The Empire Film Podcast

We've got Predator on our minds this week on the Empire Podcast. Which makes a change. Not only do we review Dan Trachtenberg's Prey, his prequel to John McTiernan's 1987 action classic, but Chris Hewitt sits down with that film's star, Amber Midthunder, for a fun interview in which they discuss how Amber, whose parents are an actor and a casting director, wasn't necessarily fated to become an actor, about Prey's commitment to Comanche traditions, going to craft services with a Predator, and using Brazilian jiu jitsu to take out a bunch of feral children. Chris also has a sit-down with the legendary John McTiernan, who came into London last week for The London Action Fest, and while they only talk about Predator a bit, there's plenty of Die Hard and The Hunt For Red October chat to keep you action aficionados happy. Back in the pod booth, Helen O'Hara hosts this week, due to Chris being locked in mortal combat with an alien hunter (or in LA for a set visit; one of the two), and she's joined by James Dyer and Ben Travis to discuss movies which would benefit from gender-flipping their lead from a man to a woman (in the wake of the England Women's team's triumph at the Euros), review Prey, Bullet Train and Luck, and dive deep into the week's movie news, including the Batgirl debacle. Enjoy.

Next week sees the release of David Leitch's latest action movie, Bullet Train, which we're confidently told is not a sequel to The Railway Children Return. Instead, it stars Brad Pitt as an assassin on board a Japanese bullet train, who gets mixed up with a colourful cast of fellow hitpeople, not all of whom have his best interests at heart. Two of those are Tangerine and Lemon, two Cockney killers played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry, both of whom join Chris Hewitt this week for a fun dive into how they cultivated co-star chemistry, how Henry tackled a tricksy accent, and they each give us the scoop on each other's upcoming Spider-Man-adjacent projects. Elsewhere, Chris is joined by old pod-chum Robert B. 'Bob' Weide, making his first appearance on the pod in a while to talk about his new documentary, Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck In Time, how it took him 40 years to finish and became unexpectedly personal along the way, and about how he's probably the most famous director in the world, thanks to a little Curb Your Enthusiasm meme. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and, making her pod-debut proper, Ella Kemp (sorry, Dame Emma Kememp), as they talk about the greatest movie scenes set in trees, discuss the week's movie news, and review Ron Howard's Thirteen Lives, DC League Of Super-Pets, Fire Of Love, and Joyride. Oh, and they try not to mention the fact that this is now an AWARD-WINNING podcast. Well, they try not to mention it too much. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS! (Timings are approx.) Intro/Listener Q -- 0:00.00 - 28:33.00 Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry Interview -- 28:34.00 - 44:38.00 Movie News -- 44:39.00 - 01:07:07.00 Bob Weide Interview -- 01:07:08.00 - 01:30:49.191 Reviews/Outro -- 1:30:50.00 - end

Nature is healing. How do we know? Because Saturday saw Kevin Feige and some of his amazing friends return to Hall H at the San Diego Comic-Con to announce a ton of exciting news about the future of the MCU, including the first trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, an 18-episode Disney+ series for Charlie Cox's Daredevil and not one, but two Avengers movies, due to be released just six months apart in 2025. And while Team Empire wasn't at Comic-Con this year (we were busy picking up a gong at the British Podcast Awards!), we decided that this news was too big to wait until later in the week before discussing it on the pod. (It also spares those who couldn't give a The Tinker's cuss about the MCU) And so, in this very special episode, Chris Hewitt is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, Amon Warmann, and Ben Travis for a deep dive into all the titles and dates confirmed by Feige. There is speculation aplenty, hot takes galore, and the debut of a new prediction phrase that will take the world by storm. And that's an Amon Guarantee. Enjoy.

We can't move for members of the Howard family on the Empire Podcast these days. Why, only the other week we had Bryce Dallas Howard, and now her dad, the great director Ron, is our special guest this episode, as he tells Chris Hewitt all about his latest movie, Thirteen Lives, the story of the near-impossible Thai cave diving rescue that captivated the world in 2018. Ron and Chris also talk about how proud Ron is of Bryce's new career as a director, and her Apollo 13 homage in an episode of The Mandalorian. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Ben Travis and the returning James Dyer and Helen O'Hara for a heat-addled episode filled with much talk of Predator, the greatest movies with one-word titles, shameless plugging for sundry live shows, discussion of the week's movie news (including the trailers for Michael Flatley's Blackbird and Rob Zombie's The Munsters), and reviews of Where The Crawdads Sing, Persuasion, Don't Make Me Go, and The Princess. Oh, and it's a truth universally acknowledged that Chris will incur the wrath of Jane Austen fans. Enjoy. Next stop: Clint Howard! TIMESTAMPS! (Timings are approx.) Intro/Listener Q: 0:00.00 - 25:01.00 Movie News: 25:02.00 - 58:15.00 Ron Howard: 58:16.00 - 01:14:02.00 Reviews: 01:14:03.00 - end

Don't ever say that the Empire Podcast has a predictable roster of guests. For this week sees tennis legend John McEnroe sit down on Zoom with Chris Hewitt for a fun chat about his career, the new documentary McEnroe (which chronicles said career), and the numerous cameos he's made (usually as himself) in an array of films and TV shows. We cannot be serious? We can be serious. And don't call us Shirley. Chris is also joined by Elvis director Baz Luhrmann in an excerpt from our upcoming spoiler special on that fantastic fever dream of a movie. And, in the brand new podbooth (actually, the Jazz FM studio), Chris is joined by Ben Travis and Sophie Butcher for an episode in which they discuss the panels they want to see at next week's Comic-Con, the week's movie news, including the sad death of the legendary James Caan, and review The Gray Man -- the movie that sees the Russo Brothers reunite with Chris Evans -- McEnroe, The Sea Beast, and The Railway Children Return. The Railway Children have returned? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS, MAN! Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! (Timings are approx.) Intro/Listener Question -- 0:00.00 - 31:04.00 John McEnroe Interview -- 31:05.00 - 46:25.00 Movie News -- 46:26.00 - 1:12:50.00 Baz Luhrmann Interview -- 1:12:51.00 - 1:22:39.00 Reviews/Outro -- 1:22:40.00 - end

