Film Stories with Simon Brew

Dances With Wolves (1990), plus its three different cuts... 13.07.2026 59min

Kevin Costner gambled hard on making a three hour western, a third of which wasn't in the English language. He turned down roles in The Hunt For Red October and Presumed Innocent to take the risk of making Dances With Wolves. And while history tells it as a masterstroke, in the months leading up to the release, it looked anything but. In this episode, Simon digs into the story of the film, the fact that it was millions short of its modest budget when shooting began... and now, the tale of three different cuts of Dances With Wolves too. If you like this independent podcast, made in a small room in the West Midlands here in the UK, please leave a nice review and subscribe. If you really like it, head over to www.patreon.com/simonbrew too. Thank you so much for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Howard The Duck (1986) and the first Marvel movie, plus Terri White 07.07.2026 1u 22min

I hear you, folks! Do more Marvel films? Gotcha! Let's go back to 1986, and Howard The Duck, the stunning-ish George Lucas-produced film of the subversive comic book character. Howard The Duck would become notable on its release, but its production alone would have been worth the stories. Malfunctioning ducks, cigars, tonal conversations, George Lucas' chosen director passing on the film, and a fallout in the Universal boardroom afterwards? The making of is just as odd as the film. Then! For the second part of this episode, live from Simon's recent show in Manchester, former Empire editor Terri White in conversation about Armageddon, regional cinema, and the Rocky franchise. For more live shows - and print magazines! - head to www.filmstories.co.uk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gladiator (2000) and its journey to the screen, plus director Morgan Matthews 29.06.2026 1u 32min

2000's Gladiator might be regarded as a classic now, but heck, did it have some bumps on its way to the screen. A script that was a long way from finished. A leading man, er, 'not too thrilled' with the fact said screenplay was constantly in flux. The death of Oliver Reed before the end of filming. And the worries of a studio that happened to be making its biggest-ever film. The story is told in this episode. Plus, the second half is spent in the company of BAFTA-winning director Morgan Matthews, chatting about films such as 500 Miles (now in UK cinemas), The Railway Children Return, X+Y, and a £1 bet. Please leave a nice review and subscribe. Thank you for supporting this independent podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Made (2017), and the Tom Cruise film that's fallen through the cracks 22.06.2026 46min

Just as Tom Cruise embarked on his run of Mission: Impossible and Top Gun sequels, he slipped in one of bolder choices too: an R-rated crime caper, based on a true story. Originally called Mena before being retitled American Made, the shoot saw the writer, director and star of the film living in the same house. It also saw wildly ambitious flying sequences, a tragic accident, a challenge when selling the film and a whole lot more.... Please subscribe to this show if you like it and leave a nice review. Support us at www.patreon.com/simonbrew Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Sam Campbell - Make That Movie, bananas, VHS tapes, cinema and more 19.06.2026 53min

Sam Campbell - he of Taskmaster and Last One Laughing - has made a comedy series about films. In Make That Movie, he and his crew face a filmmaking challenge each episode. All six episodes are streaming now on 4. Sam joins Simon Brew for a conversation about the show, but it doesn't take long for it to go off track. Banana, VHS tapes, old films,a samurai sword? It's quite the chat... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fight Club (1999), plus the dig against Rupert Murdoch at the end 15.06.2026 53min

Outside of the very well known rules, there's a whole load of other stuff about 1999's Fight Club. There's the director who turned the book down, freely admitting they didn't get it. There's the moment when the budget was suddenly going to soar. There's the bit where the studio boss knew he was going to hit trouble for greenlighting the film (and boy, did he). And then there was a studio left with a film it didn't know how to market. The story is told in this episode. Please subscribe, leave nice reviews, and try not to punch us hard in an after hours fighting establishment... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Paul Mercurio - Strictly Ballroom, Exit To Eden, and, er, homebrew beer 12.06.2026 56min

Over 30 years since its original release, Strictly Ballroom - the debut feature from Baz Luhrmann - is back in cinemas with a 4K remaster. In a Film Stories special, Simon chats to its star - Paul Mercurio - about the making of the film, and looking back on it now. Plus! Paul talks homebrew, cooking, and making Garry Marshall's S&M comedy, Exit To Eden... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jurassic Park (1993), and the struggle to bring dinosaurs to the screen 08.06.2026 57min

The original Jurassic Park movie was set to land a few years earlier than it did. Announce in 1990, director Steven Spielberg would move on to making Hook while some of the art team were moved to Death Becomes Her. The reason for the delays? How on earth do you bring dinosaurs to life. Even when that was cracked, though, there was a moment during the shoot when real life peril outweighed dino danger. Even when the film was done, there was the looming threat of Arnold Schwarzenegger's return to cinema with Last Action Hero. It wouldn't turn out to be much of a blockbuster battle... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New Mutants (2020), and a big missed opportunity 01.06.2026 59min

The idea wasn't a bad one. With the cost of X-Men movies spiralling, 20th Century Fox was interested in a lower cost, slightly more niche film in the saga. One that could perhaps appeal to a teen audience, that wouldn't put quite the strain on the old finances. Josh Boone - off the back of The Fault In Our Stars - was brought in to write and direct, a dream project for him. But the dream would soon turn sour, with two big, unexpected obstacles, and a whole lot of to and fro over potential reshoots... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with director Alicia MacDonald - Finding Emily, Mike Leigh, short films, romantic comedies, Kickstarter 24.05.2026 52min

