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It's a question as old as time: Who ya gonna call? And an equally aged answer: Ghostbusters! Or, in the case of this week's Empire Podcast, not Ghostbusters but rather a Ghostbuster. And not just any old Ghostbuster, either — no sirree! The heart of the Ghostbusters and legendary co-creator of the franchise Dan Aykroyd jumps on the blower with our very own ecto one, Chris Hewitt, to talk about the upcoming Ghostbusters In Concert show at the Royal Albert Hall, webbed feet, and writing one of the greatest comedies of all time [21:55 - 41:32 approx]. Our other guest in this double ft. week is Benjamin Ree, the director of the extraordinarily moving documentary The Remarkable Life Of Ibelin, which tells the incredible story of a young Norwegian man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the second life he created for himself within the vast expanses of Azeroth in Mmorpg World Of Warcraft [1:11:29 - 1:28:29 approx].

Either side of those interviews,...

Spooky season is upon us, folks, and this week's Empire Podcast is even more of a horror show than usual! First up to send shivers down your spine, Chris Hewitt talks to actor Naomi Scott about her fabulous performance in Parker Finn's scary sequel Smile 2 [23:26 — 37:26 approx]. Then, the team — this week comprising Chris, James Dyer, Ben Travis and, in a rare appearance, our news editor Beth Webb — tackle two horror-related questions from listeners, including the horror flicks they think should have been nominated for Best Picture, and an impromptu Mount Rushmore of vampire films (we can only apologise for Beth's sacrilegious shout for the Fright Night remake over the original!)

Elsewhere, much movie news is discussed, including the addition of Krypto the Superdog to James Gunn's Superman, new trailers for A24 fantasy adventure The Legend Of Ochi and Aardman animation Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, and confirmation...

We've got another doozy winging your way on the Empire Podcast this week, folks. On the guest front, our man in LA James White talks to Sarah Paulson, star and producer of new Disney+ thriller Hold Your Breath, about milking tension — and also cows [21:33 — 34:08 approx]. Then, Chris Hewitt sits down for a chinwag about vampires, changing tyres, and playing people called Bob with Lewis Pullman, star of the latest screen take on Stephen King's Salem's Lot, which is finally hitting our screens after a couple of years spent dwelling in the dark [52:39 - 1:09:31 approx]. And as if that weren't enough star power already to be going on with, we also bring you a special preview of our incredible The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power S2 Spoiler Special Q&a with showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, creative producer Lindsey Weber, and stars Charles Edwards, Megan Richards, and Daniel Weyman...

Love that Joker? If so, you've come to the right place, folks, as this week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt, our very own Clown Prince of Crime, dig deep into Joker: Folie À Deux (and pronounce the title roughly ten different ways) with its star, Joaquin Phoenix [18:50 - 41:01 approx]. And then, doubling down on the Joker chat we talk to the music-driven movie's director, Todd Phillips, about taking big swings with his DC supervillain sequel [1:02:14 - 1:23:07 approx].

With Helen O'Hara having made herself scarce so she can watch the original Joker (her favourite film of all time) about a dozen times in preparation for the sequel, Chris is joined in the podbooth by his number one guy, Bo — sorry, James Dyer — and number two guy (steady now!), Alex Godfrey, for another fun episode. Together, the intrepid pod squad try in earnest to discuss terrible films made by great directors, only to get hung up...

Call us a hearty sandwich on The Empire Podcast this week folks because our latest episode is jam-packed! In a three interview, five guest week, first up our very own Chris Hewitt sat down to chat with Saoirse Ronan — producer-star of new drama The Outrun — and her co-star Paapa Essiedu to talk about bonding, improvisation, and shooting on location [19:13 - 33:45 approx]. Next up, director Josh Greenbaum talks to us about new Netflix offering Will & Harper, an excellent documentary that follows Will Ferrell and his writer friend of three decades, Harper Steele, on a cross-country road trip in the aftermath of Harper's recent transition to living as a woman [54:27 - 1:13:03 approx]. And last but most certainly not least, there's a big chunk of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice spoiler special goodness as we indulge in a spoilerific chat with the film's writers and executive producers, Alfred Gough and Miles Millar [1:40:01 - 1:55:27 approx].

Sandwiched between all that guest-based goodness,...

It's our great and bountiful podding leader Chris Hewitt's birthday on this week's episode of the Empire Podcast, and to celebrate we have a brace of top notch interviews and four incredible guests in all. First up on the guesting front, Chris sits down with Willa Fitzgerald, star of buzzy new thriller Strange Darling, and somehow manages to avoid spoiling the twists and turns of the movie whilst discussing, among other things, Giovanni Ribisi's pivot from acting heavyweight to cinematographer extraordinaire [23:05 - 40:27 approx]. Then Chris goes one on three with the powerhouse trio at the heart of Netflix indie drama His Three Daughters, Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen and Natasha Lyonne [1:01:45 - 1:14:52 approx].

