376 avsnitt • Längd: 55 min • Veckovis: Måndag
Film Stories with Simon Brew is a podcast that looks to dig into the stories behind popular movies.From troubled productions, to rights issues, to difficulties with release to films nearly falling apart, the podcast will be looking at the stories that don’t always seem apparent when watching a movie!
The podcast is hosted by Simon Brew, the founder of Den Of Geek. Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/simonbrew. Thank you!
The podcast Film Stories with Simon Brew is created by Simon Brew. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Dinner dinner dinner dinner! Etc. Announced just six months before it landed in cinemas, the much-loved 1966 production Batman: The Movie was a masterclass in moving fast. Shot while the first series of the Batman TV show was still playing, it was written in two weeks, filmed in a month, and premiering in Texas as a result of some help with a boat...
Also filmed in a month? Jason Reitman's 2011 feature Young Adult, starring Charlize Theron. Written by Diablo Cody, Reitman was all set to go with a different film until the Young Adult script came in. Even then, he had a key condition to getting the movie made.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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Two movies here where audiences went in expecting one thing, and might just have got another. 1991's The Fisher King though for a time was going to be a Disney movie, before the studio decided it was too dark. Directors such as Steven Spielberg and James Cameron were mentioned, before Terry Gilliam - coming off the back of a commercial flop - decided to break all three of his conditions for taking on a film.
Director Joe Carnahan meanwhile was coming off his big studio movie - The A-Team - when he decided he wanted to pivot to something smaller. He chose The Grey, a film he developed, and which would be sold off the back of imagery of Liam Neeson getting ready to punch a wolf. That, though, wasn't the full picture...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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In a very special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Oscar-winning producer Irwin Winkler, for an hour-long chat about his career.
He was in town to talk about his latest film as producer, The Alto Knights. However, the stories take us right to the infancy of his producing career (including Elvis Presley!). Films covered in the chat include Rocky, Rocky IV, Raging Bull, Guilty By Suspicion, The Net, Goodfellas, Busting, Revolution... the list goes on and on.
Quite the chat, this. The Alto Knights is now in cinemas. Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/simonbrew
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It had taken five years for Stanley Kubrick to go from 1975's Barry Lyndon to 1980's The Shining. The gap to Full Metal Jacket would be longer, but it'd mark the first in a three picture deal that Kubrick signed with Warner Bros. A deal that would never be completed.
Full Metal Jacket was, though, but the making of it was exhausting and exhaustive. And a disused gasworks was just part of the problem.
Much-loved novelist Judy Blume was always reluctant to sell the film rights to her books. It took several decades - and a very special letter - before she'd do so. But the challenge of Are You There God, It's Me Margaret was just beginning.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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For Star Wars spin-off Solo: A Star Wars Story, it wasn't supposed to be like this. Infamously, 90 days into photography, parent company Lucasfilm opted for a director change. Out when Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, and in came Ron Howard. And Howard had less than year to retool the movie, and shoot a whole lot of new footage.
It remains one of the most infamous Film Stories of the 2010s.
For the second half of the episode, Simon is joined by filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo, for a long chat about their career, their new film - The Electric State - and a strange film magazine of the 1970s...
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2016 was a turning point in the world of the X-Men movies. After the big success of 2014's X-Men: Days Of Future Past, 20th Century Fox spent big on X-Men: Apocalypse, and big things were expected of it. On the other hand, it had taken a gamble with a different X-Men-related project, Deadpool. Things would not go the way that the studio had originally expected.
The story of Scent Of A Woman meanwhile is wrapped up in the push for Al Pacino to finally get an Oscar, after several unsuccessful nominations. Not bad, for a film that originally had Jack Nicholson in line for the lead role...
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The path to the 26th James Bond film is one already filled with quite the story. Unmade at the point this episode is released in 2025, James Bond 26 has looked in limbo since the release of No Time To Die in 2021. There's no new 007, no script, no director...and it's an impasse that's cost $1bn to resolve.
