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This week's Empire Podcast features two cracking interviews with two directors at different stages of their career. First, actor-turned-director Jack Huston sits down on Zoom and tells Chris Hewitt how he managed to make his directorial debut, the black-and-white drama Day Of The Fight, recruiting Joe Pesci for a supporting role, and the influence of his famous grandfather, John Huston. [26:52 - 47:11 approx] Then, Helen O'Hara sits down with the great Bong Joon Ho, and his interpreter, for a lovely chat about Director Bong's new film, Mickey 17. [1:15:40 - 1:32:02 approx] Either side of those is a fun episode in which Chris and Helen are joined by James Dyer and, returning to the pod after an absence of a decade, Radio 1's Ali Plumb, to talk about how Michael Shannon might just have reunited R.E.M., wax lyrical about the greatness of Gene Hackman, and review Mickey 17, Day Of The Fight, and One Of Them Days. Oh, and if you're not a fan of Oscars chat, maybe skip the entire news section (which comes after Jack Huston and before Director Bong), as it's dedicated to an in-depth discussion of last Sunday's Academy Awards. But if you skip it, you'll never learn the incredible film facts that Ali, James, and Helen bring to the table, as a Three Fact Structure briefly threatens to break out. Enjoy!

Don't call it a comeback. This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Pamela Anderson, star of Baywatch and Barb Wire, sit down with Alex Godfrey to tell him about how Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl has given her a second chance in Hollywood. [23:46 - 38:29 approx] Our other interview sees Mickey 17 (out next Friday, fact fans!) star Naomi Ackie talk to Helen O'Hara about working with Bong Joon Ho and multiple Robert Pattinsons, and coming to terms with fame. [1:05:30 - 1:19:50 approx] And both Alex and Helen are also in the podbooth this week, joining Chris Hewitt and James Dyer to talk about the greatest movie monkeys, take an impromptu Kathy Kennedy quiz, and review The Last Showgirl and Sky Cinema Original, Fight Or Flight. And the team also bid a sad farewell to some souls who left us far too soon this week — Michelle Trachtenberg, Roberto Orci, and the great Gene Hackman, who passed away along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. A full Hackman tribute will appear in next week's podcast, but for now, the team recommend the movies they would watch as a tribute to his Gene-ius. [Episode 657]

After the guestapaloozas of recent weeks, we're back to just one guest on this week's Empire Podcast. But what a guest it is, as the great Tatiana Maslany, star of the new Stephen King adaptation The Monkey, pops up on Zoom to talk with Chris Hewitt about death and Comedy Bang Bang. [25:00 - 43:07 approx] In the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss their favourite Stephen King movies, review The Monkey, The Order, and I'm Still Here, while the movie news section is rudely interrupted by some actual movie news, prompting a deep dive into the revelation about the future of the James Bond movies. That can be found, roughly, from 50:04 - 1:04:12, if you're not into all things 007. Enjoy.

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight heads to the mean streets of Victorian London for A Thousand Blows on Disney+, and what better way to celebrate than with a special Pilot TV/Empire crossover podcast? Chris Hewitt, James Dyer and Kay Ribeiro get under the skin of Knight’s latest period piece, which combines bare-knuckle boxing with organised crime as all-female gang The Forty Elephants rampage through the East End. Plus, Kay speaks to Knight himself about the origins of the series and to stars Stephen Graham and Malachi Kirby about squaring off in the ring.

It's a brave new world for the Empire Podcast this week, folks, as Chris Hewitt welcomes a quintet (not to be confused with a Quinjet, although a couple of them might have access to one) of amazing guests. From the latest MCU film, Captain America: Brave New World, Chris first chats to Danny Ramirez, aka Joaquin Torres, aka the new Falcon, about football, flying, and fraternising with famous co-stars like Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford. [22:56 - 37:25 approx] Speaking of Ford, the man who might just be the greatest movie star of all time, also sits down for a chat with Chris, talking about taking on his second US President, and first Red Hulk, in the shape of Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross. [1:42:28 - 1:56:26 approx] Inbetween those, Chris has a fun face-to-faces encounter with the stars of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Renee Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Leo Woodall. [59:13 - 1:12:45 approx] Either side of those, love is in the podbooth air, as are Love Hearts, in a raucous episode as Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Amon Warmann to talk great movie kisses, run their eye over the week's movie news, and review Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Captain America: Brave New World, and The Gorge. It's a pod you'll fall in love with. Probably. Enjoy!

Another bumper-sized edition of the Empire Podcast this week, as Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom for chats with a trio of terrific talents. First, there's Ke Huy Quan on Love Hurts, the action movie that represents his first lead role, and first movie since winning an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once. [17:33 - 34:18 approx] Then there's John Magaro, star of September 5, on how that movie and Steven Spielberg's Munich make for a great double-bill. [1:00:34 - 1:16:50 approx] And, finally, The Wild Robot director (and creator/voice of Stitch, as in Lilo & Stitch), Chris Sanders, on the success of his new animated movie, and becoming an unexpected voice actor. [1:39:10 - 1:54:10 approx] Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Beth Webb to discuss the film stories they'd love to see turned into plays, take a look at a bunch of trailers including The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Jurassic World: Rebirth, chat about the second coming of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and review September 5, You're Cordially Invited, Dog Man, and more. Enjoy.

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, and more, and reviews Rye Lane, Shazam! Fury Of The Gods, 65, Boston Strangler and Ti West's Pearl. We've specified his name here because we think we forgot to mention him in the review. D'oh! Whether you're on a boat or dry land, this is a belter. 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.

This week's pod sees the team — Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer — in isolation once again, but that doesn't stop them from reaching out to actor/writer/comedian/podcast host Brett Goldstein, who becomes the latest person to join the team for the duration of an episode. Together, this bold and intrepid quartet discuss the week's movie news and answer some listener questions, including the best video calls in movies, and the greatest single-location films. Then, when Brett has left the building, Chris, James, and Helen review The Banker, Vivarium, and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. Speaking of mistakes, this week's episode sees the launch of a new format, wherein James and Helen bring a film fact to impress Chris. Which, this week, leads to much discussion of the sweariest of all swear words. You know, that one. Now, while this discussion is censored, said word is discussed and uttered quite a bit, so if you're listening with kids, perhaps earmuff the first 20 minutes or so. Sorry, we're all utter you-know-whats. Enjoy?

Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg are all on this week's podcast. Two very English gentleman, and one American gentleman with a very good English accent.