Either side of our star interviews, Chris is joined back in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an Agatha All Along inspired listener question on the best movie witches and a good ol' deep dive into this week's movie news.

We've got Gods and crows on our minds on this week's jam-packed episode of the Empire Film Podcast folks — and we'll tell you for why. In a doozy of a double-guest week, first up we have a sizeable slab of the Empire VIP Club live Q&a Chris Hewitt did with Jeff Goldblum, star of Netflix's Greek myth riffing new show Kaos, to serve up for your audible delectation. And it is, as you'd expect, Goldblum at his most Goldblummy — Goldblummin' good stuff if you will [24:13 - 42:52 approx]. Then, flying in to your ears we've got an interview between Chris and Rupert Sanders, the director of the brand new version of cult classic The Crow. Together, they talk about grief, love, and wrestling with iconography [1:05:04 - 1:24:24 approx].

Either side of our guest interviews, Chris is joined in the podbooth this week by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis and — in her final pod before she...

Let's fuckin' go! This week sees the long-awaited release of the McU's latest movie Deadpool & Wolverine, in which Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman team up for a swear'n'slash session for the ages alongside Britain's Ugliest Dog (We love you Dogpool!). And with the Merc With A Mouth and Wolvie about to throw down, this week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt sit down for a lovely non-spoilerific chat with the film's director, Shawn Levy [22:04 - 39:18 approx]. But that ain't all, folks. Our other guest this week is Joachim Rønning, the director of Young Woman And The Sea, which is now out on Disney+. Alex Godfrey waded into the movie's deep waters for a lovely conversation with Rønning about that, star Daisy Ridley, swimming, and more [57:33 - 1:16:50 approx].

Either side of those interviews, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for another fun pod in which they...

On this week's Empire Podcast we've another veritable guestapalooza for you, folks! First up, Chris Hewitt chats up a storm with Twisters stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Phizzy Pigtails aficionado Anthony Ramos [19:46 - 35:02 approx]. Then, our man Hewitt's back on the meteorological movie beat again for more Twisters talk with the film's director, Lee Isaac Chung [1:39:17 - 1:56:06 approx]. Sandwiched between all the 'nado nattering, our very own news editor extraordinaire Beth Webb has a lovely audience with the marvellous June Squibb, star of Oap revenge joyride Thelma. [1:01:03 - 1:13:59 approx]

Then, back in the podbooth Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and returning fourth chairer (and best dressed man of all time) Jeremy Dylan, where the team discuss the ultimate Mount Rushmore question: What is our Mount Rushmore of films with Mount, Rushmore, Rush, or More in the title? Elsewhere, the pod squad cast their eagle eye over the week's movie news, including discussion...

On this week's Empire Podcast we have another brace of cracking guests. First up, It Follows star Maika Monroe returns to the show to talk to Chris Hewitt about her terrifying new horror film, Longlegs [25:43 — 39:01 approx], inadvertently inspiring Chris to launch the Empire Podcast Hall Of Fame for repeat guests in the process. Elsewhere, making his long, long overdue debut on the pod is the great Griffin Dunne, star of An American Werewolf In London and After Hours, who sits down with Chris to talk about his memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir [59:29 - 1:19:24 approx]. It's a conversation that runs the emotional gauntlet from the funny to the tragic, and we hope he comes back many times — a Hall Of Fame spot surely awaits.

Either side of our star interviews, Chris is joined in the podbooth this week by Helen O'Hara and Alex Godfrey to tackle this week's Gladiator II inspired...

On this week's 100% politics free episode of the Empire podcast, the release of Ti West's eagerly anticipated X trilogy closer Maxxxine — which sees the series' instantly iconic porn star-turned-Final Girl Maxine being stalked by a shadowy killer on the streets of mid-80s LA — brings star Mia Goth our way. The decidedly less shadowy and less killery Chris Hewitt sat down with Goth over Zoom for a lovely chat about all things Maxxxine, getting drenched in prosthetics, being a non-screaming scream queen, and much more besides [41:11 - 53:59 approx].

Then, back in the non-political pod booth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they don't talk about politics, even though it was recorded on General Election Day, and even though this week's listener question is specifically about movie politicians. What were the chances? Elsewhere, the team also discuss this week's movie news (Just news — no politics!

After a veritable drought of guests on last week's show, this week brings a figurative flood of filmmakers and stars to the Empire Podcast. First up, Ben Travis has a very hushed Zoom chat with Michael Sarnoski, director of A Quiet Place prequel/spin-off A Quiet Place: Day One [22:46 - 40:44 approx]. Then, Sophie Butcher talks all things Kinds Of Kindness with director and star duo Yorgos Lanthimos and Jesse Plemons [1:00:42 - 1:15:24 approx]. And finally, just for good measure, we also bring you an excerpt from Chris Hewitt's Bad Boys: Ride Or Die spoiler special interview with directorial dynamic duo Adil & Bilall [1:37:28 - 1:53:14 approx]. The full thing is available to subscribers, and you can subscribe at supportingcast.empire.fm. (True story.)