More conventionally, Long Shot did actually get made, released in 2019. Still, a romantic comedy with movie stars was going to be a tough sell, and a film whose script popped up on the Black List in 2011 had to take its place in the queue behind the infamous The Interview here.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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After the huge success of the original Gremlins, Warner Bros quickly wanted a sequel. The people who'd actually made Gremlins, not least director Joe Dante? The thought of making another was not in the slightest big appealing. Until, many years later, the studio made Dante an offer: if you make Gremlins 2, you can do pretty much whatever you want with it.
This is the story of how the ensuing film became one of the most boldest blockbuster sequels of all time.
Later in the same decade, Christopher Guest took a small company of actors down to Texas for a month. On a modest budget, he shot over 50 hours of footage, that'd take over a year to edit into a feature film. Even when the resultant movie, Waiting For Guffman, was finished, it took a long time to earn its reputation as a modern comedy classic...
Stories of both films are told in this episode.
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Mario Van Peebles was in London in early February along with his son, Mandela. And the pair stopped by for a long chat about their work, their latest film - Outlaw Posse - and a whole lot more.
In this chat, topics include Jaws: The Revenge, the role of a producer, Melvin Van Peebles, the hidden names in the end credits of Outlaw Posse, New Jack City and a whole lot more...
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Coming off the back of the film Payback, Oscar-winning writer/director Brian Helgeland feared he might be in movie jail. Thus, he got writing, and came up with A Knight's Tale, a film mixing jousting, modern music, Heath Ledger, and a naked Paul Bettany.
It took months to shoot in Europe. When it came to the music, David Bowie turned up. And then there's the tale of its sequel that never was.
King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword meanwhile was to be the first of six films, as originally pitched. Guy Ritchie came in to direct, and star Charlie Hunnam would admit that the film they started making wasn't the one they ended up with. Quite the story, though. Includes elephants and David Beckham.
Tales of both are told in this episode.
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In an extra episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Tim Fehlbaum, as they discuss his new film, the Oscar-nominated September 5. As always, it's a far-ranging conversation, taking in Fehlbaum's earlier work, a name on the end credits of the film, and the attention to detail in making the movie.
Plus, a few thoughts on the technical similarities with Saturday Night as well.
September 5 is now out in UK cinemas.
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The path to 2007's Zodiac started when a then-19-year old managed to take out an option on a best-selling book. Then, a few years later, he inked a deal with Disney to make the movie. Fate took a few turns though, and it was the collapse of an $80m television series that would bring David Fincher to the eventual movie. Some people were expecting a film along the lines of Fincher's Seven though. They did not get it...
For the second half of this episode, Oscar-nominated director Brady Corbet then joins the podcast to talk about his film The Brutalist, the challenges of which have been well documented. Over a lengthy chat, he talks about the film, the question he's not asked, and - it says here - there's a bit about toilet roll too...
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In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined for a long, clickbait-free chat by writer/director Nicholas Stoller.
Recorded at the junket for They're Cordially Invited, they explore how that film came together. But also, the conversation covers a whole bunch of other movies. There's Stoller's directing work on the likes of Neighbors/Bad Neighbours, Bros, Get Him To The Greek and The Five Year Engagement. Plus, his writing, on movies such as The Muppets and Captain Underpants.
You're Cordially Invited is on Prime Video now.
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Acclaimed as one of the finest films of the 2000s, Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood was - at one stage - a movie people weren't keen to pay for. The movie though has an unlikely link to the book Fast Food Nation, and Anderson dropped a different idea to go with it.
Then, there was the small matter of the first two weeks of filming having to be pretty much re-done from scratch.
The second half of the episode is a career-spanning chat with filmmaker Mike Leigh, that takes in his new movie - Hard Truths, landing in UK cinemas on 31st January 2025 - but also goes back some 60 years to the start of his famous process...
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With his brilliant new book - Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time - Barry Sonnenfeld joins Film Stories for a long, funny and candid conversation about his work.
The chat covers his director of photograpy days for the Coen Brothers, shooting the last two weeks of Goodfellas, and then moving onto directing. From his debut with The Addams Family, to the challenges of Get Shorty with Gene Hackman and John Travola, and a whole lot more.