This week's Empire Podcast sees someone new and noteworthy ease themselves into the fourth chair, as Eddie Hamilton, the brilliant editor of Top Gun: Maverick and the forthcoming double whammy of Mission: Impossible 7 and 8, joins the podteam — Chris Hewitt, James Dyer, and John Nugent — for the duration of the show. So, as well as picking Eddie's brains for tales of editing Maverick and getting the odd tip or ten, he joins us to tackle this week's listener question (about the best fourth instalments in film franchises), and discuss the week's movie news (this episode was recorded before news broke of James Caan's death; we'll discuss the legendary Mr. Caan next week), and we think you'll agree that he's a most welcome addition to the team. Elsewhere, the team review Thor: Love And Thunder, and Brian And Charles, and Chris has an audience with the wonderful Jenny Agutter, star of next week's sequel, The Railway Children Return. The two of them talk about that, and about some of the milestones in her incredible career, including An American Werewolf In London, her cameo in Darkman and, of course, her appearances in the MCU. Enjoy.

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees the podteam — Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer — recovering from their failure to win Podcast Of The Year at the BSME awards. In the process of doing so, they prove categorically why they didn't win, and in the process discuss the greatest movie pilots (who aren't Maverick), talk about the best way to beat Roger Deakins in a fight, chat about the week's movie news, prepare to bid farewell to the grey, depressing podbooth, review Nitram, Minions: The Rise Of Gru, and The Man From Toronto, and declare war on The Radio Times Podcast. This week's guest is the fantastic Australian director Justin Kurzel, who chats to Chris about his hard-hitting new drama, Nitram. Enjoy. NB: there is a brief discussion of the future of Bond, which includes some MAJOR spoilers for No Time To Die. So if you've somehow still not seen that film and wish to avoid any revelations, that starts around 29:48.00 and carries on for three minutes or so, until around 32:43:00 (timestamps are approximate).

Elvis has entered the building. This week sees the release of Elvis, Baz Luhrmann's energetic biopic of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock'n'roll, and as a result our guest is Austin Butler, the young actor whose scintillating, swaggering performance as Elvis is set to make him a huge star. The charming Butler talks to Chris Hewitt about getting under Elvis' skin, and about the time he had a surprising encounter while shooting Once Upon A Time In Hollywood with Quentin Tarantino. That interview starts around 40:15.00. Then, in the virtual podbooth this week, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis, and Amon Warmann for an episode in which they discuss their favourite movie parents (not just mums or dads), have a chat about the week's movie news (there was some, promise), and dive deep into both Elvis and Scott Derrickson's chilling new horror, The Black Phone, which introduces a cracking horror villain in the shape of Ethan Hawke's The Grabber. Oh, and Helen gets docked some Dune points. Find out why by giving it a listen. Enjoy. Thankyouverymuch.

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande is a fantastic new British movie that sees Dame Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack spend a lot of time together in a hotel room. So that's exactly what we made them do again this week, with Ella Kemp (making her Empire Podcast debut) talking to the stars of Sophie Hyde's movie about an ageing woman who, having had very few positive sexual experiences, hires a sex worker (McCormack), and complications ensue. The film is frank, funny, and insightful, and their chat with Ella is similarly so, featuring Dame Emma's reminiscences about The Tall Guy, and one of the best answers we've ever had on the podcast. Hint: it features an Oscar. Then, in the podbooth this week, Chris Hewitt is joined by James Dyer and, for the first time in ages, Helen O'Hara, and truth be told, being reunited makes them go a little doolally. So, in-between answering a listener question about the film sets they've accidentally stumbled upon in a non-professional capacity, they talk about Helen's Wikipedia page, and Chris and Helen educate James about the history of the Giant's Causeway. They also discuss actual films at some point, including the week's movie news, including Lady Gaga possibly joining Joker 2 (which may be a musical???), the announcement of the Paddington 3 director, and their feelings about the official title of Knives Out 2: Benoit Boogaloo. In the reviews section, they run their eye over Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, Spiderhead, Everything Went Fine, and Last Seen Alive, and Sophie Butcher goes to infinity and beyond to help everyone get to grips with Pixar's Lightyear. Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! (timings are approx.) Intro/Listener Q/Nonsense: 0:00.00 - 19:56.00 Movie News: 19:57.00 - 43:08.00 Emma Thompson/Daryl McCormack: 43:09.00 - 1:02:19.00 Reviews/Outro: 1:02:20.00 - end

Udo Kier is one of cinema's greatest cult heroes. The German actor has been working steadily for almost sixty years, having become an actor after being discovered by chance while living in London as a young man. Since then, he's built one of the most eclectic filmographies around, appearing in over 200 films which have seen him work with some of the greatest directors around. Virtually all those appearances, though, have been cameos, which is why it's great to see Kier finally get his leading man due, at the age of 77, in Todd Stephens' poignant and funny Swan Song (in cinemas now), in which Kier plays Pat Pitsenbarger, a gay man who rediscovers his spark towards the end of his life. Kier was nominated for Best Actor at the Independent Spirit Awards for the role, and he attacks it with brio. As he does the interview process, as Chris Hewitt found when he sat down over Zoom with Kier to discuss Swan Song and more, and couldn't get a word in. Not that we're complaining -- Udo has anecdotes to spare, and in this interview we're delighted to bring you just a few. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast is an episode 65 million and 29 years in the making, as Jurassic World: Dominion star Bryce Dallas Howard pops in for a face-to-face chat with Chris Hewitt, in which she talks about growing up on set with her director dad, Ron Howard, and how he's rubbish at keeping secrets. There's plenty of dino-chat as well for you Parkheads. Then, in the virtual podbooth this week, Chris is joined by James Dyer and Amon Warmann for an episode in which they take advantage of Helen O'Hara's ongoing absence to have a mass debate over the hottest Chris Evans moments, discuss just what it takes for a film to get the Empire one-star treatment, have a natter about the week's movie news including the announcement of Joker 2 (which whips the podteam into a frenzy of excitement), and review Jurassic World: Dominion, Udo Kier in Swan Song, Karen Gillan and Karen Gillan in Dual, while Chris and Amon have a bit of a barney over Adam Sandler in Hustle. Enjoy!