Back in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Sophie and James Dyer to tackle a listener question that combines two of Chris' obsessions, the MCU and Taskmaster, the latter of which he has only just started watching (for shame!

Vroom vroom! This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is something of a rarity, as we only have one guest. But what a guest it is! We sent our very own geek queen Helen O'Hara along to talk to Jeff Nichols, director of Take Shelter, Midnight Special, and Mud. Together, they talk the challenges of working with motorcycles and the joys of working with such stars as Jodie Comer! Tom Hardy! Austin Butler! Mike Faist! Michael Shannon! and more on his new 1960s set biker movie, handily called The Bikeriders.

Back in the podbooth, host Chris Hewitt is joined by Helen, James Dyer, and Amon Warmann for another fun-filled episode in which the team discuss this week's listener question: Which movies deserve to have their visual effects overhauled in special editions? Then, in this week's bumper movie news section, our colleagues of such lethal cunning discuss who should direct the McU's embattled Blade movie,...

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast invites you to settle into a pair of cracking interviews. First up, Ben Travis has a sit-down with Richard Linklater [22:48 - 42:49 approx], director of the excellent Hit Man, which is out now and available to stream over on Netflix. Then, Chris Hewitt has a bonny time with the wonderfully loquacious Stephen Fry [1:06:39 - 1:26:31 approx], whose father-daughter road-trip dramedy Treasure, based on Lily Brett's 1999 autofictive tome Too Many Men, arrives in cinemas this week.

Between the interviews then, you'll find Chris — now mercifully free of his gammy leg — back in the pod booth, running rings around Helen O'Hara and James Dyer as the team discuss the best sunglasses in the movies. There's also a tonne of movie news to digest, including the new Paddington In Peru trailer and the potentially perilous state of being for the McU's Blade after another director of the ill-fated project bit the dust this week.

On this week's episode of the Empire Podcast, the doctor is in. Doctor George Miller, that is, as the MD turned visionary director returns to the big screen with his latest slice of post-apocalyptic madness, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. So, naturally, our Chris Hewitt went along and had a big old chat with Dr. George, as we're reliably informed they call him in Australia, and we bring you the full version of that engrossing interview. [46:15-1:14:25 approx.)

Then, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, John Nugent, and James Dyer for a fun episode in which they review Furiosa, Jennifer Lopez' Atlas, Richard Linklater's Hit Man, and The Garfield Movie; discuss the week's movie news, including X-Men, Star Trek and Godzilla developments; and, in a spoilerific listener question section, talk about their favourite movie farewells (this episode is dedicated to Jürgen Norbert Klopp). Hope you guys have seen noted 'Allo 'Allo prequel,...

It's another cracking episode of the Empire Podcast, folks, as Rose Glass, director of Love Lies Bleeding, becomes the first guest to pop into our brand new studio, as she tells Sophie Butcher all about the brilliant and bizarre thriller that is her follow-up to Saint Maud. And Chris Hewitt has a fun and frank chat with the wonderful Winston Duke, star of The Fall Guy, in which they talk about stunts, sponsorship, and a poignant moment that almost made it into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Kobi Omenaka to tackle a handful of listener questions about Star Wars, review The Fall Guy, Love Lies Bleeding, and The Idea Of You, and discuss the week's movie news, with an emphasis on trailers. Warning: several wild Lion King-adjacent claims are made that may see your blood pressure rise.

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is perhaps less jam-packed and bumper-sized than normal, as we only have one guest. But what a guest, as Marisa Abela — terrific as Amy Winehouse in Sam Taylor-Johnson's Back To Black, the biopic of the iconic singer — talks to Chris Hewitt about the role, from the moment she got it to the gift she received at wrap. That can be found from 45:15 - 1:03:23 (approx).

Then, in the brand new podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Alex Godfrey to discuss Helen's attempt to murder James on the recent tour, tackle a listener question about what they like to watch on planes, discuss (most of) the week's movie news (as this was recorded before a ton of news came out of CinemaCon in Vegas; that will be tackled next week), and review Alex Garland's Civil War,...

This week's Empire Podcast has more guests than the Overlook Hotel, all chatting to Chris Hewitt about their new movies. First, producer Jordan Peele tells Chris why he was so taken by Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, that he came on board to help it get a theatrical release. Plus, they also talk why Peele is no longer acting. [15:40 - 30:56 approx] Then, Rufus Sewell — who plays Prince Andrew in Scoop, a film based on the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis — and director Philip Martin talk about the task of playing one of the most famous men on the planet. [44:28 - 59:38 approx] And finally, while The First Omen — the prequel to The Omen, which shall henceforth be known as The Second Omen — is a terrifying tour de force, Chris' interview with its stars, Nell Tiger Free and Bill Nighy, is anything but as they talk about being dressed by the Vatican, being hit by lightning,...

