The Empire Film Podcast

They've Turned The Wayans Against Us (ft. Nicholas Galitzine & Camila Mendes) 05.06.2026 1val 25min

This week sees the release of Travis Knight's live-action adaptation of 80s cartoon (and toy line), Masters Of The Universe, so our very own He-Man, Chris Hewitt, sits down on Zoom for a fun chat about films and football with the actual He-Man, Nicholas Galitzine, and Teela, Camila Mendes. [46:56 — 59:46 approx] Then, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and He-Dan, Dan Jolin, for a fun episode in which they discuss their favourite movie swords, take a look at the week's movie news including the trailer for Adam Wingard's Onslaught (aka The Guest 2?), and the sensational box office for Backrooms and Obsession. Finally, they review Masters Of The Universe, Brett Goldstein and J-Lo rom-com, Office Romance, Savage House, Madfabulous, and Scary Movie. Enjoy!

The Interviews (ft. Claire Foy & Richard E. Grant; Callum Scott Howells) 05.06.2026 41min

The latest episode of The Interviews is all about extravagance, high fashion and big spending. But enough about Chris Hewitt. Instead, we're focused on Savage House and Madfabulous, two costume dramas about upper-class types whose lives spiral out of control. In the first, Richard E. Grant and Claire Foy play a married couple who attempt to mount a lavish dinner party, with disastrous consquences, and they tell Chris all about their approach to acting, their connection to the characters and, in one wild, hilarious segment, how one of them handled a very unusual sex scene. Then Chris has a lovely Zoom chat with Callum Scott Howells, the Welsh actor who stars as Lord Henry Paget, a flamboyant real-life figure who is the subject of Celyn Jones' period piece, Madfabulous. The two of them talk about saying the title of the film, about the film's approach to Paget's sexuality, and Howells' upcoming turn opposite Michael Sheen in Amadeus on the West End stage. Oh, and Chris receives an offer that might just change his life... Enjoy!

The Interviews (ft. Jon Favreau, Joe Dante, Mike Figgis) 01.06.2026 1val 1min

It's a packed line-up of directors this week on The Interviews, folks. Directorpalooza? First up, we bring you an extended excerpt from our spoiler special interview with The Mandalorian And Grogu, Jon Favreau, who tells Chris Hewitt about his intentions behind the first big-screen Star Wars film in seven years. Then Chris leaps onto Zoom to have a lovely natter with the great Joe Dante about his beloved (eventually) 1987 sci-fi comedy, InnerSpace, which is out now on 4K UHD, and English director Mike Figgis about his hard-hitting, Oscar-winning drama, Leaving Las Vegas, which has also received the 4K UHD treatment. The Figgis chat is an extended excerpt from an hour-long deep dive into the movie which, like the Favreau interview and Team Empire diving deep into The Mandalorian And Grogu, can be found over on our spoiler special feed. empirespoilerspecials.com, if you haven't already taken the plunge. Enjoy!

Making It Awkward (ft. Leo Woodall) 29.05.2026 1val 23min

Things get awkward on this week's Empire Podcast, folks. Not just because Chris Hewitt seems to be wearing a Skeletor mask for some of it, nor because he's so heat-addled that he forgets to introduce James Dyer properly. No, things get awkward because the team – Chris, James, Helen O'Hara, and Ben Travis – discuss whether it ever gets awkward for them when visiting film sets. Then, our intrepid quartet also discuss the week's movie news, including the shocking news of Paddington 4's potty-mouthed writers, and review Daniel Roher's Tuner, John Carney's Power Ballad, Kane Parsons' Backrooms, and Kristin Scott Thomas' directorial debut, My Mother's Wedding. Oh, and Chris sits down for a lovely chat with Leo Woodall, star of the excellent Tuner, and discovers that Woodall has some hidden talents. Enjoy!

Minced Grogu (ft. guest, Sigourney Weaver) 22.05.2026 1val 28min

All hail the Alien Queen! For the legendary Sigourney Weaver, star of some of the finest sci-fi films of all time, is our esteemed guest on this week's episode of the Empire Podcast, as she tells Chris Hewitt all about starring in her first Star War, The Mandalorian & Grogu. [44:47 - 58:17 approx] Then, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss their predictions for the biggest movies of the year, cast their eye over the week's movie news, including a shocking development in the hunt for the new James Bond, and review The Mandalorian & Grogu, Jack Ryan: Ghost War, and Finding Emily. Oh, and the team eat some burgers, but thankfully they don't bang on about it. Enjoy.