With Ms. Marvel, the latest MCU TV show, set to debut on Disney+ this Wednesday (June 8), we've decided to bring you a special preview of the show, and what you can expect from Kamala Khan, the newest hero on the Marvel Cinematic Universe block. In this suitably embiggened episode of the Empire Podcast, Chris Hewitt chats with the show's key creatives — head directors Adil & Bilall, show creator and head writer Bisha K. Ali, and Kamala Khan co-creator and producer, Sana Amanat. These are largely spoiler-free chats, but they do touch upon certain things that happen in the first two episodes of the show, so be on the lookout should you wish to be remain spoiler-free. Or, you know, come back here after you've seen the first two episodes. Either way, it works for us. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS! (timings approx.) Intro/Boring Chris bit -- 0:00.00 - 3:39.00 Adil & Bilall -- 3:40.00 - 17:30.00 Bisha K. Ali -- 17:31.00 - 36:35.00 Sana Amanat -- 36:36.00 - 51:05.00 Another boring Chris bit/call for spoiler special subscribers -- 51:06.00 - end

Britain may have shut down to mark the celebrations of the Queen's latest Jubilation Lee, but the Empire Podcast keeps on trucking, folks. In this week's episode, Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom (luckily, with no demon present) to talk to director Rob Savage about DASHCAM, his follow-up to the sensational Host, and he brings his stars Annie Hardy and Amar Chadha-Patel along for an interview that is a wild ride in itself. Perhaps it's best to listen to this once you've seen the film, as they talk about the film's unique credit sequence, Annie's fears about playing a character who shares her name, the actors' multi-tasking as camera operators on the film, and whether producer Jason Blum could become a hitman. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by James Dyer and Amon Warmann to tackle listener questions about the greatest examples of royalty in the movies, and what franchises should do to negate toxic fanbases (in the wake of the abhorrent racist comments sent to Obi-Wan Kenobi star, Moses Ingram). They also discuss the week's movie news, including a lengthy tribute to Ray Liotta, and Amon and Chris jettison James to review DASHCAM, Alex Garland's Men, and Bergman Island. Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! (Timings approx.) Intro/Listener Questions -- 0:00.00 - 22:35.00 Movie News -- 22:36.00 - 45:05.00 DASHCAM Interview -- 45:06.00 - 1:06:34.00 Reviews/Outro -- 1:06:35.00 - end

Only a group as seismic as The Sex Pistols could bring the Empire Podcast and the Pilot TV Podcast together once again. Yes, to mark the launch of Danny Boyle's brand-new six-part series, Pistol, on Disney+, Chris Hewitt, James Dyer, and Beth Webb put their collective noggins together and discuss the show, which debuts on Disney+ on May 31, and which charts the rapid rise and fall of the British punk band towards the tail end of the 1970s. In a fun episode, Chris, James and Beth talk about the cultural impact of Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Sid Vicious and the boys; their legacy; their weird link to the Spice Girls, and much, much more. Plus, Chris sits down with two of the stars of the show, Maisie Williams and Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and asks one of them about nicking Andy Serkis' arancini at the Empire Awards. It doesn't get much more punk than that. Never mind the you-know-what, here's [Empire and Pilot talking about] the Sex Pistols.

"Carter! That's my name!" And Hodges! That's his name! Get Carter, the 1971 film that marked Mike Hodges' directorial debut on the big screen and which launched a career that would take in the likes of Flash Gordon and Croupier, has been re-released and remastered (in glorious 4K) by the BFI. It looks and sounds better than ever, so now you can bask in the bleakness of this revenge thriller, which sees Michael Caine go to Newcastle and wreak havoc. Hodges is now 89, and retired from filmmaking, but he took time out to have a chat with Chris Hewitt in which they talk about the enduring appeal of Get Carter, and run through some of the more eclectic entries in Hodges' career. It's a candid and insightful chat with one of Britain's greatest filmmakers, and we hope you enjoy.

In a world-first for a podcast, every single person on this week's episode of the Empire Podcast (sorry, newly award-nominated Empire Podcast) is played by Rory Kinnear. Probably. Actually, that's not true, but after witnessing his tour de force performance(s) in Alex Garland's MEN, which is out next week and which sees Kinnear play multiple roles opposite Jessie Buckley, we wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that he was also playing Amon Warmann, who talks to Kinnear about Men, his career, and knowing the biggest spoiler in Bond history ahead of time. (Don't listen to that interview if you haven't seen No Time To Die!) Our second guest is the excellent Miles Teller, who stars in Top Gun: Maverick as Rooster, aka Son Of Goose, and he talks to Chris Hewitt about his Tom Cruise experience, about flying for real, and about Whiplash (and whiplash, most likely). Then, in the podbooth (virtual this week), Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they discuss great movie scenes set in and around airports, talk about movie news including the Thor: Love And Thunder, The Gray Man, and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One trailers (however, this was recorded before the sad passing of the great Ray Liotta; we will pay tribute to him next week), and review The Bob's Burgers Movie, Sneakerella, and Cop Secret. Oh, and they lose their minds over Top Gun: Maverick, and plan an open-top bus parade through the streets of London. Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! Intro/Listener Q -- 0:00.00 - 24:59.00 Rory Kinnear Interview (inc. No Time To Die spoiler) -- 25:00.00 - 42:17.00 Movie News -- 42:18.00 - 1:07:23.00 Miles Teller Interview -- 1:07:24.00 - 1:26:56.00 Reviews/Outro -- 1:26:57.00 - end

Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now that's a name we've not heard in a long time. A long time. But we're delighted to hear it again, because that means that Ewan McGregor is returning to the role he played in George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy (and which Alec Guinness originated, of course, in the original trilogy) in a six-part limited edition show which launches this week on Disney+. And to celebrate, we've put together a preview special in which Chris Hewitt sits down across Zoom with the show's director, Deborah Chow, and head writer Joby Harold, and asks them the big questions about bringing back Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, Owen and Beru, and more. And yes, there's an Elan Sleazebaggano question in there somewhere too. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast sees the great writer/producer/director Judd Apatow drop in for another appearance, this time with his documentarian hat on, as he tells Chris Hewitt all about why he made the excellent two-part documentary, George Carlin's American Dream, which tells the life story of the great American stand-up, who was famous for his legendary routine about the seven words you can't say on television. You can say them on a podcast, though, which is what Chris does, so be mindful of an unbleeped C-bomb, folks. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer as they discuss the number of knights and dames they've interviewed, dig into the trailer for She-Hulk, talk about the new developments in the world of Star Wars, and ask if the only good Predator film is the first Predator film. In the reviews section, they discuss Terence Davies' Benediction, Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers, Emergency, and The Innocents. Oh, and Chris makes a shocking announcement. Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! (timings approx.) Intro/Listener Question -- 0:00.00 - 22:12.00 Movie News -- 22:13.00 - 49.48.00 Judd Apatow Interview -- 49:49.00 - 1:10:46.00 C-word! -- 56:47.00 Reviews/Outro -- 1:10:47.00 - end

Episodes of The Ranking are like buses: you wait ages for one, and then when you get on, everyone's discussing the movies of Nicolas Cage. In this special live edition of The Ranking, recorded at our all-day Episode 500 celebrations at Kings Place in February (can it really be so long ago?), Helen O'Hara leads a motley crew of Cage enthusiasts — Nick de Semlyen, John Nugent, Amon Warmann, and Dan Jolin — to talk about the movies, career and nouveau shamanic acting style of the one, the only Nicolas Kim Coppola, aka Nicolas Cage. The top ten may well surprise you! Enjoy.

Heck of a week for comebacks on the latest episode of The Empire Podcast. First up, Ke Huy Quan — the iconic Short Round in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, and Data in The Goonies — tells Chris Hewitt all about why he has ended his long hiatus from acting with the sensational Everything Everywhere All At Once. Then Scott Thompson and Bruce McCulloch, two of the five members of legendary Canadian sketch comedy troupe, The Kids In The Hall, talk to Chris about getting the gang back together for their new series on Prime Video. Then, back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, John Nugent, and Irish Siri to talk about great movie scenes set in stadiums (or arenas), discuss the week's movie news (including a little bit we recorded on Friday morning), and review Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Quiet Girl, and Vortex. Oh, and Chris makes an impassioned plea that will bring tears to your eyes. Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! (timings approx.) Intro/Listener Q -- 0:00.00 - 23:15.00 Ke Huy Quan Interview -- 23:16.00 - 42:34.00 Movie News -- 42:34.00 - 1:14:58.00 The Kids In The Hall interview - 1:14:59.00 - 1:31:56.00 Reviews/outro - 1:31:57.00 - end

The Gray Man — the latest movie from Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of little films like Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame and Welcome To Collinwood — is on the cover of this month's Empire magazine (on sale now, folks, in all good, evil and virtual newsagents), and so we can finally bring you the latest Empire Podcast interview special: a one-hour chat between Joe Russo and our very own Chris Hewitt, recorded a few weeks ago in St. Andrews, Scotland. This is not an interview about The Gray Man. Instead, Joe was in Scotland to promote Sands, the first ever St. Andrews International Film Festival, of which he is a supporter and backer. In this in-depth interview, he tells Chris about his connection to St. Andrews and Scotland, and then goes deep on the early career of the Russo brothers, including stories about their first (and still unreleased) movie, Pieces, their big break into the business, their forays into television, and the circuitous journey that eventually landed them at Marvel Studios, where they made four of the biggest movies of all time in quick succession; success which allowed Joe and Anthony to form their own company, Agbo Studios, which is behind the likes of The Gray Man and Everything Everywhere All At Once. It's a fascinating chat with one of the most powerful and important figures in the business. Enjoy.

This is too much Multiverse Of Madness to fit into one text! Yes, this week finally sees the Empire Podteam assess the long-awaited arrival of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, directed by Chris Hewitt's beloved possessed GOAT boy, Sam Raimi, and as well as reviewing that film, our guest this week is one of the stars of the movie, Elizabeth Olsen, aka Wanda Maximoff, aka The Scarlet Witch. She has a lovely chat with Chris about the evolution of Wanda, her love of London and sports, and more. Then, Chris is joined in the virtual podbooth this week by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss the great movie star cameos in TV shows, a question that's been delayed more times than an Avatar sequel. Speaking of Avatar sequels, James and Helen tell us all about the trailer for Avatar: The Way Of Water, while the team also discuss the departure of Jon Watts from the Fantastic Four director's chair, and the trailer for Obi-Wan Kenobi. And, with new releases being dominated by Mister Doctor this week, they also talk about the new Chris Pine actioner, The Contractor. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS! (timings are approx.) Intro/Listener Question -- 0:00.00 - 23:57.614 Movie News -- 23:58.00 - 53:44.00 Elizabeth Olsen Interview -- 53:45.00 - 1:12:28.008 Reviews -- 1:12:29.000 - end

Welcome to Downtonpalooza, as this week's guests on the Empire Podcast hail from either side of the camera on Downton Abbey: A New Era, the latest cinematic instalment of the ever-popular Downton Abbey franchise. First, Helen O'Hara chats to two of the movie's stars, Laura Carmichael and Tuppence Middleton, and then has a natter with the creator of the whole shebang, Julian Fellowes. Then, in the podbooth, Helen joins Chris Hewitt, Amon Warmann, and James Dyer to discuss the obscure non-MCU Marvel cameos they'd like to see in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness; talk about the week's movie news, including the reveal of the title for Avatar 2, Justin Lin's departure from Fast X, and more; and review Downton Abbey: A New Era, Casablanca Beats, and The Velvet Queen. And they ask the biggest question of all: just what has happened to Alan Cumming's chimpanzee? Enjoy.