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is brought to you by the letter E, as Cynthia Erivo and Luke Evans join Chris Hewitt to talk about their new projects. First up, Erivo talks about her astonishing performance in Drift, which she also produced, and in particular one harrowing scene, and its impact upon her. It's an incredibly intense and honest interview and it can be found from 24:11 - 38:18 (approx). Then Evans returns to the pod after a long absence to talk about his role in Our Son, in which he plays a gay man going through a painful divorce, and playing The Crystal Maze with Daniel Levy. That's from 59:17 - 1:16:28.

Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they tackle a vaguely-Easter-themed Mount Rushmore question, discuss the storm over Late Night With The Devil...

Halloween isn't for another few months, but this week's Empire Podcast delivers a hat-trick of horrors nonetheless, as Chris Hewitt has spooky sitdowns on Zoom with the stars of three scary fillums that are all out this week. First, Sydney Sweeney, star and producer of nun-more-black horror, Immaculate, talks about sticking the landing and possession. [21:24 - 37:37 approx] Then, David Dastmalchian, star of stylish found footage shocker, Late Night With The Devil, dials in from his trailer in Toronto, where he's currently working, to talk that movie, The Dark Knight, life goals, Ant-Man And The Wasp and more. [55:16 – 1:15:44 approx.] And finally, a man who ain't afraid of no ghost, it's original Ghostbuster, Ernie Hudson, aka Winston Zeddemore, who has a chat about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire that was shorter than usual due to Chris having issues with hotel wifi from Dublin. [1:44:32 — 1:54:43 approx.]

Then, in the podbooth in London, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer...

While we're waiting patiently for Joel and Ethan Coen to reunite as the filmmaking entity known as the Coen Brothers, can we interest you in the Coen Brother and Sister-in-Law? For Ethan Coen and his wife, Tricia Cooke, have teamed up to make the rambunctious road trip comedy, Drive-Away Dolls, and on this week's episode they tell John Nugent about how they did it, and poke fun at his Star Wars toys. [25:34 - 40:09 approx.] We're also joined by another great filmmaker this week, as Phillip Noyce Zooms in for a chat with Chris Hewitt about life in the Hollywood system, and how his new movie, Pierce Brosnan thriller Fast Charlie, nearly fell apart at the first hurdle. [1:02:57 - 1:24:01 approx.]

Then, in the studio, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a fun episode in which they discuss their most recent favourite movies, the films of Ryan Gosling, the week's movie news...

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer cram into the podbooth just minutes after returning to London from a live show in Norwich, which was part of the pod's March tour. And, despite their exhaustion, they throw themselves into a fun episode that involves a deep dive into the filmographies of every actor who's played The Doctor in Doctor Who, an in-depth discussion of the upcoming Oscars that takes up pretty much the entire movie news section, and reviews of Damsel, Ricky Stanicky, and Origin.

Guest-wise, it's another belter, as Chris has lovely chats with the wonderful Robin Wright, star of Damsel and Helen's personal fave, The Princess Bride (25:02 - 39:43 approx.), before welcoming back the magnificent DeWanda Wise, star of this week's horror film, Imaginary (1:02:11 - 1:21:17 approx). Does Chris pluck up the nerve to sing Curtis Stigers' I Wonder Why,...

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is perfectly balanced, as all things should be. In the first half, Chris Hewitt sits down with ol' Thanos himself, aka the one and only Josh Brolin, for a wide-ranging conversation that takes in birthday parties, Brolin's growth as an actor, his aversion to compliments, and his return as the indefatigable Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two, which opens this week (21:56 - 41:02 approx.) Chris then ticks another one off his bucket list by having a fun Zoom chat with Adam Sandler, star of the new Netflix sci-fi drama Spaceman, and his co-star Paul Dano (56:14 - 1:10:38 approx.)

Either side of those, Helen O'Hara hosts from the podbooth this week, and she, James Dyer, Alex Godfrey and Sophie Butcher tackle a couple of listener questions, one involving Muppets; discuss what passes for the week's movie news...

It's another jam-packed episode of the Empire Podcast this week, folks. Our guest cup certainly overfloweth, as Olly Richards sits down on Zoom with Memory stars Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard (21:17 - 37:40 approx.), Ian Freer talks Kurosawa, Columbo, German goalkeepers and Japanese toilets with the legendary director Wim Wenders (58:36 - 1:14:11 approx), and Dan Jolin gushes liberally all over City Of God in a 21st anniversary re-release chat with that film's director, Fernando Meirelles (1:30:51 - 1:48:04 approx).