The Shameless Plug: An Aliens Special Special 20.05.2026 45min

This time it's more. Yes, folks, The Shameless Plug — the show in which Chris Hewitt and Empire editor, Nick de Semlyen, chat about the stories behind the current issue of Empire — is usually a two-hander (well, four hands), but for reasons unknown this month we've also invited James Dyer into the podbooth to add a third pair of hands, and one more mouth. Well, not for reasons unknown, as Jimbo is here to talk about his favourite film, Aliens, which just happens to be the cover film of this month's issue, which is still on sale in all good, evil, and virtual newsagents. So we decided to turn this month's Shameless Plug into an Aliens appreciation special, as well as getting the full story on how we managed to get James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn and Jenette Goldstein to come together on Zoom and natter about Aliens as it hits 40. Elsewhere, our intrepid trio also talk about the rest of the issue, and how it came together, but really, this one is fully focused on Ripley, believe it or not. Enjoy!

Tintin In Space! (ft. guest, Ian McKellen) 15.05.2026 1val 26min

Fly, you fools! Yes, that's right, Ian McKellen — the legendary English actor who is Gandalf and Magneto, get over it — is our guest on this week's Empire Podcast, as John Nugent pops over to McKellen's own pub, The Grapes in Limehouse, for a lovely chat about his new film, Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers. [46:32 - 1:00:02 approx] Speaking of Christophers, back in the podbooth Chris Hewitt is joined by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Harry Stainer for a fun episode in which they discuss the greatest characters who joined franchises after the first film, and whether event cinema is making a comeback. They also run their eye over the week's movie news, including news of a possible Tintin 2, and review Curry Barker's Obsession, The Christophers, The Punisher: One Last Kill, and Ben Wheatley's Bob Odenkirk action fest, Normal. Enjoy!

The Interviews (ft. Bob Odenkirk and Aline Brosh McKenna) 15.05.2026 39min

This week's episode of The Interviews sees Chris Hewitt sit down face-to-face with the legend that is Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill/Gene Takavic, the one and only Bob Odenkirk. The comedy great was in town to talk about his latest pivot into action movies, with Ben Wheatley's wild romp, Normal, and the two of them also talk about sketch comedy, Odenkirk's love of movies, his aversion to horror movies (in which he possibly spoils the end of Zach Cregger's Weapons, so be careful), and more. Then, Helen O'Hara leaps onto Zoom and has a chat about how the times are a-changin' in The Devil Wears Prada 2, with that film's writer, Aline Brosh McKenna. Enjoy!

K Urban, Your Enthusiasm (ft. guests James Cameron & Billie Eilish) 08.05.2026 1val 36min

This week's Empire Podcast sees Alex Godfrey sit down for an audience with music superstar Billie Eilish and her co-director on her new concert movie, Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour Live In 3D, one James Cameron. Blimey! Then Alex slides into the podbooth to join Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and host Chris Hewitt for a fun-filled episode in which they discuss Karl Urban's killiest characters, the best movie farmers, a whole bunch of trailers (including The Odyssey, Evil Dead Burn, and Resident Evil), and review the aforementioned Billie Eilish movie, The Sheep Detectives, Remarkably Bright Creatures, and Mortal Kombat II, a Helen-led review that may be more fun than the film. Oh, and what the hell is Thrawnhub? Enjoy!

The Interviews (ft. James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, Sally Field & Lewis Pullman) 08.05.2026 55min

It's a legend-laden episode of The Interviews this week, folks, as Chris Hewitt sits down in person with James Cameron to talk about his new, unexpected venture as co-director of eye popping 3D concert movie, Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard And Soft — The Tour Live In 3D, and then the great Guillermo del Toro, with the Mexican director coming to town to receive the BFI Fellowship and launch a season of his films at the BFI Southbank. That is an excerpt from a longer del Toro interview which will be up on its own next week, but this should whet your whistle as they talk about del Toro's British cultural connections, his approach to writing, his penchant for collecting, and more. Finally, Sally Field and Lewis Pullman, the stars of new Netflix movie Remarkably Bright Creatures, Zoom in for a spirited chat with Chris. Enjoy!