Choose life. Choose a podcast. Choose a movie podcast. Choose Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Amon Warmann, and James Dyer talking about movies. Choose the occasional digression about fancy restaurants and Easter eggs. Choose a listener question (well, sort of) about the best lightsaber battles in Star Wars history. Choose discussion of the week's biggest movie news, including the Thor: Love And Thunder trailer. Choose reviews of new films like The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent, Happening, and Choose Or Die. Choose an interview with Eddie Marsan, the star of the latter of that trio. Choose realising that you're stuck in this bit now and need to see it through to the end. Choose life. But why would you want to do a thing like that? We chose to choose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got The Empire Podcast? Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! (approx. timings) Intro/Listener Question: 0:00.00 - 25:58.00 Movie News: 25:59.00 - 54:51.00 Eddie Marsan Interview: 54:52.00 - 1:13:54.00 Reviews/Outro: 1:13:55.00 - end

This week's Empire Podcast brings you not one but two former Mr. Darcys, in the shape of Operation Mincemeat stars, Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen, who tell Chris Hewitt all about their connection to the World War II thriller, and their personal approaches to acting. Chris also has a lovely natter this week with Alexander Skarsgård, the star and producer of Robert Eggers' bonkers and brilliant Viking saga, The Northman. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Alex Godfrey for an episode filled with incendiary and controversial opinions as they discuss the Cannes line-up, Brie Larson joining Fast & Furious 10, the new issue of Empire; review The Northman, Benedetta, Operation Mincemeat, and The Lost City; and do a deep, deep dive into the listener questions, which asks if any Best Animated Feature Oscar winners have been better than their Best Picture-winning counterparts? The answers, and frankly wild opinions on display, will shock you. Enjoy. (Oh, and Chris did mean to say 'Bond novels', not 'Bond movies'. You'll know that bit when you reach it. TIMESTAMPS! (timings are approximate) Intro/Listener Q: 0:00.00 - 31:15.535 Colin Firth/Matthew Macfadyen: 31:16.00 - 45:39.00 Movie News: 45:40.00 - 1:12:10.00 Alexander Skarsgård: 1:12:11.00 - 1:31:20.219 Reviews: 1:31:21.00 - end

This week's Empire Podcast sees a bright and optimistic young man who wears spectacles, lives under the stairs, and just might be the last hope for humanity... interview Daniel Radcliffe. Yes, in this episode Ben Travis, a humungous Harry Potter fan, finally comes face-to-face with The Boy Who Lived, and as well as talking about Radcliffe's new movie, adventure comedy The Lost City, his musical tastes and plans to launch a directing career, there's a little bit of Potter chat as well. Then, in the podbooth, Ben joins Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they wax lyrical about Film4's greatest movies and general contribution to British cinema, discuss the week's movie news and find it to be wanting, throw in a boatload of obscure, unusual and arcane facts (that aren't movie-related, weirdly), and review the Harry Potter/Daniel Radcliffe-free Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore, Richard Linklater's Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Adventure, Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton thriller All The Old Knives, and Mark Rylance in The Outfit, a film so good it almost makes Chris come to terms with the past. Almost. Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS! (timings may be approx.) Intro/Listener Question -- 0:00.00 - 22:20.00 Daniel Radcliffe -- 22:21.00 - 43:39.508 Movie News -- 43:40.00 - 1:04:49.00 Reviews -- 1:04:50.00 -- end

The world has been waiting all week for an exclusive interview with someone called Smith, and this week's Empire Podcast doesn't disappoint, as Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with Morbius star Matt Smith, and they have a lovely natter about nicknames, horror movies, and Smith's desire to play Dracula, now that he's got his fangs into the whole vampire thang. (What, did you think we meant another Smith?) Our other guest this week is the wonderful Ruth Wilson, who speaks with Amon Warmann about her new movie, True Things, her ongoing crusade to keep a workbook, and her relationship with music. This interview was cut somewhat short due to technical issues, folks, so be prepared for a fairly abrupt ending. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and, making a rare in-person appearance, James 'Jaime Blanco' White, to discuss their favourite Bruce Willis movies, following the news of his decision to retire from acting due to health issues; review Morbius, True Things, and Judd Apatow's The Bubble; and talk about the week's movie news, including an extended segment on the Oscars and, of course, that unexpected Will Smith/Chris Rock interface. Get your hot takes here! Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS: Intro/Bruce Willis Discussion -- 0:00.00 - 27.05.00 Matt Smith Interview -- 27.06.00 - 44.32.866 Movie News -- 44.33.00 - 1:16:02 Ruth Wilson Interview -- 1:16:03 - 1:32:10 Reviews/Outro -- 1:32:11 - 1:59:14

Here's a podcast that can tell the difference between its waking life... and dreams. Yes, folks, as Moon Knight finally makes his dramatic debut on Disney+, this special edition of the Empire Podcast brings you interviews with the folks who brought the MCU's latest hero to life. First, Chris Hewitt welcomes the show's stars -- Moon Knight/Marc Spector/Steven Grant himself, Oscar Isaac; Ethan Hawke, who plays the villainous Arthur Harrow; and May Calamawy, aka Leila -- to our London studio for an interview that is filled with bonkersness, and then he sits down over Zoom with the show's lead director, Mohamed Diab. This isn't a spoiler special, and the interviews are largely spoiler-free, but they do engage with events that take place in the first episode in particular, so perhaps listen to this after you've seen that. Otherwise, there's nothing to fear here but Chris' impression of Steven Grant. Enjoy...?

Another bumper, jam-packed edition of the Empire Podcast this week, as we cram four guests and the podteam into the back of an ambulance and take off at high speed. First, Chris Hewitt has a fun chat with Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, stars of Michael Bay's cracking new thriller, Ambulance. Then, as Chopper gets a re-release to mark its 20th-ish anniversary, Chris jumps on Zoom with that film's director, Andrew Dominik. Finally, Beth Webb sits down with Norwegian actress, and star of the wonderful The Worst Person In The World, Renate Reinsve. Then, in the virtual podbooth this week, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a discussion about which of the many facets of film journalism appeal to them most. They also tackle the week's movie news, including taking a stab at predicting the outcome of the Oscars, while they review The Worst Person In The World, Windfall, and have an argument about Ambulance. Enjoy. TIMESTAMPS Intro/Listener Question: 0:00.00 - 24.29.447 Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: 24.30.00 - 43:03.00 Movie News: 43:04.00 - 1:02:02.00 Andrew Dominik: 1:02:03:00 - 1:15:33.403 Reviews: 1:15:34.00 - 1:39:10.883 Renate Reinsve: 1:39:11.00