Alicia MacDonald first feature film as director, Finding Emily, turns out to be a Working Title-backed romantic comedy, the kind that used to fill British cinema charts. Albeit with a twist! In this Film Stories special, she talks to Simon Brew about launching her first feature, the years on her way up when she found herself alongside Mike Leigh, and in a room while Alan Rickman watched her type. Plus a whole lot more... Finding Emily is now in UK cinemas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Thea Sharrock - Ladies First, Wicked Little Letters, The Beautiful Game, posh chairs 20.05.2026 49min

Director Thea Sharrock is the guest for this special edition of the Film Stories podcast. She joins Simon to chat about her new film, Ladies First, which stars Rosamund Pike and Sacha Baron Cohen. Plus! There's time too for conversation about Wicked Little Letters, The One And Only Ivan, directing Equus on Broadway, and the state of the chairs in the posh London hotel she happens to be sitting in. If you like this podcast, you can support it at www.patreon.com/simonbrew Please subscribe, like and that sort of thing too. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hook, and how it became the Steven Spielberg film that Steven Spielberg doesn't like 18.05.2026 1u 4min

Steven Spielberg's 1991 movie Hook was supposed to be his perfect project. The director compared to Peter Pan, making the story of Peter Pan never growing up? What could go wrong? Well, plenty. In this episode of Film Stories, Simon Brew charts the tale of how Spielberg lost control of Hook's production, how it became tied up with a major Hollywood acquistion, and why unexpected competition in the winter of 1991 didn't help its cause either. Plus: why was Spielberg himself not keen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003), and one hell of a challenge to secure the Terminator rights 11.05.2026 1u 1min

After 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, James Cameron's interest in making a third Terminator movie seemed to wane. However, that didn't stop others trying to take things forward. And whilst Arnold Schwarzenegger would, for many years, insist that he'd only make T3 with Cameron, a string of underwhelming box office performers started to have an impact for Arnie. That said, just securing the rights to Terminator caused no end of challenges, and would drive a wedge between James Cameron and two of his friends. And that's just part of the story... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contact (1997) and how it nearly fell apart, plus David Frankel on The Devil Wears Prada 2 04.05.2026 1u 23min

Robert Zemeckis' 1997 film of Carl Sagan's Contact is a remarkably grown-up science fiction movie for a summer blockbuster. Starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey, it took nearly 20 years to bring the story to the screen - and along the way, Mad Max director George Miller was hired and fired too. It's quite a story, told by Simon Brew in this latest episode. Plus! Oscar-winning filmmaker David Frankel chats to James about The Devil Wears Prada 2, and the short film that earned him an Academy Award... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cape Fear (1991), and when Martin Scorsese read it three times and hated it 28.04.2026 47min

It's pretty well known that originally, Steven Spielberg was interested in directing a remake of Cape Fear, and that Martin Scorsese held the rights to what became Schindler's List. That the two then swapped projects. Yet that's just part of the story. In this episode of Film Stories, Simon Brew digs into Scorsese's dislike of the project when he first came to it. Of Robert De Niro's tattoos. Of Nick Nolte not being recognised at the premiere of Goodfellas. And he uncovers a useful lesson in booking your location right near an airport... Patreon: www.patreon.com/simonbrew www.filmstories.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dick Tracy (1990), along with the strange trick to hold onto its rights 20.04.2026 1u 1min

June 1990 saw Disney spend big on a summer movie, at a point when that was the last thing it was inclined to do. But 1990's Dick Tracy - specifically the way it was promoted - was hugely influenced by Warner Bros' success with Batman the year before. Dick Tracy though by that time had already taken around 15 years to come to the screen - and the aftermath of it would lead, bizarrely, to the creation of the film Jerry Maguire. If you like this podcast, please do like and subscribe. Simon Brew is on tour with Film Stories too. Go to www.filmstories.co.uk/live-events for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wild Wild West (1999), plus how it affected The Matrix and The Iron Giant 13.04.2026 44min

The summer of 1999 brought with it some huge successes, and also the combination of Will Smith, Salma Hayek and Kevin Kline in Wild Wild West. Based on the TV show from the 1960s, this became a hugely expensive Warner Bros blockbuster, one that George Clooney saw the problem with and duly dropped out of fairly late in the day. In this episode of Film Stories, Simon digs into the story of the movie, and how Will Smith faced a choice: does it take the lead role in this, or does he make The Matrix instead...?! Please subscribe and leave nice reviews! Thank you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Paul Feig - The Housemaid, Bridesmaids at the Oscars, Ghostbusters and more 10.04.2026 1u 2min

Paul Feig returns to the Film Stories podcast, to chat with Simon about a whole bunch of stuff. There's The Housemaid - with a clearly marked spoiler! - and The Housemaid 2. There's also Bridesmaids at the Oscars, an attempt get Spy 2 moving, the long-lost idea of a Play-doh movie, and a whole lot more. Bit sweary this one. Please like and subscribe and stuff! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with David Mackenzie | Fuze, Relay, Hell Or High Water, Starred Up, AI and more 03.04.2026 50min

Director David Mackenzie stops by to chat about his new film, Fuze, in the latest episode of the Film Stories podcast. Ryan Lambie steps in to to chat to David about his work, and films such as Young Adam, Starred Up, the mighty Hell Or High Water (which Mackenzie chats about revisiting recently) and Relay. Plus a whole lot on Fuze, in cinemas now, and his plans for future projects... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judge Dredd (1995), and the long battle to get it made 30.03.2026 1u

In 1980, an option was taken out on Judge Dredd with a view of getting a movie of Mega City One's legendary law enforcer to the big screen. In the years that followed, it looked like Tony Scott might direct a film based on 2000AD comics' most famous character, with Arnold Schwarzenegger sniffing around. In the end, 1995 saw a seasoned movie star in Sylvester Stallone and a twentysomething British film director called Danny Cannon realising the film. Turned out to be quite a story... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices