-On show at The O2, by coming into the Empire Podbooth to have a good old natter with Chris Hewitt and Ben Travis. The first thirteen minutes of this ran on the Empire Podcast a couple of weeks ago, so if you want to get to the new stuff, skip past that. Otherwise, this is nearly 47 minutes of no-holds-barred chat, and typically sweary chat, with Smith, in which he discusses his life, career, his upcoming movie, Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, that Stan Lee cameo in Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame and, of course, the heart attack that so nearly killed him last year. We're glad it didn't. Not just because we had a blast with him as he popped his Empire podcherry, but because the world's a better place for having Kevin Smith in it. We hope you enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast sees the wonderful Asif Kapadia pop by the podbooth to have an in-depth natter with Chris Hewitt about his new documentary, Diego Maradona. No prizes for guessing what it's about - a tumultuous period in the life of one of the most brilliant, but controversial, figures modern sport has ever seen. And if you're wondering if Chris and Asif, two massive Liverpool fans, end up talking about a certain recent Champions League final win, well... yes. But it's early, so non-Reds can skip that bit. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Terri White, James Dyer, and Helen O'Hara for an unexpectedly sexy episode that sees them review Diego Maradona and Men In Black International, discuss the week's movie news, reveal Chris' username on Marvel Puzzle Quest, and ask the biggest question of them all: just who the hell is Bic Pentameter? Enjoy.

James McAvoy is always welcome on the Empire Podcast, and this week he returns to talk to Chris Hewitt about the role he's played most often in his illustrious career: Professor Charles Xavier. It's a role McAvoy is playing for the last time in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and he runs through his Charley X Hall Of Fame in a fun interview. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Nick de Semlyen to talk about watching versions originale in France, discuss the week's movie news, from the Le Mans '66 trailer to further R-Battziness, and review Dark Phoenix and Late Night. Oh, and they have a chat with Nick about his first book, the 80s comedy-centric Wild And Crazy Guys. Enjoy!

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters may feature all kinds of mammoth monsters, but none are as impressive or towering as the great Charles Dance, who has a nice chat with Ben Travis about his new movie, working with Arnie on Last Action Hero, and more. [00.14.50 - 00.32.00] Our second guest this week, Thunder Road star/writer/director Jim Cummings, has a fun and frank chat with Chris Hewitt about working on a bargain budget, recording his script as a podcast (top hint), and sending a cheque to Bruce Springsteen. [00.48.47 - 01.16.47] Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss their ideal musical biopic, pore over the week's movie news, and review Booksmart, Thunder Road, and Godzilla: King Of The Monsters in a bumper-sized reviews that takes in all sorts, from toxic fandom to indie box office woes. Oh, and Chris tries to persuade us that Joel Kinnaman is NOT his nemesis. Enjoy!

On this week's episode of the award-losing Empire Podcast, Chris Hewitt finds that Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher has the Dwight Stuff as they talk all things Elton John. Plus our fearless leader Terri White sits down for a fun chat with Booksmart stars, Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and Ben Travis to discuss spoiler culture, review Aladdin and Rocketman, discuss R-Battz and the new Chris Nolan film, and then shill like crazy for Champions League final tickets. Well, one member of the team does anyway. No prizes for guessing who. Enjoy.

This week's episode sees the host of the best damn movie podcast in the world sit down... with Kevin Smith. Just a little joke, there. No, we were delighted that the legendary Mr. Smith, in town following a sell-out live edition of Hollywood Babble-On at the O2, no less, found time to drop by our newly-built studio for a chat with Chris Hewitt and Ben Travis. This is just the tip of the iceberg - a longer version of this interview will be up as a special in a couple of days. Then, Chris - a man whose idea of hardcore music is that Crowded House song where Neil Finn uses fuzzy guitar - also talks to Brian Welsh and Lorn Macdonald, star of this week's excellent Beats, a movie about Scottish rave culture in 1994. And back in the podbooth, he sits down with James Dyer and Ben Travis to talk about the week's movie news, review John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, and answer the burning question on absolutely nobody's lips: which Muppet would be the tastiest?

This week's Empire Podcast goes full arthouse, as legendary French director Claire Denis talks to Empire's Editor-In-Chief, Terri White, about her new film, High Life. And then, because nothing can touch the Empire Podcast without being corrupted, there's a bit where they both repeatedly say the word, 'f**kbox'. [00:35:29 - 00:56-09] Then back in the f**kbox - sorry, podbooth - Chris Hewitt is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, right at the end, John Nugent to discuss their favourite movie memorabilia, talk about how Disney has planned out the next seven years, dig into the new Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer (that's also a mini-Avengers: Endgame spoiler special, so be warned), and review High Life, Arctic, and Pokemon Detective Pikachu. Enjoy!

We haven't seen Nicholas Hoult on the Empire Podcast for a while, so we jumped at the chance to talk Tolkien with him this week, sending Chris Hewitt along for a good old natter about Hoult's new movie, in which he plays the celebrated author, J.R.R. Tolkien. Along the way they talk about Hoult's handwriting, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and much, much more. Then, back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer as they decide which animated movie casts they'd like to see in a live-action film, review Long Shot, Tolkien, and Vox Lux, and discuss the week's movie news, including the huge success of Avengers: Endgame, and the sad deaths of John Singleton and Peter Mayhew. Oh, and this week's episode is a tad on the rude side. You have been warned.

We may be in the Endgame now, but don't expect to hear any spoilers from Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of the latest Avengers movie, and this week's Empire Podcast guests. Instead, they sit down for a chat with Chris Hewitt about the rigours of making a movie that's widely expected to be one of the biggest of all time, and their future non-MCU plans. Then, back in the podbooth, Helen O'Hara takes the reins and is joined by James Dyer and Chris, who ran to the studio straight from a plane from LA, as they talk about cancelled movies they'd like to revive, discuss the week's movie news, and review the latest releases. And yes, they're into Endgame now. Enjoy!

Helen is in the driving seat once again on this week's podcast (although Supernatural nipple chat was mercifully kept to a minimum) as we dive into the *last* Empire podcast before the team sees Avengers: Endgame. And to celebrate that fact we not only sit down with everyone's favourite sexy priest, Andrew Scott, to talk about his new film Steel Country, but we also invite director Neil Jordan on board to discuss sex. And also Greta. Nick De Semlyen and James Dyer round out this week's lethally cunning lineup and discuss everything from the latest Hobbs And Shaw trailer to the virtues (or lack thereof) of midnight screenings.

Yesterday saw both the first teaser trailer and the announcement of the title of the ninth, and final, film in the main Star Wars saga. That title was The Rise Of Skywalker, and that teaser was a bit of a belter, reintroducing beloved characters, and posing plenty of big questions. Just as a teaser should. And with Team Empire unable to gather in the podbooth yesterday, we had to wait until today - the morning after the night before - to assemble in Helen O'Hara's living room for an impromptu reaction pod, in which Chris Hewitt, Helen, James White and James Dyer - appearing via hologram from Chicago, where he's attending Star Wars Celebration on behalf of Empire - chew the fat over the teaser's various hints and teases. FYI: James was dialling in digitally, so there's a faint delay when he speaks. Hope it doesn't bother you too much. Enjoy!

In this week's episode of the award-non-minated (that's the technical term for a show that isn't nominated for an award) Empire Podcast, Chris Hewitt has a good old natter with the wonderful Irish actor and singer Jessie Buckley, who is on sensational form as a Glaswegian country singer in this week's Wild Rose. Then, either side of that, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and Ben Travis to talk semi-nude Jude Law, discuss the week's movie news, review Wild Rose, Hellboy, and Mid90s, and -- because this is Chris' last show this side of Avengers: Endgame -- answer a bunch of your Endgame questions in a quickfire special. Enjoy!

Stanley Kubrick's controversial, thought-provoking, tremendously stylish A Clockwork Orange, now a mere 48 years young, bludgeons its way back into cinemas this weekend. And so Chris Hewitt jumped at the chance to interview its star - the king of the Droogs himself, Malcolm McDowell. In this extended interview, they discuss McDowell's complicated and ever-changing relationship with the film, and with Kubrick himself; why Gene Kelly gave McDowell the cold shoulder; and what it's like to get a real injection up the bum on camera. Hint: painful. Then, they briefly discuss McDowell's Time After Time, before - because Chris can't resist - getting deep into McDowell's lifelong support of Liverpool FC. Poddy well, my brothers and sisters. Poddy well.