Welcome to The Great Unwatched, a new Empire Podcast show brought to you by JustWatch, the ultimate movie and TV streaming guide. In this episode, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer get together to plan a movie marathon. But the twist is that the movies they suggest must be obscure efforts, worthy of discovery, and that at least one of the trio hasn't seen. The idea is simple, the results are carnage. From a Cary Grant comedy to punks cavorting in graveyards, their choices run the gamut — and thanks to JustWatch, they know that every movie they talk about is available to stream in the UK. Give The Great Unwatched a whirl now, and let us know if you ever undertake the final marathon. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast sees Sophie Butcher interview Sebastian Stan, while trying not to say the words 'homecoming', 'fahrenheit' and 'boxcar'. Otherwise, bad things might happen. Not that they could be much worse than the bad things that happen in Stan's new movie, Fresh, in which he stars alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones as a new couple whose relationship turns very dark, very quick. Sophie talks to Stan and Edgar-Jones about that, their musical tastes, and more in a fun interview. Also fun, and interviewy, is Chris Hewitt's chat with old podchum Simon Farnaby, writer of this week's whimsical true-life golf comedy, The Phantom Of The Open. The two natter about golf, about Farnaby's output as a writer, and about being yelled at. Then, in the virtual podbooth this week, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and Amon Warmann for another fun episode in which they discuss movies that deserve a third instalment, get to grips with the week's movie news, including Dune 2, Deadpool 3 and Ms Marvel revelations and, in a top week for movie rumpy-pumpy, review Fresh, Deep Water, Paris, 13th District and The Phantom Of The Open. It's a podcast that's perfect for spoiling a good walk. Enjoy. Intro/Listener Question -- 0:00.00 - 27.53.00 Daisy Edgar-Jones/Sebastian Stan Interview -- 27:54.00 - 40:42.00 Movie News -- 40:43.00 - 01:09:09 Simon Farnaby interview -- 01:09:10 - 1:26:59 Reviews -- 1:27:00 - end

Episode 500 of the Empire Podcast may have taken place in February, but we're continuing our quest to bring you recorded versions of all the shows we mounted on that day. And the latest is the live edition of beloved/besmirched podcast semi-regular segment, The Three Fact Structure, in which host Chris Hewitt takes it easy while Ben Travis, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer work themselves to the bone by presenting an obscure, unusual, or arcane film-related fact. This pod may only be 20 minutes long, but it packs a punch, as Helen talks about sex, James talks about loads of stuff at such a speed that it's honestly hard to tell what he was banging on about, and Ben talks about Pooh. Lots of Pooh. Oh, and there's a singalong too. This may be the way we do The Three Fact Structure from now on (live, with a 20-minute limit), so let us know if that tickles your factual fancy. Either way, enjoy.

Red is the colour for this week's Empire Podcast. First, Ben Travis has a chat with Sandra Oh and Rosalie Chiang, stars of the new Pixar movie, Turning Red, and then Red Rocket director, Sean Baker, tells Alex Godfrey all about how he pulled off his delightful latest, in which Simon Rex stars as a porn star down on his luck. Sorry about the innuendo there, but that sets the tone for this mucky-minded filthpot of an episode, in which Chris Hewitt is joined by Ben, James Dyer and, making her debut on the pod, Hanna Flint. The quartet talk about who they'd like to see play the next big-screen Robin, discuss the week's movie news, including the new trailer for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Dune 2 casting news (this was recorded before the Austin Butler news broke), and review the aforementioned movies, along with Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy's latest, The Adam Project. Along the way, they discuss The Spice Girls, MENA representation in movies, and a very rude Obi-Wan Kenobi anagram. Enjoy. Timestamps! Intro/Listener Question -- 0:00.00 - 19.50.00 Rosalie Chiang/Sandra Oh interview -- 19.51.00 - 32.54 Movie News -- 32.55 - 1:02:48 Sean Baker interview -- 1:02:49 - 1:20:43 Movie Reviews -- 1:20:44 - end.

The first three episodes of The Dropout, the new series charting the rise and fall of tech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, the company she founded, have landed on Disney+, and in the latest team-up between the Empire Podcast and Pilot TV Podcast, Chris Hewitt, James Dyer, and Beth Webb have a good old natter about it. In this very special crossover episode, in association with Disney+, they talk about the real-life events behind the show (created by Elizabeth Meriwether), the reasons why Hollywood is drawn to stories like this, the incredible cast, led by Amanda Seyfried, and much, much more. So turn on, tune in and drop out for The Dropout...

Riddle us this, riddle us, erm, shimmy, who's the man who wrote Steven Soderbergh's Kimi? Why, that would be David Koepp, one of our cracking guests on this week's Empire Podcast. The legendary screenwriter sits down on a Zoom with Chris Hewitt and tells him all about that, being a writer on set, and much more. And riddle us this, riddle us, um, drano, why does nothing rhyme with Dano? Yes, Ben Travis and Chris have a fun audience with Paul Dano, the actor who plays The Riddler in Matt Reeves' The Batman. Either side of that, in the virtual podbooth this week, Chris and Ben are joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they discuss how difficult it is to voice Paddington, nominate the movies they'd like to see become immersive hotel experiences, talk about movie news including the Bullet Train and Fantastic Beasts: The Wotsit Of Thingummy trailers, and review The Batman, Ali & Ava, The Desperate Hour, and A Madea Homecoming. Enjoy. Timestamps! Intro/Listener Question: 0:00.00 - 26:05 David Koepp: 26:05 - 43:52 Movie News: 43:53 - 1:11:44 Paul Dano: 1:11:45 - 1:29:04 Reviews/Outro: 1:29:04 onwards

Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson's BAFTA and Oscar-nominated Summer Of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is one of the finest directorial debuts in years, as the Roots drummer/musical maestro crafts a powerful and profound documentary that charts the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969, a music festival that took place in the same summer as Woodstock, and yet didn't receive nearly the same cultural cachet. In fact, footage of the festival lay, untouched, for almost 50 years before Questlove was clued in as to its existence, resolving to make this movie. The resulting documentary, one of the favourites to win Best Documentary on both sides of the Pond, is part celebration of the amazing artists who played at the Festival, but also a compelling deep dive into Black history, Black culture, Black joy and, as he tells Chris Hewitt in this exclusive interview, the notion of Black erasure. They also talk about Questlove's relationship with the material, finding interviewees for the movie, and how he's going to handle attending the Oscars, as a former Musical Director of the ceremony. Enjoy.