Quite the chat, this. A little bit of fruity language too.
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When it comes to making your feature directorial debut, The Producers isn't a bad way to get off the mark! But Mel Brooks' now much-loved comedy faced a bumpy path to the screen, not least the struggle to write it in the first place. That, and the kind of subject matter that Hollywood studios didn't have much desire to go near.
Plus, it turned out that the fate of the film owed a bit of a debt to Peter Sellers.
After the success of A Fish Called Wanda meanwhile, the question was asked: would John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin and Kevin Kline come back for a sequel? Well, not quite: and despite Fierce Creatures being billed as an 'equal not a sequel', the comedy had a very, very difficult production.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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Joining the Film Stories podcast for a special episode, writer/director Leigh Whannell chats to Simon and Maria about his latest film, Wolf Man. It's had a bit of a journey to the screen, and Whannell explores that in this longform chat.
Also: the small release date change that might have proven pivotal to The Invisible Man, the prescience of Upgrade, a segue into Police Academy 3, and his short-lived career as a film critic.
Note this episode was recorded just before the passing of David Lynch.
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The plan with the DC Comics character Black Adam was firstly to make him part of the Shazam movie, and then - when Dwayne Johnson signed up for $20m+ plus - to give him his own adventure. Johnson, it seemed, wanted lots of adventures - including a crossover he reportedly lobbied hard for.
In the case of 2014's Draft Day, here was a drama where the writing of draft one took a very hurried two weeks. But after initial interest, Paramount Pictures would drop the movie. Things suddenly looked really tricky - until the Black List came along to save the movie...
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Stories of both are told in this episode. Support our print film magazines at https://store.filmstories.co.uk. Thank you!
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Returning to the Film Stories podcast, writer/producer/director Steven Knight is in writing mode for his latest project, Maria. Directed by Pablo Larrain and written by Knight, in a wide-ranging conversation he discusses the unusual unHollywood relationship between the pair.
The chat also covers a rogue Christmas tree, a boiled egg, Birmingham Airport, and strange Google searches too...
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With Oliver Stone writing the script, Al Pacino starring and Brian De Palma behind the camera, perhaps it's no wonder that 1983's Scarface has enjoyed a long success. It was met with no shortage of problems during its production though: an unhappy shoot, a change of location, long overruns and the budget soaring. And then Al Pacino had to go to hospital. It's quite the film story.
The second half of this episode? Filmmaker Robert Eggers arrives for a long chat about Nosferatu, The Northman, The Witch and more.
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Chris Columbus and Robert Eggers aren't necessarily names you expect to see side by side, but the pair formed a creative force on the newly-released Nosferatu.
In a wide-ranging podcast special, Simon chats at length to Chris Columbus about his producing career primarily, but with films such as Only The Lonely, Home Alone, Stepmom, Bicentennial Man, Reckless and more making an appearance too...
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In a special episode of Film Stories, it's a guest filmmaker and a guest interviewer! This time, director Justin Kurzel is chatting about his latest movie, The Order, that's now playing in UK cinemas. Plus, there's a bit of chat about Snowtown and Assasin's Creed in there too.
Ryan Lambie of Film Stories is asking the questions, after a bit of babble from Simon at the start. And it's just the kind of longform, clickbait-free conversation we love to do...
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The return of Wallace & Gromit to our screens also coincides with a return visit for Nick Park to the Film Stories podcast. He's joined by his co-director too, Merlin Crossingham, as the pair chat about their new film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
The conversation covers timescales, writing, studio notes... and a little bit of clingfilm...
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In a very special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by Andrew Davis, perhaps best known for directing films such as The Fugitive, Under Siege, Holes and more. Those movies certainly come up in the extensive conversation between the pair.
Davis has also, with Jeff Biggers, written his first novel, Disturbing The Bones, and there's a strong movie link to it as well. And the chat also takes in Stony Island, The Fugitive sequel, Steal Big Steal Little and a whole lot more...