On this week's Empire Podcast, we say the magic word - Bangilybang! - and, lo and behold, Zachary Levi, star of this week's DC Comics adaptation, Shazam!, appears. He has a lovely chat with Chris Hewitt about grabbing his second chance at superhero stardom with both hands. Back in the podcave, with Chris waylaid by that nefarious villain, Unforeseen Circumstances, Helen O'Hara leads James Dyer and Ben Travis in a spirited discussion of the week's movie news (Endgame footage! Joker trailer!), review Shazam!, Pet Sematary, and The Sisters Brothers, and assess which small screen star they'd like to see bag a movie career. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast features two bona fide legends of Hollywood, California, both having a chat with that bona fide buffoon of a town not too far away from Holywood, Northern Ireland, Chris Hewitt. First off, Chris travels to Madrid for an audience with Elliot Ness/Wyatt Earp/Jim Garrison/We Could Do This All Day [delete as applicable], Kevin Costner, star of Netflix film, The Highwaymen. Then, back in a London hotel room, Chris comes face to face with the wild, weird, and wacky imagination of the great Tim Burton, director of Dumbo. And back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by the returning Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss the death of Supernatural, talk about the week's movie news, review Dumbo and The Highwaymen, and talk about a very serious issue: the sanctioning of buffoonery. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast sees something of a first for the show. No, it's not coherent - you should know by now that that is but a mere pipe dream. Instead, it's the first time (we think; we may be wrong) that we've featured a translator on the show, as Nick de Semlyen chats to The White Crow's director, Ralph Fiennes, its star, Oleg Ivenko... and Oleg's lovely translator. Then, Chris Hewitt has an in-depth chat about Us and Black Panther with the wonderful Winston Duke, before heading back into the podbooth to have a good old natter about the week's big movie happenings with James Dyer and John Nugent. They discuss James Gunn returning to Guardians 3, Dune casting news (of course), the Disney takeover of Fox, review Us and The White Crow, and go potty for Alan Partridge's Irish doppelgänger, Martin Brennan. Oh, and James pronounces 'psychopathy' in a way that will rock your world. Enjoy.

Since he stopped being the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield has largely taken a step back from the big screen. But he returns this week with David Robert Mitchell's gonzo noir, Under The Silver Lake, and on the latest Empire Podcast he has a nice old natter with Ben Travis about that movie, Scorsese, and Stan Lee. 'Nuff said, True Believers. Then, back in the podbooth, with Chris Hewitt absolutely, positively not available for recording, Helen O'Hara steps ably into the breach, reviewing the week's releases with John Nugent and James Dyer (but let's face it, mainly John Nugent), discussing big news concerning the current Spider-Man, Tom Holland (no, not that one), and tackle a listener question about non-superhero-based comic book movies. Enjoy.

Because (somewhere around a dozen of) you demanded it, here it is: a podcast about a trailer. But not just any trailer. In this very special episode, Chris Hewitt and Helen O'Hara pop into the podbooth to discuss and dissect the second, and final trailer, for Avengers: Endgame. Along the way they come up with all kinds of harebrained theories about what Joe and Anthony Russo may have in store for us when the movie opens next month, call Thanos all kinds of rude names, and discover the meaning of life. Oh, and Chris shills desperately for a brand-name speaker system. Enjoy.

It's like an episode of Extras on the Empire Podcast this week, as Ricky Gervais - star, writer, director of the new Netflix show, After Life - and Captain Marvel star, Samuel L. Jackson - old Nick Fury himself - pop by to have a good old natter with Chris Hewitt about a great many things, from getting advice from Jerry Seinfeld to why Jackson doesn't tweet about Liverpool FC anymore. Then, in the podbooth itself, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to talk about great movie pets, discuss the week's news, including Idris Elba joining The Suicide Squad, figure out whether Sam Jackson has made more MCU appearances than Robert Downey Jr., and review Captain Marvel and dark Swedish fantasy, Border. Oh, and James mansplains the female experience to Helen, which is nice. Do, please, enjoy.

For this week's pod, the team journeyed North to bonnie Scotland to record live at the Glasgow Film Festival - mainly so we could eat our own bodyweight in Irn-Bru sweets, which one listener was kind enough to provide. We also found the time to sit down with Sir Michael Palin, who reminisced with Chris Hewitt about The Holy Grail, Doon Castle and new documentary Final Ascent. Plus all the usual movie news and nonsense, including Helen's analysis of all things Oscars and only the tiniest bit of Dune tedium from James.