Either side of those, Chris Hewitt hosts and is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a fun episode in which they discuss their best ever days as film fans, their favourite queer films, the week's movie news including the announcement of Sam Mendes' wildly ambitious Beatles biopics, and review Memory, Wim Wenders' Perfect Days, Wicked Little Letters, and American Star. Oh,...

This week's Empire Podcast brings you a double bill of wonderful actors, nattering away about their latest projects. How lovely. First up, Kingsley Ben-Adir talks to Amon Warmann about Bob Marley: One Love, the film that shines the spotlight on two pivotal years in the life of the legendary reggae singer, Bob Marley, and the madness of being part of Greta Gerwig's Barbie. (22-46.00 — 41:52.00) And Chris Hewitt has a lovely talk with Tahar Rahim, star of Madame Web, about finally saying yes to Hollywood, what he would do if he knew when he was going to die, and working with Ridley Scott on Napoleon. (1:08:18.00 — 1:23:07.00)

Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss billion dollar movies that should have been nominated for Best Picture, the week's movie news including the revelation of the Fantastic Four casting and the Super Bowl trailers,...

Another week, another packed episode of the Empire Podcast, and once again we're joined by some cracking guests. First, Jeffrey Wright, the freshly Oscar-nominated star of American Fiction, joins Chris Hewitt to talk about that movie, his working practices, the film's unusual original title, and more. (30:37 - 48:53)Then Alex Godfrey sits down on Zoom with The Iron Claw director, Sean Durkin, and his star Zac Efron, for a chat about wrestling, big arms, and big hearts.

And either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and John Nugent to discuss a whole host of stuff. They talk about the upcoming Empire Podcast tour (Birmingham! Norwich! Sheffield! Dublin! Manchester!), which has just gone on sale now, right some Oscar wrongs for the third and final time, this time tackling Best Director, discuss the week's movie news, including the sad death of Carl Weathers,...

The greater the spy movie, the bigger the guests. That's the motto of this week's Empire Podcast, as Chris Hewitt sits down with Henry Cavill and Sam Rockwell, stars of Matthew Vaughn's new spy caper Argylle, for a fun chat about dancing, fighting, and novelists. (23:46 - 40:04) Chris is also joined by the wonderful Kumail Nanjiani, who returns to the pod to talk about his strange year of strikes, and becoming a duck for the new Illumination movie, Migration (1:02:52 - 1:17:16).

Then, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis, and James Dyer as they right more Oscar wrongs (this time in the Best Actress category), discuss the week's movie news, including Duncan Jones directing Rogue Trooper, and review Argylle, Migration, Cord Jefferson's fantastic American Fiction, and Jonathan Glazer's The Zone Of Interest. And Chris doesn't mention Jürgen Klopp once,...

The final Empire Podcast of 2023 is here, folks, and it's a belter, with two incredible guests. First up, Michael Fassbender returns to the pod after an absence of a few years, and in an extended interview with Chris Hewitt, he talks about returning to the big screen with the double-whammy of David Fincher's :a[The Killer]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-killer-2023/' } and Taika Waititi's :a[Next Goal Wins]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/next-goal-wins-2023/' }. Plus, he talks about going to Anfield, home of Liverpool Football Club, for that game against Barcelona in 2019, shares his love of The Streets Of San Francisco, and confesses that he may not actually be telling the truth in interviews. It's a very fun chat that starts at 20:11, and ends at 42:09. Then, Alex Godfrey has a nice natter with Adam Driver, star of Michael Mann's :a[Ferrari]{href='https://www.

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals! Here's a little Christmas bonus for you all: the Empire Podcast's Review Of The Year. 2023 (for that is the year in question) was a year that gave us so much, cinematically speaking, from Barbenheimer to Empire's official number one film, :a[Past Lives]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/past-lives/' }, and everything in-between, including the first signs of weakness in the previously invulnerable Marvel Cinematic Universe.

And, in this near three-hour special, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis discuss all of that, and much, much more. Much, much, much more, in fact. However, Chris is very aware that, even though he set it up, he got distracted and forgot to talk about the brilliant scene in :a[No Hard Feelings]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/no-hard-feelings/' } where Andrew Barth Feldman sings Maneater, and would like to rectify...

The last Empire Podcast before Christmas brings you a pair of lovely interviews as our gift to you: first, Mike Muncer sits down on Zoom with Rosamund Pike to talk about class warfare and the challenges of starring in Emerald Fennell's :a[Saltburn]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/saltburn/' }, which is now streaming on Prime Video. Then, Chris Hewitt has a lovely audience with Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, stars of :a[Maestro]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/maestro/' }, Cooper's second film as director.

Either side of those, Chris is joined in the virtual podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer as they tackle a whole bunch of Christmas movie questions, discuss the week's movie news, review :a[Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/aquaman-and-the-lost-kingdom/' }, :a[Society Of The Snow]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies...