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In the final regular Film Stories episode of 2024, we start with a 1989 movie that's gone on to become something of a Christmas favourite.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation saw John Hughes writing again, and a first time director in Jeremiah Chechik. The former protected the latter from studio notes, and even a potential lack of snow turned into the opposite problem. Still: what happened to the UK cinema release?
Clint Eastwood's Juror #2 remains one of the more curious film stories of 2024. A movie made for a modest sum, that Warner Bros then gave the impression of simply not really wanting to release it.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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It took some time for writer/director J C Chandor to break into the movie business. When he did, it was with the mini-budget Margin Call, a film that would snag him an Oscar nomination.
Since then, he's brought to the screen All Is Lost, A Most Violent Year, Triple Frontier and now Kraven The Hunter, arguably his highest profile feature to date. In this special episode, he talks through his new film, and a whole lot more...
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It's fairly well known that the role of Detective Harry Callahan was originally set to be played by Frank Sinatra, before he had to pull out as production neared. Yet when Clint Eastwood decided to accept, he had several versions of a script to choose from - and decided to put a call into someone he trusted: Don Siegel. The pair would go on to fashion a cinema classic.
The journey to 2002's Anita And Me meanwhile began with the publication of Meera Syal's semi-autobiographical novel in 1996. Work began to then turn it into a film - but the challenge of making an independent film in the UK, with two young, unknown leads? That'd be quite the test.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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In a potty-mouthed Film Stories podcast special, Simon welcomes back Kevin Smith. It's a chat centred around Smith's new film,. The 4.30 Movie - and how he came to make it. That tale involves buying a cinema, and digging deep into his own youth.
Beyond that, they chat about the length of the end credits, they segue into Waterworld, and consider some of the bumps in life. Not least reviews, and a rejection from the Sundance Film Festival.
The 4.30 Movie is available to buy and rent on video on demand.
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In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by Kevin Costner and John Debney.
Costner is, of course, the star, director and co-writer of Horizon: An American Saga, which he conceived and part-financed. Debney is a composer working on his fourth Kevin Costner-related project. The pair share their stories of making Horizon.
The conversation also looks at funding films, a few films from both Kevin Costner and John Debney's back catalogues, and a whole lot more...
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In a very special episode of the podcast, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios - Oscar-winner Jared Bush - joins Simon for a chat about his work and career.
They start off with Moana 2, which is in cinemas now. But the conversation goes right the way back to Jared Bush's time as a script reader for Robert Zemeckis, and then through to the future of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Plus: the sliding doors moment that could have taken Jared Bush's career in a very different direction...
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1993 was a banner year for Sylvester Stallone, thanks to two films that gave him quite the comeback. First up was Cliffhanger. Not far behind? That'd be the much-loved Demolition Man. Ahead of its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut, let's take a look at a movie that one of its co-stars loathed making. And also try to work out why its director moved away from feature films straight after.
Then there's Hundreds Of Beavers, a 2022 film that for reasons explained, most could only get to see in 2024. It involved a long shoot, lots of beaver costumes, and a fair amount of expertise in Adobe After Affects too...
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Vicky Jenson's directorial career got off to a hell of a start. As co-director of Shrek, she went to the Cannes Film Festival, she won an Oscar, scored a massive box office hit. Then Shark Tale followed, another hit. Then a live action movie, Post-Grad - but that didn't hit. And she paid a career price.
This story gets better though, as Jenson's now made the animated feature Spellbound, which is available on Netflix. And she's chatting to us for this special episode of Film Stories. Hers is quite the story...
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It was following the success of The Fugitive that Hollywood started plundering (again) the archives of television for its movie ideas. Sony wanted a Charlie's Angels film, and was looking for pitches. Drew Barrymore, then making Never Been Kissed, was interested.
The film she'd help steer to the screen though wasn't without behind the scenes incidents, though.
Sylvester Stallone was all set to earn $60m for three movies in the mid-1990s meanwhile, he just had to make sure he picked the right projects. He committed to filming D-Tox in the late 1990s. But years after it was finished, it'd been through three titles, assorted cuts, and Hollywood smelt trouble.