Ship Happens (ft. guests, Callum Turner & George Mackay) 01.05.2026 1val 34min

This week's Empire Podcast is the kind of episode that could leave other film podcasts in its wake. Mainly because there's a lot of discussion of ships, boats, the high seas and the like. First off, our guests this week are Callum Turner and George Mackay, the British actors who star in Mark Jenkin's latest movie, the fisherman-themed Rose Of Nevada, which is out now, and in a cracking chat with Alex Godfrey, they talk about how they first met, working with the unique Jenkin, and more. Either side of that, Chris Hewitt returns to the host chair after two weeks away, some of which was spent on a cruise ship, and he scrapes the barnacles off long enough to welcome Helen O'Hara (or is it?) and James Dyer into the podbooth to discuss the best ship-related scenes, have a look at the week's movie news, try to convince James of the merits of the Jackass movies, and review the likes of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Rose Of Nevada (with help from an unexpected quarter), Greenland 2: Migration, and new Adam Scott horror, Hokum. You best start believing in Empire Podcasts, Ms Swann... YER IN ONE! Enjoy.

The Interviews (ft. David Frankel & BenDavid Grabinski) 30.04.2026 39min

It's a director-led edition of The Interviews this week, folks, as Helen O'Hara sits down with David Frankel to discuss his returning (along with Meryl & Anne & Emily & The Tooch) for The Devil Wears Prada 2, some twenty years after the original movie. And if you liked BenDavid Grabinski's Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice as much as we did, you'll be delighted to hear an extended excerpt from Chris Hewitt's spoiler special interview with Grabinski, which can be found in full over on our spoiler special feed. Obviously, don't listen to that one if you haven't seen Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (or Mikey And Nicky, for that matter). Enjoy.

The Shameless Plug: 10 Things I Love About You 24.04.2026 33min

This month's episode of The Shameless Plug sees Chris Hewitt away and James Dyer stepping in to sit down once more with Empire editor/podcast hostage Nick De Semlyen for a look at the new issue. In a complete upending of the entire format, Nick goes rogue and decides to inject a little drama into the mix by listing his ten favourite things from the new issue (without telling James what they are). Are all of them James' Dunesplaining breakdown of the new Dune: Part 3 trailer? No, no they're not. It's unclear why.

Droopy Is Not A Looney Tune Character (ft. special guest, David Lowery) 24.04.2026 1val 24min

If we told you that this week's episode of the Empire Podcast featured not one but two people banging on about Taylor Swift, odds are you'd reckon one of them was James Dyer. And you'd be wrong. For those people are Ben Travis and David Lowery, director of the new poptastic psychodrama, Mother Mary. Lowery is this week's guest, and he popped into the podbooth to sit down with Ben to talk all about how Taylor Swift influenced part of his approach to the Anne Hathaway-Michael Coel flick, and much, much more, including an ultra-geeky exchange about Star Wars action figures. [36:32 - 58:21 approx] Either side of that, Helen O'Hara welcomes James Dyer and Amon Warmann into the podbooth as they discuss great movie prison breaks and what makes for a good biopic; the week's movie news (at least, the stuff that broke before the pod was recorded... thanks a bunch, Miami Vice '85 casting news and Clayface trailer!); and review Mother Mary, Charlize Theron-Taron Egerton thriller Apex, and Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson biopic, Michael. Enjoy.

Lee Cronin's Bluey (ft. guest, Brian Cox) 17.04.2026 1val 28min

With Chris Hewitt away on an actual holiday, this week's Empire Podcast sees Helen O'Hara slide into the host's chair as she, Ben Travis, and Amon Warmann tackle a hat-trick of listener questions, including musing on male damsels in distress, movies-turned-plays, and the ongoing role of Bluey in saving the world. Then the trio tackle movie news, most of which comes out of this week's CinemaCon, including the revelation that Jamie Dornan, and not Leo Woodall, will be filling Aragorn's boots in The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum. Finally, they review not one but SIX movies, including Lee Cronin's The Mummy, Jonah Hill's Outcome, and Brian Cox's directorial debut, Glenrothan. Speaking of Cox, the legendary Scottish actor pops into the podbooth to have a delightful, and delightfully foul-mouthed, chat with Chris about popping behind the camera at almost 80 years of age, singing Spice Girls with Alan Cumming, and his complicated relationship with Scotland. Oh, and if there are any glaring editing errors on this week's show, it was edited on a cruise ship, so please bear that in mind. Oh, and due to the absence of several key members of personnel, our next Daredevil: Born Again spoiler special will be next week. Sorry about that. In the meantime, enjoy!

