The Empire Film Podcast

About this podcast

The Empire Film Podcast is the official podcast of Empire, the world's biggest and best movie magazine. Check back each week for an assortment of irreverent, film-related chat, as well as interviews with Hollywood's best and brightest. To subscribe to the Empire Spoiler Special Film Podcast, visit http://glow.fm/empirefilm.

The Empire Film Podcast

Episodes

Season 1
#454 — Eddie Murphy, Matthew Modine
It's a good time to be Eddie Murphy right now. After taking a few years off, he returned in style with 2019's Dolemite Is My Name, and this week reprises one of his most famous roles, as Prince (now King) Akeem in Coming 2 America, the long-awaited sequel to Coming To America. And now the man who is, quite simply, one of the biggest movie stars of all time, is a guest on this week's Empire Podcast, chatting to Chris Hewitt about returning to Zamunda, prosthetics, how the pandemic affected his plans to return to stand-up, visiting the set of Do The Right Thing, and much, much more. It's all been leading to this moment, Eddie. You're welcome. Ahem. This week, Chris also visits the set of Matthew Modine's new movie (virtually, of course) to talk to the actor about all manner of things, including rocking up as an action hero of sorts in Wrong Turn, the reboot of the Wrong Turn franchise. It's a gas. And then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and Amon Warmann for a fun (no, really) and fairly short (no, really really) edition of The Three Fact Structure. They also take a walk down memory lane as they recall their very first interviews, discuss the week's movie news, and review Coming 2 America, Raya And The Last Dragon, and Moxie. Enjoy.
March 5, 2021
127 min
#453 — Wesley Snipes, Alex Winter
This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt go on a rollercoaster ride as he has a natter about Meryl Streep, Eddie Murphy, and ice-skating uphill with Wesley Snipes, star of next week's big comedy release, Coming 2 America, and then pivots to talking docs and directing with Alex Winter, the former Bill S. Preston, Esq., about his new movie, Zappa, which tells the tale of Frank Zappa's life thanks to unpredecented archive access. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Beth Webb for a fun episode in which they talk about the best spaceship landings and space dockings in movies, discuss the week's movie news including the new title for Spider-Man 3 and the launch of Paramount Plus, and review The United States Vs Billie Holiday, Dead Pigs, and Archenemy. Oh, and James makes his latest bid to derail the wildly popular and beloved segment, The Three Fact Structure. Enjoy.
February 26, 2021
104 min
#452 -- Hugh Bonneville, Rosamund Pike
This week's Empire Podcast is brought to you even remotely in lockdown than usual (all will be revealed within), as Chris Hewitt convenes over Squadcast with Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for another, we're told, fun-filled episode. As well as talking about Helen's new book, Women Vs Hollywood, and a particular Empire milestone for Chris, our three colleagues of such lethal cunning talk about the week's movie news, review I Care A Lot, Willy's Wonderland and The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things, and answer a listener question about bad guys who get away with it. Speaking of which, Chris has a lovely chat with Rosamund Pike, who gives a wicked performance in the wonderful I Care A Lot (although be warned, there are spoilers lurking within), and who becomes the first guest to appear on the show twice during the global pandemic. Hopefully next time she's on, life will be back to something approaching normality. And our other guest this week is also a returnee to the show, as Hugh Bonneville talks to Amon Warmann about playing Roald Dahl in the new Sky Cinema Original film, To Olivia. They also have a natter about Jingle Jangle, and Paddington 3, of course. In fact, there's much Paddington chat in this week's episode. Not all of it wholesome. You may want to cover the little bear's ears. Enjoy.
February 19, 2021
128 min
#451 — George C. Wolfe, Juno Temple
We may have missed George C. Wolfe, director of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, when it first hit Netflix just before Christmas, but with the film one of the major awards contenders, we put that right in this week's episode, as Amon Warmann sits down for a chat with him about the movie, its impact, and working with the late Chadwick Boseman. Our second guest this week is the wonderful British actress, Juno Temple, who talks to Chris Hewitt about her Justin Timberlake experience on the new film, Palmer, and much more besides. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis for another round of The Three Fact Structure, discussion of the week's movie news including a tribute to Christopher Plummer and a breakdown of the big Super Bowl trailers, and they review News Of The World, Palmer, and get all kinds of giddy about Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar. And they also discuss the thorny, and topical, issue of being able to separate the art from the artist in this week's Listener Question section. Enjoy.
February 12, 2021
137 min
#450 — Kevin Macdonald, Paul Greengrass
Happy birthday to us! It's a landmark episode for the Empire Podcast, folks, as we go 450 up. Due to the pandemic, this episode isn't a live show, as had been originally intended, but that will happen, we promise you. But it's a cracking episode, as Chris Hewitt, James Dyer, and Helen O'Hara take a little trip down memory lane to recall the early days of the pod. Then they also discuss the best stock market movies, indulge in a lightning round of the Three Fact Structure, discuss the week's movie news, including the Golden Globes nominations, and review Greenland, Malcolm And Marie, and Bliss. Our guests this week are two fantastic British directors. First, Kevin Macdonald, director of Life In A Day 2020, tells Chris all about how he made the ultimate crowd-sourced movie, and then old pod friend Paul Greengrass has a natter with Chris about his new movie, News Of The World. And if you've ever wanted to hear Paul Greengrass quote Step Brothers, this is the pod for you! Enjoy.
February 5, 2021
131 min
A Celebration Of Cinema: Edgar Wright And Quentin Tarantino In Conversation
The new issue of Empire, curated by Edgar Wright, features a celebration of the type of amazing movie-going moment that can shake an audience to its very foundations. It features contributions from some of the biggest names in the business, and is so special that we decided that we would only do a companion podcast if we could make it just as special. We think we've succeeded. Join your host, Chris Hewitt, for this incredible THREE-HOUR behemoth, in which Edgar Wright (in London) and his good friend, Mr. Quentin Tarantino (in Tel Aviv) get together over Zoom and natter about movies until the cows come home, or their batteries run out. They talk about the movie moments that moved them; how they, as writer-directors, cultivated those moments in the likes of Shaun Of The Dead, Django Unchained, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood; and the importance of subversion on a massive level. But that's not all. The second half of the pod is a dizzying back-and-forth in which the duo dive deep into the annals of British cinema. What, exactly, is The British Book Club? How is Martin Scorsese involved? And just who did direct the Clint Eastwood vehicle (and vehicle), Pink Cadillac? For the answers to these questions, and more, listen to find out. Enjoy.
February 3, 2021
182 min
#449 — Edgar Wright
In case you haven't already bought (and read) this month's issue of Empire magazine, which is a colossal celebration of those incredible movie moments that are best enjoyed with an audience in an actual cinema, Edgar Wright -- who orchestrated the whole shebang -- drops by this episode to tell Chris Hewitt all about it. They talk about Edgar's status as Empire's new unpaid intern, the decision to push Last Night In Soho back by a few months, his upcoming music documentary about Sparks, and how this issue caused him to build a very unexpected bridge with one of Hollywood's biggest names. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis for an even more raucous than usual episode (if you're a fan of double, or even single, entendre, this is the episode for you!), as they exchange nuggets of info in The Three Fact Structure; recall their favourite home viewing experiences; discuss the week's movie news; review Synchronic, The Dig, and Assassins; and beat a brand-new joke into the ground, Empire Podcast-style. Enjoy.
January 29, 2021
109 min
#448 — Isla Fisher, Rose Matafeo
This week's Empire Podcast goes Down Under -- metaphorically speaking, of course -- as Chris Hewitt has fun-filled chats with two wonderful Antipodean actors. First off, there's Isla Fisher, the Australian star of Blithe Spirit, who tells Chris all about her affinity for accents, Hot Rod, and working with Judi Dench, while Chris makes an impromptu purchase. Then Chris has a chat, and a Kurt Russell quiz, with Baby Done star, the New Zealander comedian and actor, Rose Matafeo. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and, for the first time this year, Amon Warmann, as they exchange facts in The Three Fact Structure, talk about actors and directors who deserve a McConaissance, discuss the week's movie news including that big MCU rumour, and review Baby Done, MLK/FBI, Outside The Wire, and The White Tiger. A jam-packed show, and no mistake. Crikey! Enjoy.
January 22, 2021
140 min
#447 — Johnny Flynn, Kingsley Ben-Adir
This week's Empire Podcast features two interviews with fast-rising British stars, both of whom play icons in films released this week. First off, Chris Hewitt has a chat with actor-musician Johnny Flynn about his experiences playing David Bowie in Stardust, and later has a natter with Kingsley Ben-Adir about playing Malcolm X in Regina King's sensational directorial debut, One Night In Miami. Then, Chris is joined in the virtual podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss their favourite movie (and real-life) teachers, talk about the week's movie news (this episode was recorded before that rumour about a certain character returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and review One Night In Miami, Stardust, Blithe Spirit, and the first two episodes of WandaVision. In fact, there's quite a bit of TV chat on this week's show, but we're pretty sure we haven't been infiltrated by the Pilot TV podcast. Yet. Enjoy.
January 15, 2021
124 min
#446 — Wil Wheaton
We're back! Despite popular demand, the Empire Podcast returns, refreshed after its Christmas break, and ready to tackle 2021. Or, at the very least, trip up 2021 when it isn't looking. In the first episode of the year, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis discuss what they got up to over the long break, and their favourite film-related Christmas presents. They also play another round of The Three Fact Structure, answer listener questions, discuss the latest movie news, and review Sylvie's Love, Pieces Of A Woman, and We Can Be Heroes. Oh, and they play a brand new quiz — Wolff or Wolff — that will soon be sweeping the nation. Sweeping! And our guest this week is the geektastic Wil Wheaton. In a long, and often very frank, interview with Chris, Wil talks about his film, Rent-A-Pal, takes a walk back down Star Trek and Stand By Me memory lane, and talks about Stephen King without treading on the Kingcast's toes. Honest. We should also point out that this conversation touches on topics like emotional abuse and trauma, so be advised. And with that in mind, do please... enjoy.
January 8, 2021
131 min
The Empire Podcast Review Of 2020
And so, as the worst year in living memory draws to a close, Team Empire gathers together (virtually, at least) to have a good old natter about it from a cinematic point of view. In this bumper-sized example of 2020 vision, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis, and Terri White answer listener questions about the year that was, talk about their personal highlights (and lowlights) in the face of the Covid pandemic that rocked the world and has posed such a huge threat to cinemas around the world, discuss the movies that they loved, and then run down Team Empire's top 20 films of the year. And we wanted to thank you so much for continuing to listen to and support the Empire Podcast (and our spoiler specials, if you subscribe to those). This year, more than ever, it's meant so much to us, and we hope to continue to repay you with some great pods in 2021. Which, we can only hope, is a better year for all of us. Happy New Year, listeners! Enjoy.
December 28, 2020
136 min
#445 Part Two — Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts
Part two of the final Empire Podcast (special episodes notwithstanding) of 2020 sees the podteam of Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer discussing the week's movie news (including an update on at least one of The Hollywood Chrises), and reviewing Wonder Woman 1984, Soul, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and The Midnight Sky. Chris also sits down for a fun, if slightly audio-compromised, chat with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom stars Colman Domingo, Michael Potts, and Glynn Turman, who talk about getting involved in the August Wilson adaptation, their chemistry together, and working with Chadwick Boseman on what would prove to be his final film. We're back on January 8th, folks. Review Of The Year will be up next week in our stead. Have a very happy holidays, everyone!
December 18, 2020
79 min
#445 Part One — David Oyelowo, And Mystery Guest