It's another guest-packed jamboree on this week's Empire Podcast, folks. First, Chris Hewitt asks Richard Curtis about revisiting his BBC Christmas classic, Bernard & The Genie, as the new Sky Cinema film, :a[Genie]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/genie/' }. Chris also chats with William Oldroyd, director of the new thriller :a[Eileen]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/eileen/' }, and his star, Thomasin McKenzie. And then Amon Warmann Zooms in for a lovely natter with :a[Fingernails]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fingernails/' } stars, Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley. We really do spoil you lot.

And either side of all those is another fun episode as Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to talk about the forthcoming live show to mark our 600th episode (:a[on sale now]{href='https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/the-empire-podcast-600th-episode-live/' } -- be quick!

Yes, the much anticipated Keanu Reeves interview lands this week as the man himself chats F1 along with racing legend Jenson Button. Plus former Doctor Jodie Whitaker joins us, though not for Tardis talk, but rather to chat all about One Night on Paramount+.

Elsewhere, Chris Hewitt drops by to mourn the cancellation of Blue Bloods, we ponder the question of whether adverts in shows add to the experience, and we review The Couple Next Door on Channel 4, The Doll Factory on Paramount+ and the triumphant return of :a[Slow Horses]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/slow-horses-season-3/' } on Apple TV+.

Listen to the episode on :a[your podcast app of choice]{href='https://podfollow.com/pilot-tv-podcast' } or the player above. And if you want to subscribe to Pilot TV+, :a[find all the details here]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/pilottv/' }.

It's another jam-packed episode of the Empire Podcast this week, folks. First, Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with ace composer and musician, Jon Batiste, and Matthew Heineman, about their new documentary, American Symphony; then he battles an uncooperative microphone stand and emerges with an enormously fun interview with :a[Napoleon]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/napoleon-2023/' } stars, Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby; and lastly two walking Disney encyclopaedias meet, as our Ben Travis sits down with Jennifer Lee, the writer of this week's :a[Wish]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wish/' } and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

On either side of all of those is a fun episode in which Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss the actor whose back catalogue they would choose to watch for the rest of their lives; natter about...

It's not so much a hat-trick of amazing guests on this week's Empire Podcast, more a hat-treat as our bumper-sized Halloween edition brings you, tucked away at the episode's end (should you wish to skip there immediately), Ben Travis' warm and wonderful chat with Greta Gerwig, director of the year's biggest movie, :a[Barbie]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/barbie/' }, just in time to mark its release on home entertainment. Plus, Alex Godfrey catches up with Matt Johnson, director of the brilliant :a[Blackberry]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/blackberry/' }, and Chris Hewitt talks Hammer and breaking into Pinewood Studios (hopefully not with a hammer) with the newly-revived studio's first title star, Eddie Izzard, star of :a[Doctor Jekyll]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/doctor-jekyll/' }.

Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and John Nugent for a...

Here at Empire we pride ourselves on bringing you kick-ass news on a daily basis. But today, friends, we don’t just have some kick-ass news for you - we also have some :a[Kick-Ass]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kick-ass-review/' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} news. At a career-spanning New York Comic Con panel hosted by our very own Chris Hewitt this past weekend, filmmaker Matthew Vaughn revealed plans to reboot his subversive superhero franchise, as well as talking about the future of :a[Kingsman]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kingsman-secret-service-review/' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and an unexpected next project - a movie musical.

“Kick-Ass changed people's perception of what a superhero film is,” Vaughn said in praise of his comic book movie duology, which followed Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s dorkish teen Dave Lizewski as he sought to become a superhero...

This week's Empire Podcast would have been a lot longer had we kept in all the bits where Chris Hewitt was coughing. Needless to say, we cut (most) of them out (probably), leaving instead another fine and fun episode in which Chris is joined in the studio by James Dyer and Helen O'Hara, thus putting them at risk of infection. Thankfully, none of them turn into mindless zombies (how could we tell?) as they discuss the week's news, including the sad passing of Terence Davies, Kevin Costner's big-screen comeback, and rumoured upheaval at both Marvel Studios and A24, review :a[The Miracle Club]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-miracle-club/' }, Shortcomings, :a[BlackBerry]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/blackberry/' } and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and fail spectacularly to name all the Carry On movies. Oh, and James bangs on about Taylor Swift, which makes a change.

Another hat-trick of directors on this week's beautifully-designed, utterly symmetrical Empire Podcast, folks. First, Ben Travis says what a marvellous day for a chat with David Gordon Green, director of :a[The Exorcist: Believer]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-exorcist-believer/' }. Then, Beth Webb chats with Chloe Domont, the writer/director of the savage relationship drama, :a[Fair Play]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/fair-play/' }. And then John Nugent travels to Venice to have a chat with the one and only Wes Anderson – who was wearing pyjamas monogrammed with his own initials – about his Roald Dahl short films, currently streaming on Netflix. John didn't have any pod equipment with him, which is why his audio is slightly spotty in this one.