Kenneth Branagh's wonderful BELFAST sees the writer-director (but not actor on this one, as he explains) return to his youth for inspiration, charting a beautiful black-and-white path through the childhood of a young boy growing up in the Northern Irish capital in 1969, just as The Troubles are about to truly erupt, changing the lives of all who lived there for decades to come. In this Empire Podcast interview special, Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with his fellow Northern Irishman, Branagh, and they talk about growing up during very different eras, about Branagh's decision to make the movie now, about his creative choices such as going black-and-white and using copious amounts of Van Morrison on the soundtrack, Northern Irish accents and much, much more. The film has been nominated for many BAFTAs and Oscars since, and may well scoop the ultimate prize on the big nights. This fascinating and fun interview may just tell you why, so it might. Wee buns!

There go our heroes. Watch them as they go. This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees three big names chat with us about their new projects, and as a result this pod is a little... everlong. First, Joe Wright, director of Cyrano, talks with Hanna Flint about his new musical and discloses his favourite Christmas movie along the way. Then Alex Godfrey Zooms in for a chat with the great Paul Thomas Anderson, who waxes lyrical about Licorice Pizza, Hard Eight turning 25, loving Mission: Impossible — Fallout, and more. And finally, as the Foo Fighters release their first movie, the horror-comedy Studio 666, Chris Hewitt has a chat with the one and only Dave Grohl. Either side of those, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode recorded in space. Or more accurately, the Galactic Starcruiser, the new Star Wars immersive experience/hotel at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. They also tackle a listener question about the weirdest places they've ever conducted an interview, talk about the week's movie news, and review Cyrano, Studio 666, Kimi, and The Duke. We got The Duke? We got The Duke! Enjoy. Timings below: Intro and chat about the Galactic Starcruiser: 0:00 - 15:11 Joe Wright: 15:12 - 33:40 Listener Question: 33:40 - 51:15 Paul Thomas Anderson: 51:15 - 1:11:24 Movie News: 1:11:24 - 1:32:22 Dave Grohl: 1:32:22 - 1:49:42 Reviews: 1:49:42 - 2:17:03

This week's Empire Podcast has a pair of interviews with some heavy-hitting acting types. First off, Joanna Scanlan, recently BAFTA-nominated for Best Actress for her turn in the excellent drama, After Love, talks with Helen O'Hara about that, and about playing the long game in her career. Then Hanna Flint (making her Empire Podcast debut) has a fun chat, recorded before Christmas hence the festive references, with the ever-excellent Peter Dinklage, star of next week's Joe Wright-directed musical, Cyrano. And no, we don't ask him where the handle is. Then, in and out of the podbooth (you'll see), Chris Hewitt is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an in-depth and often moving (ahem) examination of the best bald bad guys in movie history. They also discuss the week's movie news, which mainly means trailers, lots of trailers (we've taken care of Doctor Strange business elsewhere, though). And then Chris and Helen, despite the best efforts of Storm Eunice, review Channing Tatum's return in Dog, Leatherface's return in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's return with Bigbug. Enjoy.

Because a few of you demanded it, here it is: the Empire Podcast's breakdown of the brand-new trailer for Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. Join Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Amon Warmann, and Ben Travis as they go frame-by-frame through the new trailer, and the 30-second Super Bowl TV spot, as if it's the Zapruder film. Features: wild speculation and rumour-mongering, much of which will no doubt be proved incorrect when the film opens in May. So, cue up the trailer on a device of your choice (hopefully not the same one on which you're listening to the pod), and prepare to enter a new world of gods and monsters. Sorry, wrong cinematic universe!

Happy birthday, Hot Fuzz! Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg's cracking cop comedy is now fifteen years old, if you can believe it. And in this very special episode of the Empire Podcast, recorded live at Kings Place as part of our all-day celebration of Episode 500, Chris Hewitt sits down with Wright and Pegg live on stage for a one-hour deep dive into the movie. Featuring never-before-heard stories of the writing of, and making of, the movie, it's a must-listen. And that's even before we get to the late cameo (of sorts) from a very special surprise guest. Bring the noise!

We don't hang around here on the Empire Podcast. Less than a week after the epic celebration that was our 500th episode, we're already back in the podbooth, bringing you episode 501. And it's a belter, folks, as Chris Hewitt is joined by newly-minted BAFTA and Oscar nominee, the wonderful West Side Story star, Ariana DeBose, for a chat that takes in Spielberg, auditions, British accents, SNL, and Hamilton, but which is mostly concerned with Nando's, and the consumption thereof. We're also joined this week by director Josephine Decker, who tells Amon Warmann all about her new film, the Apple TV+ original, The Sky Is Everywhere. Either side of that, back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and John Nugent for a fun episode in which they discuss their dream LEGO movie-themed sets (this was recorded before news broke of the new Jurassic Park set), talk about the week's movie news, including a bumper Oscars section (this was recorded before news broke of the new Jurassic World: Dominion trailer; it's almost as if dinosaurs hate us), and review Uncharted, Death On The Nile, Flee, and Marry Me. Whether this is your first episode or your five-hundred-and-first episode, enjoy.

