The Empire Film Podcast Droopy Is Not A Looney Tune Character (ft. special guest, David Lowery)
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Apr 24, 2026 
David Lowery, film writer-director known for eclectic genre-bending movies, talks about making Mother Mary, its pop-infused music and production. He discusses bringing Jack Antonoff and Charlie XCX on board, Anne Hathaway’s role in the songs, and how Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour shaped the concert scenes. There’s also a playful detour into Star Wars action-figure collecting.
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Pop Star Setting Shaped Film's Soul
- David Lowery framed Mother Mary as a film born from a fascination with pop stars, not the other way around, which shaped its music-first approach.
- He chose a pop-star setting to explore emotional psychodrama and transmutation of feelings while letting the film evolve beyond a single label.
Discovering Kesha Changed His Musical Direction
- Lowery recounts discovering pop artists like Kesha while in post on Ain't Them Body Saints, which shifted his musical tastes from folk and rock toward pop.
- That late discovery fueled a creative turn leading to Mother Mary and a deeper appreciation for how pop conveys emotion and fun.
Intense Location Shoot Left Cast Drained
- Lowery described the shoot as immersive and intense: 30–40 days in a single headspace with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, which took a psychological toll.
- Cast released tension differently—Michaela danced, Lowery ran, Hathaway spent time with family—but mostly they stayed in the material.