"Stop getting Alan wrong!" That could well be what you shout at a couple of points in this very special Empire Podcast appreciation of all things Alan Partridge, as Alan anoraks (Alanoraks?) Chris Hewitt, Nick de Semlyen and Pilot TV's Boyd Hilton get together for a solid 49 minutes of scorching Alan-based chat... and end up misquoting him on several occasions. The authorities have been informed. But that's not all. Chris also sits down for a chat with Neil and Rob Gibbons, the clever flucking clunts who have, for the last few years, been getting Alan right, as writers (and now directors) of Mid-Morning Matters, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, and his triumphant return to the BBC with This Time with Alan Partridge. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll pierce your foot on a spike -- not our words, Carol, but the words of... oh, no, those are our words, actually. Enjoy.

Due to another incredible scheduling snafu by Chris 'What's a spreadsheet' Hewitt, this week's episode of the Empire Podcast features a veritable cavalcade of star guests. There's a Fighting With My Family double bill, as John Nugent talks to that film's director, Stephen Merchant, and its star, Florence Pugh. Then a very tired Chris meets a very jetlagged Jason Clarke, star of The Aftermath, and they end up talking about David O'Leary. In the podbooth, Chris is joined by Nick de Semlyen and James Dyer to discuss the week's movie news, share their battle tips for surviving an Oscars all-nighter, and review Capernaum, On The Basis Of Sex, and Cold Pursuit. Oh, and discuss creme eggs, and the consumption thereof. Enjoy!

Empire's 30th birthday celebrations continue unabated with this very special podcast documentary - or, if you will, podumentary - exploring the biggest film of all time: James Cameron's Avatar. Host Chris Hewitt dips into the Empire archives, and also sits down for a brand-new chat with Cameron, the film's writer-producer-editor-director, to tell the story of how Cameron's groundbreaking visit to Pandora came to be. It's packed with info about Cameron's Eureka! moment, how he nearly chose to direct what would become Alita: Battle Angel instead, and some very interesting revelations about casting the film's hero, Jake Sully. Enjoy.

Holy delayed podcast, Batman! Yes, it's finally here - the Batman edition of The Ranking, the podcast/magazine crossover in which four Empire writers - Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Dan Jolin, and Olly Richards - argue the toss over a series of movies. In this case, it's the Batfilms. All the Batfilms. Yes, even the rubbish ones. So settle in for an hour of feverish Batdebate that features Helen and Dan arguing about the politics of The Dark Knight Rises, fewer impressions of Bane than you might expect, and the final, Empirical Batman Top 10. It just might surprise you. This pod needs an enema!

After the lunacy of last week's live episode, the Empire Podcast settles down this week, with an actual knight, and R&B royalty. First, Ben Travis has an audience with the wondrous Mary J. Blige, chatting about her new Netflix show, The Umbrella Academy, and much, much more. Then Chris Hewitt chats to not one, but two Merlins, as The Kid Who Would Be King stars, Sir Patrick Stewart and Angus Imrie, drop by the podbooth. We feel we should warn you - there is more discussion of @SirPatStew nudity in this than your average podcast interview. Either side of those, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Nick de Semlyen, and James Dyer for much discussion of the week's movie news. They also run their eye over The Kid Who Would Be King and A Private War, and finally answer the question that has been gripping us all for years: who is the best Hollywood Chris - Hemsworth, Evans, Pratt, or Pine? The answer might surprise you. It won't.

Actor. Writer. Director. Producer. Joel Edgerton is the very definition of a multi-hyphenate, in front of and behind the camera. He performs all four duties admirably on Boy Erased, which opens in the UK this week. A drama starring Lucas Hedges as a young man sent to a gay conversion therapy centre by his Baptist parents (Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman), where he struggles with the strict methods of Edgerton's counsellor, it's a fine follow-up to the Australian's directorial debut, The Gift. When he came to London recently, we sent John Nugent along to have a bit of a natter with him, about Boy Erased and many, many other things. Enjoy.