Here it is, folks. A landmark episode deserves an epic running time. Welcome to the 500th episode of the Empire Podcast, recorded in front of a live audience at Kings Place, London, on Saturday, February 5, and featuring our most astonishing line-up of guests yet. There's Tom Holland (no, not that one), talking about Uncharted and spoiling the hell out of Spider-Man: No Way Home (seriously, maybe only listen to this pod after you've seen that film)! The Souvenir Part II director Joanna Hogg and her star, Bafta-nominated Harris Dickinson! Roy Kent himself, Ted Lasso star, Brett Goldstein, talking about fashion, swearwords, and blaming our Chris Hewitt for the pandemic! West Side Story's Maria, aka Rachel Zegler, on befriending Spielberg! Loki director Kate Herron with the inside scoop on Owen Wilson's moustache! And the captain of the Jackass gang, Johnny Knoxville, on what can only be described as Dongzilla! Phew! It's so packed that all the interviews are smushed together in one huge section that runs from 00:33:23 to 02:14.50. Either side of that, Chris Hewitt welcomes not one, not two, not three but FOUR colleagues of such lethal cunning -- Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, Amon Warmann, and Ben Travis -- for the mother of all Empire Podcasts, as they talk movie news (Scream! Fast 10! Baftas! Den Of Thieves 2!), review Moonfall, The Souvenir Part II, Belle, Jackass Forever, and The Eyes Of Tammy Faye, and answer a ton of audience questions. It's been weeks in the planning, and is our gift to you, our loyal listeners. Thank you for all your support over the last ten years. Here's to the next 500. Enjoy.

The legendary Donnie Yen has been kicking all kinds of butt for decades now, in movies like Hero, Ip Man, Blade II, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. His latest movie, Raging Fire (the last directed by Benny Chan) is out now on DVD, Blu-ray and digital, and to mark the occasion, Amon Warmann sat down with Donnie Yen for an engrossing in-depth chat. Which we present to you in full. Enjoy!

Episodes of The Ranking are like buses. Not in the 'you wait ages for one, and then three turn up at once' sense (although we do acknowledge that episodes of this fine spin-off from Empire magazine, in which four Empire writers argue the toss about a series of films and come up with a definitive cough cough top ten, have not exactly been on the regular). More in the 'you get on one, and all you find is four people talking about Stanley Kubrick' sense. And if that's not your experience of buses, then you have our pity. You can't get on a bus round here without someone banging on about Barry Lyndon. Anyway, as our gift to you, to make up for the absence of Episode 500 from the feed today (what with Episode 500 not having been recorded yet), here is an actual episode of The Ranking, in which Ian Freer, Neil Alcock, Beth Webb, and Alex Godfrey clamber aboard the number 19 and talk about the career of one of the greatest directors of all time with their eyes wide shut and their mouths wide open. Enjoy.

Edgar Wright's latest movie, the pulse-pounding, melon-melting, time-twisting psychological thriller, Last Night In Soho, is out now on all the formats you can think of (and some you can't), so you can watch it in the comfort of your own home. So now is the perfect time to bring you lucky lot the first hour of the epic TWO AND A HALF HOUR spoiler special interview that we recorded with Wright and his co-writer, Krysty Wilson-Cairns, when they came into the podbooth late last year. In this exceedingly candid chat with Chris Hewitt, Wright and Wilson-Cairns talk about how the Hot Fuzz research process led to one of the darkest lines in the film; how Terence Stamp inspired a permanent plaque in The Toucan; where the idea for the film came from; and going for dinner with Billie Piper. For details of our spoiler specials subscription service, go to empire.supportingcast.fm

Reacher may say nothing, but thankfully Alan Ritchson -- the actor who steps into the shoes of Lee Child's man-mountain master detective, Jack Reacher, on a new Prime Video series called REACHER that launches on February 4 -- says plenty. He talks to Chris Hewitt this week, and tells him all about his audition for Reacher, acing Reacher's physicality, and what inspiration he drew from Child. Chris also has a natter this week with Romola Garai, the British actress who makes her directorial debut with the ultra-creepy horror film, Amulet. They talk about how Garai made the transition behind the camera, working with creature FX, and much more. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Amon Warmann for a jam-packed episode in which they discuss the week's movie news (including a new Wallace & Gromit movie), review Amulet, Sing 2, Pedro Almodovar's Parallel Mothers, and Munich: The Edge Of War. Plus, the listeners' question this week will almost certainly see us get sued by the BBC. Not least for hesitation, repetition and deviation. Enjoy.

We believe in America. And we also believe in Francis Ford Coppola's seminal classic, The Godfather, which turns 50 this year. In fact, we believe in it so much that we've only gone and put it on the cover of the brand-new issue of Empire (on sale now!), along with an exclusive interview with Coppola himself, as well as many of his key cast members. And, accordingly, we've decided to do a podcast in which we talk about The Godfather, and why it's still one of the greatest films of all time. So join Chris Hewitt, Nick de Semlyen, and Ian Freer for 45 minutes of chat about the film's amazing characters, visual style, themes, death scenes, and other memorable moments. And there are absolutely no terrible impressions of Marlon Brando. Well, ok, there's maybe the odd one or two or dozen. Enjoy!

2022 is only a few weeks old, but this week alone sees the release of two films that are almost certain to be up there come year's end: Guillermo del Toro's atmospheric noir, Nightmare Alley, and Kenneth Branagh's wonderfully warm childhood tale, Belfast. And we're delighted to be joined on this week's episode by del Toro, who chats with Chris Hewitt about doom, black-and-white, and Bradley Cooper's eyes; and Belfast star Jamie Dornan, who goes full Norn Iron with Helen O'Hara. Who, despite her protestations to the contrary, does thicken her accent for that interview, so she does. Then, in the podbooth, Chris and Helen are joined by James Dyer for an episode in which they talk about the legacy sequels they'd like to see, discuss the week's movie news, including the Moon Knight trailer and talk of a third Equalizer film, review Nightmare Alley, Belfast, A Journal For Jordan, and Mass, reveal more exciting details about our upcoming 500th episode, and can't tell the difference between their waking life... and dreams. Enjoy.

This week, the Empire Podcast opens The Book Of The Book Of Boba Fett, as Chris Hewitt has a fun chat with Fennec Shand herself, the wonderful Ming-Na Wen. They talk about stanning Han Solo, smuggling artefacts off set, and interior design. And Chris also has an interesting and engrossing Zoom chat with George MacKay (or is it Georges MacKay?), the English actor who stars in the Netflix WWII thriller, Munich: The Edge Of War. Either side of those interviews, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a fun episode in which they tackle a number of listener questions, discuss the week's movie news, including the sad passing of Sidney Poitier, and review the new Scream, The Tragedy Of Macbeth, Andrea Arnold's Cow, and Memoria. And Chris tells it like it is about Adolf Hitler. Enjoy.