The Empire Film Podcast The Ballad Of Roger Legend (ft. guests Rachel McAdams & Dylan O'Brien)
Feb 6, 2026
Playful on-set tales about Sam Raimi directing with a paper bag on his head and other bizarre behind-the-scenes antics. A spirited debate builds a Mount Rushmore of EGOT legends, with picks ranging from Spielberg to Alan Menken. Early takes on Sam Mendes' Beatles project and reactions to trailers sit alongside a packed review block covering Send Help, Riz Ahmed’s Hamlet, Twinless, and a string of new films.
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Episode notes
Raimi's Rubber-Band Premiere Gag
- Sam Raimi performed a rubber-band gag at Rachel's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony and premieres.
- Rachel's girlfriend filmed him doing the same joke every time because it consistently landed.
Calibrating Island Power Dynamics
- Rachel and Dylan described calibrating how much they could push character dynamics once on the island.
- They rehearsed shifting power between Bradley and Linda after extensive Sydney shoot work.
Beach Scenes Filmed Out Of Sequence
- Send Help shot beach scenes out of sequence, forcing careful continuity with tanning and makeup.
- Cast had heavy makeup, sunscreen and long call times to maintain consistent looks across jumps in schedule.