Can it really be seven years since four giggling idiots walked into a studio in London, and decided to inflict their godawful opinions about movies upon unsuspecting members of the public? Apparently it can, for this is the 350th episode of the Empire Podcast. And to celebrate it in style, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Empire's Editor-in-Chief, Terri White, were joined by a sell-out crowd at Kings Place in London earlier this week for a raucous live podcast. There will be movie reviews. There will be a bit where Terri hides under a desk. There will be discussion of the week's big movie news. There will be (lots of) swearing. And there will be more listener questions than you can shake a stick at. But that's not all. The podteam are also joined by special guests, The Kid Who Would Be King director Joe Cornish, and Zawe Ashton, star of Wanderlust, Fresh Meat, and the Netflix Original Film, Velvet Buzzsaw. Get ready to have a bangily-banging time. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast is the kind of bumper edition you might need to book a flight in order to have time to listen to it all. We have three - count 'em, THREE - incredible guests. First, Helen O'Hara talks to Alita herself, Rosa Salazar, the star of Alita: Battle Angel. Then, Ben Travis talks with Dean DeBlois, director of all three How To Train Your Dragon movies, as he brings the trilogy to a close with The Hidden World. Finally, waiting at the very end of the pod as a lovely reward, Nick de Semlyen has a long but rather wonderful interview with freshly-minted Oscar nominee, Richard E. Grant. Back in the podbooth, host Chris Hewitt is joined by Helen and James Dyer to talk their favourite Monty Python sketches, wade through tons of movie news (Batman! Zombies! Batzombies?), and review Green Book, How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and Can You Ever Forgive Me? And don't forget - next week sees our 350th episode. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Enjoy!

This week, Oscar-winning actor Nicole Kidman drops by the pod booth to class up the joint and tell us about her latest chameleonic tour-de-force Destroyer. Plus, Charlie Brooker joins us to talk about the brain-melting branching narrative of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Plus, there's news on the Empire Podcast's latest foray out of the comforts of the booth...

We're huge fans of Bradley Cooper's directorial debut, A Star Is Born, here at Empire Podcast Towers. So much so we gave it five stars when it opened in cinemas late last year. So, when we heard that the star/director/producer/co-writer/caterer of the now-Oscar-nominated emotionally devastating love story was in town, Chris Hewitt went along to have a good old natter with Cooper about the challenges he faced as a director, key moments in the movie [INSERT SPOILER WARNING HERE], and cracking Jackson Maine's signature voice. Then, because we're good like that, we decided to bring you a little bonus content, as Chris sits down in the podbooth with Empire's biggest A Star Is Born fans, Ben Travis and Editor-In-Chief, Terri White, to delve deeply into the film. Warning: there is some fairly frank discussion of mental health issues, so be aware of that. Otherwise, it's business as usual. We hope you enjoy.

For years, Adam McKay was dedicated to making us laugh with brilliant, surreal, gloriously daft comedies like Anchorman, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys. Lately, he's turned his attention to making us laugh, and also scream in horror at the state of the world, with the Oscar-winning The Big Short and next week's Vice, in which Christian Bale plays former US Vice-President, Dick Cheney. In this week's podcast, McKay chats to Chris Hewitt about that film, about his new approach, and his very real brush with death. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Empire Editor-in-Chief Terri White, and James Dyer to tackle a question about the 2019 movie news story they'd like to see, discuss the news stories that broke this week, from Missions Impossible to the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer, and then review Glass, Mary Queen of Scots, and Beautiful Boy. And, in true Adam McKay fashion, there may be one or two LOUD NOISES. Enjoy.

Well, this is another nice mess. Stan & Ollie, Jon S. Baird's film about a UK tour undertaken by Laurel & Hardy towards the end of their careers, opens this week. So Chris Hewitt has a nice chat with Baird about that, shameless namedropping and more, and in the bargain they come up with the podcast's strangest spin-off episode to date. Then Chris has a chat with the film's Stan, BAFTA-nominated Steve Coogan, about impressions, double acts, Partridge, Tripping with Rob Brydon, Holmes & Watson, and more. It's a ruddy blast. Then, back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by pod-regulars Helen O'Hara and James Dyer, and new producer Jane, for an episode that features some tweaks we hope you'll like, and a huge dollop of the usual film-related fun as they discuss mobile phones in cinemas, the week's movie news, and review the big releases, including Colette and The Front Runner. Enjoy.

