The Empire Film Podcast

Martin Freeman has come a long way since he was universally known as Tim-From-The-Office. Since then, he's been Watson-From-Sherlock, Ross-From-Black-Panther, and Bilbo-From-Bag-End. And in this week's Netflix movie Cargo, he can be found dodging zombies in the Australian outback. John Nugent spoke to him about that, and much more besides. Back in the podbooth, Chris Hewitt returns and has brought two special guests with him: jetlag and a mystery speaker whose identity we won't reveal. And, along with Helen O'Hara, Nick de Semlyen and a late-comer in James Dyer, they dissect the week's movie news, including Sonic The Hedgehog, Top Gun 2, and Solo's box office, cast their eyes over new releases, and 'answer' a question from a listener. Siri says 'enjoy'.

Here be dragons. And Hamilton references. And Supernatural chat. Yes, Chris Hewitt is away for this week's Empire Podcast, and geek queen Helen O'Hara is in charge in the podbooth. It's a top crop of guests this week, with Alden Ehrenreich talking to James Dyer and Nick de Semlyen about taking on the role of the galaxy's greatest scoundrel, controlling the Millennium Falcon, talking to Wookiees, and his history with the Winchester brothers. Then Michael Cera (call him George Michael) and Alia Shawkat (call her Maeby) popped by the studio to talk Arrested Development Season 5, disguises, that Twin Peaks cameo, and a secret celebrity tennis club. Back in the main studio, Helen is joined by James and Ben to talk this week's movie news - from John Wick 3's latest cast additions (Derek from The Good Place!), to Damon Lindelof's biblical Watchmen statement - and review The Breadwinner, Edie, and some Star Wars story featuring a classic character in a solo adventure. No idea what that o

The Empire Podcast studio - sorry, podbooth - is a sacred place. We don't throw our doors open to just anybody, you know. They have to be a) funny b) interesting and, most importantly, c) available and willing to lower their standards for an hour or so. Amanda Abbington, star of Sherlock and Netflix's new thriller, Safe, is all of those things, and so this week becomes only the fourth celebrity co-host in our history. Yes, Amanda (follow her on Twitter as @CHIMPSINSOCKS) was brave enough to sit in a room with Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer and discuss the week's movie news, talk about her work on Safe, endure yet another Peter Dinklage in Infinity War impression, and tackle the big question: have you ever walked out of a film? Her answers will shock you. And amuse you. Mainly amuse you. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as three giggling idiots welcome a professional into their ranks to show them how it's done.

On this week's bumper, slightly-more-bonkers-than-usual Empire Podcast, we welcome two of our favourite British character actors, and then grill them relentlessly about things they said in the past. First, Clive Owen pops in to talk to Chris Hewitt about his latest film, Anon, his aversion to first days, his memories of Croupier, and their shared love of Liverpool FC. (Yes, it's one of those.) But Chris also subjects Clive to a very fun, and revelatory, edition of the IMDbunker. Enjoy. Then Chris stays in the podbooth to interview Eddie Marsan, star of Entebbe and Deadpool 2, about his long path to success, and makes him take a new version of an interview Eddie gave to Empire 20 years ago. The main pod, meanwhile, sees Chris, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Nick de Semlyen talk geeky ringtones, discuss the week's movie news, review new releases including Revenge. And Paul Giamatti drops by unexpectedly. What larks!

For this week's Empire Podcast, Ben Travis travelled all the way to Rome to have a hot foursome with Daniel Brühl, Dakota Fanning, and Luke Evans, the stars of new Netflix TV show, The Alienist. And we don't mean foursome in the sense that you're thinking of. No, Ben stayed well away from the golf course, and instead had a good old natter with the trio about the show, about shooting in Budapest, and statues of Columbo. Figures. Sadly, Ben's microphone wasn't working, but it's a fun interview that you can (sort of) hear from 44:21 - 1:01:45. Then, back in Blighty and the podbooth, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer discuss the week's movie news, the nutritional value of Captain America's hair, and the law of averages. Two major shockers: someone does a bad impression, and it isn't Chris; and SOMEONE DIES. Sort of. Well, we needed to do something to bump up the ratings.

Tom Hiddleston has been an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for almost a decade now, making a magical mark as Loki, Prince Of Asgard, Odinson, the rightful king of Jotunheim, and horny thorn in Thor's side. He plays the character for the fifth time in Avengers: Infinity War, and sat down with Chris Hewitt for this very special interview about his life as one of the MCU's most popular characters. He talks about finding the right look, and voice, for Loki, the changes that the character has experienced, working with Taika Waititi on Thor Ragnarok, and sheds some light on an alternate fate for the occasional villain in Thor: The Dark World. He also takes the time to answer a couple of questions from Loki fans, including the ever-popular Lego Loki. Enjoy.

This week sees the debut of a small indie film that the Empire Podteam haven't been looking forward to. Honest, guv. That film is Avengers: Infinity War, and this week's podcast sees the film's directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, talk to Chris Hewitt about working on that film, and about what they have planned post-Marvel with their very own studio, Agbo. Then Chris retreats to the safety of the podbooth, and is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer for a fun-filled pod that takes in their best and worst movie premiere experiences, casts an eye over the week's movie news, compares the Venom trailer to a Christmas present, and finally reviews British indie Beast and American indie Avengers: Infinity War. Be warned: there are huge levels of squee in this podcast. Thanos demands your squeeness.

This week, one of our favourite actors - David Morrissey - returns to the podbooth to talk to James Dyer (and not Chris Hewitt, as advertised on the pod; there was a scheduling snafu) about his new show, The City And The City, playing Gordon Brown, and more. He also has advice for Chris re: his Tuesday night clash between the Liverpool-Roma game and the Avengers: Infinity War screening. Then, Chris and James are joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara as they discuss which quiet place they'd retreat to in the wake of an attack by nasty sound monsters; chew over the week's movie and TV news; and cast a vaguely shambolic eye over the week's new releases. Do, please, enjoy. Hey, did you know the Call Me By Your Name song hasn't been on the pod for three episodes now? You know the one. "Call me by your name! Call me! Call me! Call me by your name, oh yeah!" That one.

British action star, and regular podcast listener, Scott Adkins visits the podbooth this week to talk about his new film, Accident Man, as well as idolising Jean-Claude Van Damme and accidentally kicking Benedict Cumberbatch. (1:04:10-1:32:31) Our second guest is Brad Peyton, director of this week's monster mash-up Rampage, who talks to Chris about working with The Rock, playing poker, not being an asshole, and an early contender for line of the year. (24:08-44:49) Then, Chris retreats into the podbooth with Ben Travis, James Dyer, and the returning, albeit croaky, Helen O'Hara, to review Rampage, talk about giant animals, and revisit an all-time classic line from Shark Attack 3. This week's pod is dedicated to our friend Sarah Dunn: www.gofundme.com/sarah-dunn

The latest episode of The Ranking - our show that ties in with the magazine (hashtag brand synergy) and sees four Empire writers argue the toss on a filmmaker's CV - is here. And this time we're delving deep into the work of a man who's orchestrated more tracking shots than you've had hot dinners: Brian 'Bri Bri' De Palma. Discussing his progression from early promise to his virtuoso Hitchcockian phase and then the more commercial fare of the Eighties and Nineties (but without focusing on the not-so-great output of recent years), Chris Hewitt, Ian Freer, Nick de Semlyen and Jonathan Pile discuss the ins and outs, ups and downs of a great, if somewhat erratic career. And, for the first time, you'll be able to hear the top ten being counted down in this podcast. Enough squabbling, let's vote! (Stop trying to make 'enough squabbling, let's vote!' happen, Chris.)