The Interviews (ft. Jack Reynor; Seamus McLean Ross & Samuel Bottomley; Kat Coiro & Will Packer) 17.04.2026 54min

It's another jam-packed edition of The Interviews this week, folks. First, Chris Hewitt talks fillums, scary and otherwise, with the wonderful Jack Reynor, star of Lee Cronin's The Mummy. [1:35 - 18:44 approx] Then he has a chaotic, recorded-on-iPhone-because-reasons, chat with Seamus McLean Ross and Samuel Bottomley, the stars of James McAvoy's California Schemin' [20:48 - 37:01 approx]; and finally there's a fun chat between Chris and Kat Coiro and Will Packer, director and producer respectively of the frothy rom-com You, Me & Tuscany.[37:59 - 52:47 approx] Enjoy.

Discount Code: WOODALL (ft. guest, James McAvoy) 10.04.2026 1val 27min

Ok, first things first. Let's get it out of the way. Yes, the Empire Podcast team — Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and John Nugent — spend a great deal of this week's podcast answering a listener question about great movie quartets. They also spend a great deal of time, in the Movie News section, talking about The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum. And yes, despite all that, they spectacularly fail to mention Bilbo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin in the former category. So, just letting you know that now lest you wish to shout at your podcast device of choice. Forewarned is forearmed and all that. Or maybe fourwarned is more apt in this case. Anyway, it's a fun episode in which our own quartet also talk Taskmaster series 21, discuss other nuggets of movie news, and review James McAvoy's directorial debut, California Schemin', Francois Ozon's The Stranger, rom-com You, Me & Tuscany, and podcasting horror, Undertone. And Chris has a lovely chat with James McAvoy, who pops into the podbooth to talk about directing for the first time. [41:45 - 1:00:32 approx] Oh, and the group make tentative and fun plans with this week's work experience person. Enjoy.

The Interviews (ft. Richard Kind; Regé-Jean Page & Halle Bailey; Ian Tuason & Nina Kiri) 09.04.2026 59min

This week's episode of The Interviews is a one of a kind, as the legendary Richard Kind pops in to the podbooth to tell Chris Hewitt all about his role as Max Bialystock in the West End production of Mel Brooks' The Producers. Also popping into the podbooth this week are Regé-Jean Page and Halle Bailey, the ridiculously charming pair who headline new rom-com You, Me & Tuscany. They tell Chris about shooting that film in Tuscany, meeting at the Met Gala, getting splashed by sprinklers, and more. And finally, Mike Muncer has a lovely chat over Zoom with Ian Tuason and Nina Kiri, the director and star of Undertone, a new horror movie all about a podcaster undergoing a terrifying ordeal. That's us every time Adobe Audition decides to update in the middle of an edit. Enjoy!

The Psychopomps Are Flying Again (ft. guests Aaron Taylor-Johnson and David Mackenzie) 03.04.2026 1val 24min

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is an Easter bonanza, folks, that sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer (with new honorific firmly in place, at least for now) discuss the best resurrections in movies, wax lyrical about Richard Kind in The Producers, and cast their learned eyes over a glut of movie trailers, including the new one for Supergirl, and review Fuze, The Drama, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. Speaking of Fuze, Chris has a lovely chat with that film's star and director, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and David Mackenzie, about their heist thriller, accents, working on a building site, and more. Pop this pod in the fridge, smash it from a great height, and feast on the shards of film-related fun. Enjoy!

The Interviews (Theo James, John Waters, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett) 02.04.2026 54min

This week's episode of The Interviews, the spin-off show that rounds up our chats with film folk, is a belter. First, Chris Hewitt chats accents and auditions and more with Theo James, star of The Fuze [1:36 - 17:51 approx], and then Jamie Graham is joined for some trash talk by The Pope Of Trash himself, John Waters, just in time for the launch of a new season at the BFI Southbank called Trash! The Wildest Films You've Ever Seen. [19:02 - 32:45] Finally, we have an extended excerpt from our Ready Or Not: Here I Come spoiler special interview [34:18 - 52:52 approx] with that film's directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, which features strong, unbleeped language from the off, as well as a deep dive into that movie's twists and turns. So be advised! And also, of course, enjoy.