The Empire Film Podcast The Shameless Plug: 10 Things I Love About You
Apr 24, 2026
A playful Top Ten rundown of the magazine’s standout pieces. They tease Spielberg cover stories and secrecy around big sci‑fi moments. Quirky features include a scratch‑and‑sniff 4DX review and a puppeteer's MVP spotlight. Longform interviews and memoir highlights pop up alongside film deep dives and behind‑the‑scenes set anecdotes.
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Reporter Endures Scratch And Sniff Dead Lover Screening
- Empire reporter Jamie Graham attended a 4DX/scratch-and-sniff screening for the necrophiliac rom-com Dead Lover and endured ten novelty scents including 'ghost puke' and 'kill shot banana'.
- The piece revisits Smell-O and John Waters' Polyester, showing scratch-and-sniff gimmicks have long cinematic history.
MVP Column Celebrates James Ortiz Puppetry
- Empire's monthly MVP column spotlights one person; this issue features James Ortiz, the puppeteer behind a breakout character who became widely quoted across the office.
- Alex Godfrey's interview reveals Ortiz's voice choices, including an early Catherine Hepburn-inspired take for the puppet.
James Dyer Learned Fencing From Bruce Dickinson
- James Dyer reveals he learned fencing from Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, and Empire interviewed Dickinson about the new Iron Maiden documentary Burning Ambition.
- Dickinson also shared he was unaware his music appeared in The Bone Temple until friends texted him after release.