2019 may be only a few days old, but the Empire Podcast does not rest. So we're back back back for the first pod of the year, which sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Empire's Man In LA, James 'Jaime Blanco' White, dive back into the podbooth to discuss their Christmas breaks, chat about the movie news (what there is of it), and review The Favourite, Holmes & Watson, and Welcome To Marwen. Speaking of Welcome To Marwen, that film's director, Robert Zemeckis, and star, Steve Carell, have a lovely chat about that film and more, and our Olly Richards was on hand to witness it and occasionally interject. Do please enjoy this podcast, brought to you in association with Adam Sandler's Pixels. Apparently. Happy New Year!

So, 2018. That was the year that was. And in this very special episode of the Empire Podcast, Chris Hewitt is joined by James Dyer, Helen O'Hara and, on a shared microphone because there are no airs and graces round these parts, Empire's Editor-In-Chief, Terri White, to chew the fat about the cinematic year. From cameos of the year to scenes of the year, they leave very few stones unturned, before counting down their personal Top 10s. And all while trying desperately - nay, heroically - not to wang on relentlessly about Avengers: Infinity War. So join them for 90 minutes of occasionally sweary film-related fun, and see in 2019 in style. Happy New Year, listeners - thanks for making this the best year yet for the pod.

Anyone who's listened to the Empire Podcast on an even semi-casual basis would know that Helen O'Hara and Chris Hewitt are big fans of Hamilton (particularly Helen). So, when the chance arose to have the creator/star of that already-legendary Broadway musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda, on the pod in his new guise as star of the delightful Mary Poppins Returns, they said, in unison, 'we are not going to be throwing away our shot, that's for sure'. So he's our first guest of the last regular pod of 2018. Trip a little light fantastic with us, why don't you? Then, Chris is joined by Ben Wheatley, director of Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, for a fun, slightly demob-happy chat. And in the podbooth, with everyone else off for Christmas, Chris is joined for the main pod by one colleague of such lethal cunning: birthday boy, James Dyer. Together, they preview 2019, review some films, discuss some movie news, and somehow manage not to set the whole thing on fire. Merry Christmas, listeners!

"Excuse me, has anyone got a bottle of orange juice?" The legends that are the League Of Gentlemen are back back back, freed from the confines of Royston Vasey and unleashed into the real world with their new live DVD, The League Of Gentlemen Live Again. And Chris Hewitt couldn't resist the chance to get them into the podbooth to ask all four of them - Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, and Jeremy Dyson - about their touring arrangements, and the correct pronunciation of Claes Bang. Elsewhere, we can't get rid of Peter Jackson. Not content with his own special a few weeks ago, he's back, with writer Philippa Boyens, to talk with Ben Travis about that movie wot he produced, Mortal Engines. Meanwhile, back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Ben, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to talk meringue wreaths, hedgehogs on steroids, the odd bit of film news, and cast their eyes over Roma, Aquaman, and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Enjoy.

Dread it. Run from it. The Empire Podcast's deeply nerdy audio breakdown of the brand new teaser for the fourth Avengers movie arrives all the same. Join Chris Hewitt and Helen O'Hara as they pore over the brand new teaser trailer for the movie we can now officially call Avengers: Endgame, conjure up more bonkers theories and possibly baseless speculation than you can shake a Time Stone at, and ask the big questions. What are those things called on Hawkeye's arms? Does Thanos hate dogs? And just what in the name of all that is holy happened to Steve Rogers' beard? In case you hadn't already guessed, this is a deep dive into the trailer, and not for the fainthearted or MCU sceptics. For everyone else, listening to this is as easy as clicking your fingers. Enjoy.

Before you ask, yes, this week's Empire Podcast was recorded five minutes before the Avengers trailer dropped. No, we didn't have time to go back in and record anything. Yes, we're upset. Yes, there will be a special podcast, up later today. No, we don't know how [REDACTED] gets out of [ALSO REDACTED]. So, to this week's episode, then, in which Chris Hewitt sits down for an audience with the great Andy Serkis, star and director of Mowgli: Legend Of The Jungle. They talk about the film's long journey to completion, how it wound up on Netflix, and what Serkis took from the great directors with whom he's worked. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to answer a question about Christmas presents, discuss the week's movie news (no Avengers, natch), and review the likes of Sorry To Bother You and The Old Man And The Gun. It's bangily-banging.

Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us, happy birthday, dear Empire, happy birthday to us! Yes, Empire is turning 30. And to celebrate, we're launching a year-long (well, thirteen month-long) celebration of some of our favourite filmmakers. And that activity isn't restricted to the magazine. We're going all in on the podcast as well. Which brings us neatly to Taika Waititi. The man who directed Eagle Vs Shark, Boy, Hunt For The Wilderpeople, What We Do In The Shadows, and Thor Ragnarok is one of the most distinctive and original voices working today. And when he came into London recently to deliver a lecture on screenwriting at BAFTA, Chris Hewitt jumped at the chance to sit down with the great man and get granular on his screenplay form. How did he get started? What is his technique? How does he find writing alone? The answers to all these questions, and more, lie within. So pop on a paper hat, light the candles on the cake, and enjoy this very special birthday bash.

Alfonso Cuaron is one of the finest, and most versatile, directors working today, able to leap effortlessly from huge tentpoles like Gravity and Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, to smaller, more intimate movies like Y Tu Mama Tambien and Children Of Men (although that one was also pretty huge). He explores a more personal canvas in Roma, out now in selected cinemas and available from next week on Netflix, and on this week's podcast he chats to Ian Freer about that movie, becoming his own DP, the 1970 World Cup, and how Guillermo del Toro convinced him to give Potter a try. Then, in the podbooth, Chris Hewitt is joined by Helen O'Hara, Nick de Semlyen and professional joke ruiner James Dyer to answer a listener's question about kids TV shows, tackle the week's movie news, plug the heck out of the new issue of Empire, and review Ralph Breaks The Internet and Creed II. Oh, and eat some Twiglets.

You can probably count the number of actors whose iconic roles you can count on the fingers of two hands on the fingers of, erm, one hand. Kurt Russell is one of those actors. After all, he's played Elvis Presley, Snake Plissken, R.J. Macready, Jack Burton, Tango-or-Cash, Stuntman Mike, Ego The Living Planet, and Wyatt Earp across the breadth of an incredible career that's spanned nearly six decades. And now he's added Santa Claus to the list, with his fun turn as Father Christmas in The Christmas Chronicles. It makes sense - a man with a beard like that just had to play Santa one day. In this very special interview, Chris Hewitt sits down with Russell to talk about playing Santa, and his wider career, with particular emphasis on the works of one John Carpenter. Enjoy. The Christmas Chronicles is out now on Netflix.

In the latest, and absolutely not late, no you shut up, episode of The Ranking, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Nick de Semlyen try to discuss the movies of one of the biggest (literally and figuratively) movie stars of all time: Arnold Schwarzenegger. The only obstacle in their path: Arnold superfan, James Dyer, who might not let them get a word in edgeways. Join us for an hour of top Arnie anecdotes (or Arn-ecdotes), as the podteam crush their enemies, see them driven before them, and hear the lamentations of the women, before settling on the empirical (or Empirical) top ten Schwarzenegger movies. Now that's Arn-tertainment.

It's a question as old as time. Or as old as 1988. Is Die Hard, that Bruce Willis action classic, a Christmas movie, or just a movie that happens to be set at Christmas? In this very special episode of the Empire Podcast, Empire's Chris Hewitt and James Dyer are joined by Sky Cinema's Alex Zane and Absolute Radio's Dave Berry to settle a debate that has raged for decades, once and for all. And once they put that little matter to bed, they discuss the film itself in great detail. It's all here - enough Die Hard knowledge to shake the Nakatomi Plaza to its foundations, along with a host of terrible Alan Rickman impressions. And if that whets your whistle, you can watch Die Hard exclusively on Sky Cinema from December 1. Welcome to the party, pal!

The last time Taron Egerton rocked up on the Empire Podcast, he didn't realise that it would be in front of a live audience of 400 people. Sorry about that, Taron. This time around, it's a much more intimate setting as he talks Robin Hood, Rocketman, and the future of Kingsman with Ben Travis. Then, in the podbooth, Chris Hewitt is joined by Ben and fellow colleagues of lethal cunning, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer, to discuss the week's movie news, from more Cats casting to the sad passing of William Goldman, review The Christmas Chronicles, Robin Hood, and The Girl In The Spider's Web, and answer a listener's question. Oh, and they get to answer a few questions of their own as a very special mystery guest drops in all the way from his HQ.