Then, back in the virtual podbooth, Chris Hewitt hosts and is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Amon Warmann for a fun episode in which they review The Exorcist: Believer,...

It's another jam-packed episode of the Empire Podcast this week, as Chris Hewitt chats to three very different directors, and learns a lot about them (and himself) along the way. First up is John Carney, the Irish director of ultra-charming musical comedy-dramas like :a[Sing Street]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sing-street-review/' } and his new movie, :a[Flora & Son]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/flora-and-son/' }, who tells Chris all about his first guitar, focusing on his childhood, and directing Eve Hewson in the title role. Then Gareth Edwards, who makes a triumphant return this week with new sci-fi :a[The Creator]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-creator/' } some seven years after his bruising experience directing :a[Rogue One]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rogue-one-star-wars-story-review/' }, sits down with Chris for a natter about opening weekends, and forging the right creative path.

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees comedian, actor, writer, director and future King of England, Mike Birbiglia, drop by the podbooth to have an extended, but very funny, natter with Chris Hewitt about Birbiglia's one-man show, The Old Man And The Pool, which is on now at the Wyndham's Theatre in London. They talk about that, about Mike's attempts to crack Ireland, about his movie Don't Think Twice (from 2016), and more. Then Chris is joined on Zoom by Brian Duffield, the writer/director of the very good alien/home invasion thriller, No One Will Save You, which hits Disney+ this week.

And either side of those, Chris is joined in the studio by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for an episode in which they further develop a plan to save cinema, try heroically to stretch the movie news section out to a decent length despite the absence of any movie news,...

They say you should never invite a vampire into your home, because then they can come and go as they please, without even stopping to do the dishes. But what if you invite the director of a vampire movie into your podcast? Well, frankly, Pablo Larraín, the brilliant Chilean director of Jackie, No, and Spencer is welcome to drop into the podbooth any time after this week's episode, in which Chris Hewitt invites him to sit down and natter all about his new movie, El Conde, in which the Chilean director, General Pinochet, is reimagined as a bloodsucking, power-hungry vampire.

Either side of that chat, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer. Together, the trio chat about James' Indiana Jones-related mishap in a film quiz, they look at the week's movie news (such as it is; this was recorded before the Aquaman 2 trailer dropped...

You didn't think we were done with fresh tidbits and new reveals coming out of "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning" just because the film is wrapping up its theatrical run and headed towards its home release, did you? I mean, as Ethan Hunt once memorably stated early on in "Fallout," "What's done is done when we say it's done." That's never felt more true than with the recently-released Empire podcast spoiler special dedicated to all things "Dead Reckoning."

This podcast has already uncovered a host of juicy details, as a result of Empire host Chris Hewitt's marathon-like interview with director Chris McQuarrie. Last time, we heard more insights into plans for a de-aging sequence that originally was meant to open the film in style, but fans have been anxiously awaiting the next installment of the series as the conversation's been split up over multiple parts and slowly parceled out...

This week's Empire Podcast is a little late, folks, for which we apologise. But we have an exceptionally good excuse — we didn't actually record it until Saturday night, when Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis took to the stage of Kings Place's Hall One, in front of a crowd of around 350 loyal listeners, as part of this year's London Podcast Festival. And this is that show, in which our intrepid quartet bravely tackle an almost comical lack of movie news, review Celine Song'sPast Lives, Michael Chaves' The Nun II, and Nia Vardalos' My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, answer a bunch of audience questions, and — we cannot state this enough, for legal reasons — do not make plans to kidnap Ryan Reynolds.

They were also joined on the night by ace composer Daniel Pemberton, who told Chris and Helen all about how he used a goose on the...

The Guardians Of The Galaxy — or, at least, James Gunn's Guardians Of The Galaxy — are about to make their last stand with this week's long-awaited Vol. 3, and in this week's episode of the Empire Podcast, Chris Hewitt Zooms with Nebula herself, Karen Gillan, for a fun chat taking in everything from conspiracy theories to James Gunn's initial firing from the project, and everything in-between. Chris also has a chat with another regular pod-guest, Joe Russo, who tells Chris about the second year of the St. Andrews International Film Festival, why he never keeps track of his score at golf, and more. That 'more' includes an in-depth chat about the state of the filmmaking union and the rise of A.I. and its impact upon movies, and while this was recorded a couple of weeks ago, it feels very timely now given this week's decision, by the WGA, to call a strike,...

Yub nub, motherfubbers! To celebrate Return Of The Jedi's 40th anniversary, and re-release in cinemas around the world, we bring you a gift that would have impressed even the mighty Jabba the Hutt: the live podcast we recorded a few weeks ago when Star Wars Celebration came to London.

So join Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Nick de Semlyen, and Ben Travis for a fun-filled hour of bad impressions, even worse opinions, audience questions, and Ewok recipes. Oh, and it's a family show, so no swearies! Enjoy.

Listen to the episode on the pod app of your choice — or via the PlanetRadio player above.

This week's Empire Podcast has more stars than Frank Lampard has had managerial jobs at Chelsea, folks. First up, Amon Warmann is The Pope's Exorcist's star's interviewer, as he talks to the great Russell Crowe about accents, Gladiator 2 and more. Then Amon gives Air stars Matt Damon and Marlon Wayans the big old Nike tick of approval in another fun chat. And finally Chris Hewitt rounds things off with a fun if chaotic chat with Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, the stars of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Then Chris and Amon are joined in the podbooth by James Dyer for an episode in which they talk about great movie scenes featuring eggs, discuss a ton of movie news, and review all of the above movies, along with Guy Ritchie's Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre. Enjoy.

Listen to the episode on the pod app of your...

It's Star Wars Celebration week, folks! The annual Jabba-and-Jawas jamboree is coming to London this year, and that is all the excuse that Connor Ratliff, Griffin Newman and Patrick Cotnoir needed to bring their runaway hit, The George Lucas Talk Show, to the Soho Theatre for a couple of shows on Friday April 7th and Saturday April 8th. If you're unfamiliar, it's an improvised spoof chat show in which Ratliff plays Retired Filmmaker George Lucas and Newman plays his sidekick Watto, interviewing real guests about Star Wars and other animals.

Our Chris Hewitt is a huge fan, and he jumped at the chance to talk to the trio about the show's origins, how it transformed during the pandemic, and what they have in store for London audiences. Enjoy.

Listen to the episode on the pod app of your choice — or via the PlanetRadio player above.

Ok, we're not going to lie. This week's episode of the (freshly award-nominated) Empire Podcast is even more bumper-sized than usual, folks. But that's what happens when the legendary action star, Scott Adkins, strolls into the podbooth and joins Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for the first third of the show, talking about his time as Killa Harkan in John Wick: Chapter 4. Scott also sticks around for the listener question section, which is nice. Oh, and there's a big John Wick Chapter 4 spoiler from 08:06.000 to 09:25.438.

Elsewhere, Chris has three incredibly fun chats with what seems like the entire cast of Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves — Chris Pine and Hugh Grant talk about what they look for in a director, Michelle Rodriguez and Regé-Jean Page wax lyrical about Northern Ireland and seals, and Justice Smith and Sophia Lillis help Chris rediscover his love of the podcast form.

Another Empire Podcast episode, another bumper selection of guests this week, as Chris Hewitt sits down (in person) with Ian McShane, star of John Wick: Chapter 4, and they chat about hotels, Lovejoy, McShane's start in acting, and (of course) Columbo. Chris also has a fantastic chat with John Boyega, star of Breaking, which is released on PVOD on Monday (March 27th), in which they talk about the film's social conscience, how Boyega navigated his career post-Attack The Block and Star Wars, and how he celebrates his birthdays. And then there's a clash of the Alexes, as our Mr Godfrey chats with Infinity Pool star Alexander Skarsgard about his crazy and intense new movie. Be warned: there's talk galore of dog collars and giant penises. The usual.

Then, in the podbooth, Helen O'Hara hosts and is joined by James Dyer and Sophie Butcher for a fun episode in which...

Another bumper episode of the Empire Podcast this week, folks, as Chris Hewitt chats with Raine Allen-Miller and Vivian Oparah, director and star respectively of the effervescent new rom-com,Rye Lane. This may actually be the first pod interview where one of us is on a boat. Which one? Find out by listening! Then Chris sits down for a chat about movies and movie history with Marlowe star, Liam Neeson, and there's a taster of our Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania spoiler special interviews with that film's director, Peyton Reed, and writer Jeff Loveness. The spoiler special itself will be up on Monday.

Then, in the virtual podbooth today, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a fun episode that celebrates all things St. Patrick, discusses the greatest living Irish actors (and probably leaves out someone incredible), talks about the Oscars, James Gunn directing Superman: Legacy, Quentin Tarantino's final film,...

A mere 55 episodes after her triumphant appearance at our live show to mark episode 500, the wonderful Rachel Zegler returns to the Empire Podcast to talk Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, poster spoilers, cheap mic stands, George Lucas, and much, much more in a fun chat with Chris Hewitt. Guest-wise this week there's also an excerpt from James Dyer's forthcoming Andor S1 spoiler special interview with Tony Gilroy and Diego Luna, the creator and star of that most excellent Star Wars show respectively.

Either side of those, Chris and James are joined in the podbooth this week by Helen O'Hara to discuss the best seventh instalment in franchises, review Scream VI,Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey, Dead For A Dollar, and more, and, in a bumper movie news section, give their Oscar predictions, including speculation on which Best Picture nominees would be improved with a dildo fight. Answer: all of them.