The Empire Film Podcast Escape From Malcatraz (ft. guests Benedict Cumberbatch & Dylan Southern; Joel Edgerton & Clint Bentley; Ariana Greenblatt)
Nov 21, 2025
Benedict Cumberbatch, acclaimed for his roles in major films, shares insights about his emotionally charged performance in The Thing With Feathers and discusses the film's unique creature design with director Dylan Southern. Southern explains his decade-long journey to adapt the book into a film. Then, Joel Edgerton discusses his role in Train Dreams, emphasizing the emotional depth of his character. Finally, young actress Ariana Greenblatt talks about joining the Now You See Me franchise and her magical training experiences on set.
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Trailers Can Kill Big Twists
- The Project Hail Mary trailer revealed major plot twists, prompting caution for book readers to avoid spoilers.
- Trailer overexposure can undermine a film's mystery despite strong source material and filmmaking.
Longform Access To Nolan Set Reporting
- Nick De Semian embedded on Christopher Nolan's set for extensive reporting and produced exclusive longform coverage.
- Empire used that access for their Nolan feature and related 2026 preview material.
Use Festival Feedback For Surgical Edits
- Trust gut decisions during tight festival edit schedules; avoid overthinking last‑minute creative choices.
- Use audience feedback at festivals to make small, surgical tweaks rather than wholesale changes.