The final episode of the Empire Podcast in this most accursed of years proved to be so big, folks, that we have split it in twain. In this first part, you will find Chris Hewitt reconnecting with pod fave, David Oyelowo, talking about his new movie, Come Away, and his approach to directing with his upcoming movie, The Water Man. This interview sees one of the two men incessantly impersonate Michael Caine. See if you can guess which. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to tackle a series of Christmas movie-related listener questions, while The Three Fact Structure takes an interesting twist... Enjoy.
December 18, 2020
75 min
An Empire Podcast Special: Discussing The Disney Slate Announcement
"Who ya gonna call?" "INVESTORS!" Yes, folks, the annual tradition that is Disney's investment call, in which shareholders are reassured that Scrooge McDuck hasn't absconded with all of their cash, took place yesterday, and was a four-hour epic in which the company announced more than 50 new projects to be spread across some of their biggest brands. And, because you demanded it, in this Friday night special, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis put their heads together and talk about all the new Marvel announcements (Fantastic Four! Ironheart! Christian Bale butchering gods! The Loki trailer!), the Star Wars shenanigans (Ahsoka! Lando! Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron!), the Buzz Lightyear prequel, Sister Act 3, and as much as they can possibly cram into just under an hour. If you want to hear more, you won't believe what we've got lined up for the Empire Podcast Investors' Call next Friday. Calls cost £9.99 per second. Please don't seek the permission of the bill payer before you call. Enjoy.
December 11, 2020
57 min
#444 — Reginald Hudlin, Frank Marshall
This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt sit down (across Zoom) with two directors whose first film came out 30 years ago, and who are back back back in the director's chair with new efforts. First up is Reginald Hudlin, the polymath who, along with his brother Warrington, made House Party, then tried his hand at a number of things, including producing the Oscars and writing Black Panther comics. His new film, Safety, hits Disney+ this week. Then Chris also chats to the legendary producer Frank Marshall, who returns to the director's chair for only the fifth time (Arachnophobia being his first) with the documentary, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? In this interview, Chris chats to Frank about his musical background, working on Noises Off!, and his strange Twitter handle, @LeDoctor. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a fun episode in which they talk about their ideal cinematic Christmas presents, answer a listener question about Christmasified (it's a word, honest) sequels, discuss the week's movie news (NOT including the big Disney news drop, which will get a special all of its own), and review Dreamland, The Prom, Safety, Songbird, and the last of Steve McQueen's epic Small Axe series, Education. Enjoy.
December 11, 2020
118 min
An Empire Podcast Interview Special: The Cast Of Host
Happy spookies, everyone! To celebrate the cinematic release of Rob Savage's savagely scary Zoom-based horror film Host (one of the best movies of the year, folks!), in this interview special Chris Hewitt jumps onto Zoom and has a natter with Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Caroline Ward, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, and Edward Linard, aka the cast of the movie. It's a fun-filled chat, full of insight about how they made the movie, their reaction to its immense success and, while this isn't a spoiler special, talk of some of their characters' fates. So, if you're yet to log on to Host, perhaps give it a watch before you give this a listen. For the rest of you... Enjoy.
December 7, 2020
41 min
#443 — Harris Dickinson, Viggo Mortensen and Lance Henriksen
This week's Empire Podcast is a particularly bumper-sized (more so than usual) edition, largely thanks to the late-breaking news about Warner Bros' decision to release their entire 2021 slate of movies simultaneously to streaming via HBO Max in the US. So Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Amon Warmann and James Dyer jumped back on and had a fairly involved chat about that. You can hear that in the news section, where they also pay tribute to the late David Prowse and Hugh Keays-Byrne. Elsewhere in the show, our colleagues of such lethal cunning get festive with a very special MCU version of A Christmas Carol, one-up each other in The Three Fact Structure, review Mank, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Alex Wheatle, Falling, County Lines, and more. Oh, and Amon declares that he's going to win an Oscar. Our guests this week are fast-rising British star Harris Dickinson, so chilling in County Lines, who talks to Chris about a career path that will almost certainly see him end up in the director's chair. And, speaking of actors who have turned their hands to directing, Chris has an epic chat with Viggo Mortensen about his moving directorial debut, Falling. What's more, they're joined by the legend who plays Viggo's dad in that movie, the great Lance Henriksen. Enjoy. Perhaps in a couple of batches.
December 4, 2020
147 min
#442 — David Arquette
This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt chat it up a storm with David Arquette, star and subject of new documentary, You Cannot Kill David Arquette. The two talk about Arquette's return to the wrestling ring, 20 years after a publicity stunt for a movie saw him somehow end up as a world champion, his reasons for coming back to the Scream franchise as Dewey Riley, and why he seems to have taken the title of his latest movie as a challenge. Either side of that, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to talk about great movie phone calls, discuss the week's movie news, and review Uncle Frank, Happiest Season, Possessor, The Christmas Chronicles 2 and the latest of Steve McQueen's Small Axe films, Red, White And Blue. Oh, and somewhere along the way Chris challenges their knowledge of the Police Academy movie titles, and loses his mind. The two may be related. Enjoy.
November 27, 2020
113 min
Celebrating Carl Weathers — An Empire Podcast Special
We love Carl Weathers at Empire Towers. How can we not? Over the course of a career that has spanned almost 50 years, he has played some of the most iconic characters around. Apollo Creed. Dillon from Predator. 'Action' Jackson. Chubbs Peterson. And now Greef Karga in The Mandalorian. And so, in the first of an occasional series, the Empire Podcast team — Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and Rocky superfan Terri White — get together to take a very special, and deeply affectionate, look back at Weathers and his storied career. But that's not all. This series will also delve into the Empire Podcast archives to bring you interviews we've done in the past. So you can hear the interview Chris did with Weathers when he came to our London studio in 2017, which runs from 03:16.412 to 28:43.245. And you can also hear an extended excerpt from the chat the two had just last week about Weathers' work starring in and directing the latest episode of The Mandalorian. That runs from 28:57.301 to 47:11.805. And yes, we hope to have Carl back to discuss Upgrade 2: Unlandable: Holding Pattern With Carl Weathers at a later date. If you don't know what that is, have a listen to the episode. Enjoy.
November 25, 2020
82 min
#441 — M.J. Bassett
This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees us go rogue with M.J. Bassett, the director of new VOD title Rogue, in which Megan Fox does battle with a very angry lion. M.J. chats with Chris Hewitt about making the movie, working with Megan Fox, making her peace with a negative Empire review of her first movie, Death Watch, and coming face to face with a black mamba. Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Beth Webb for an episode in which they discuss saying painful goodbyes to beloved TV shows, engage in a very animalistic edition of The Three Fact Structure, mull over the greatest haircut and shaving scenes in cinema, discuss the week's movie news including Wonder Woman 1984's new release strategy, and review Steve McQueen's latest Small Axe offering, Lovers Rock, as well as Rogue and Train To Busan Presents: Peninsula. Oh, and Chris mounts a desperate campaign to be verified by Instagram. Enjoy.
November 20, 2020
109 min

The Empire Film Podcast

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

The Empire Film Podcast

Episodes

#454 — Eddie Murphy, Matthew Modine

#453 — Wesley Snipes, Alex Winter

#452 -- Hugh Bonneville, Rosamund Pike

#451 — George C. Wolfe, Juno Temple

#450 — Kevin Macdonald, Paul Greengrass

A Celebration Of Cinema: Edgar Wright And Quentin Tarantino In Conversation

#449 — Edgar Wright

#448 — Isla Fisher, Rose Matafeo

#447 — Johnny Flynn, Kingsley Ben-Adir

#446 — Wil Wheaton

The Empire Podcast Review Of 2020

#445 Part Two — Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts

#445 Part One — David Oyelowo, And Mystery Guest

An Empire Podcast Special: Discussing The Disney Slate Announcement

#444 — Reginald Hudlin, Frank Marshall

An Empire Podcast Interview Special: The Cast Of Host

#443 — Harris Dickinson, Viggo Mortensen and Lance Henriksen

#442 — David Arquette

Celebrating Carl Weathers — An Empire Podcast Special

#441 — M.J. Bassett