Stories of both films are told in this episode...
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In a Film Stories podcast special, producers Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick - the latter an Oscar-winner for the original Gladiator - join Simon to talk about their work.
A lot of the chat is taken up with Gladiator II, working with Ridley Scott, and trying to get an epic production off the ground. There is a very odd left turn when Stuart Little comes into the conversation, and a cat's bottom is discussed...
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Two twisty behind the scenes stories here. Originally, 1980's Superman II was being shot alongside the original Superman, with Richard Donner directing both. But frictions behind the scenes led to an eventual parting of the ways, a retooling of Superman II, and an eventual emergence of a second cut of the film.
Toys meanwhile? From the director of Rain Man and starring Robin Williams? It should have been huge, not least because its script had been revered for over a decade. In fact, the film was supposed to have been made nearly a decade before. And when it did eventually happen? The challenge turned out to be how to sell it...
The behind the scenes stories of both are told in this episode...
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The new film from director Jake Kasdan is Red One, now playing in cinemas, and itself a massive, expensive Christmas blockbuster film. On the flip side, he started his directorial career with a microbudget indie by the name of Zero Effect back in 1998. In this special episode of Film Stories, he takes his through his work.
He and Simon talk about his blockbuster movies (Jake's, not Simon's), but also the indie film that got lost a little, The TV Set. Plus there's chat about the physical side of filmmaking, and a whole lot more...
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Ah, Tombstone. The 1993 western with a cast led by Kurt Russell, and basically co-starring everyone else who wasn't in the rival project - Wyatt Earp - telling a similar story. But heck, behind the scenes, there were all sorts of problems.
Examples? A director who got fired. A release date that couldn't move. A script that needed urgently hacking to hit the production deadline. A star who was rumoured to be ghost directing the movie.
Meanwhile, following the success of 1992's The Muppet Christmas Carol, director Brian Henson liked the idea of taking another classic tale and adding The Muppets to it. But the first announced version of what became Muppet Treasure Island would slightly differ from the actual movie...
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Paul Reiser first came on my radar, as he did for many, with 1986's Aliens. We touch on that very briefly here, as we chat independent film, The Problem With People, a bit of Diner, and the challenges of getting films made.
Plus! Colm Meaney going to the wrong bar, a date set for 19 years into the future, and a whole lot more...
The Problem With People is in UK cinemas from 8th November.
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When the script for Passengers turned up on the famous Hollywood black list of the best unproduced screenplays, it seemed it'd be just a matter of time before it got made. Keanu Reeves and Reece Witherspoon were attached, a director was in place - what could go wrong?
Well, a few things. And when the movie did get made? More problems weren't far behind.
The 1983 hit Flashdance meanwhile launched numerous careers - but also had its fair share of behind the scenes dramas. That, and some Hollywood executives watching a hosepipe...
Stories of both are told in this episode....
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None of the Hollywood studios wanted to make 2010's Kick-Ass, a comic book movie with an R-rated edge. All of them turned it down, and so the film came to life in tandem with the comics, exploding into cinemas in 2010. It would be fair to say that not everyone in the media was pleased about it, as quite a backlash bubbled up.
There were problems with 1999's Payback too, but they came down to a different of opinion between star Mel Gibson and writer/director Brian Helgeland. It got to a point where just days after Helgeland won an Oscar for L.A. Confidential, he was, er, 'removed' from Payback.
The behind the scenes stories of both films are told in this episode...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Oscar-nominee Chris Sanders, for a conversation and his latest film and career.
The latest film? The Wild Robot, a box office smash and a break in style for DreamWorks Animation. It's now in UK cinemas and we go through the journey of the movie.
Plus! Gene Kelly pops up in conversation, as does Lilo & Stitch and a few other moments from Chris' career...
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The Terrifier movie franchise has now led to a number one box office hit - but the story behind the first film involves short films, a crowdfunding campaign that missed its target, a shoot that went on longer than originally planned and financiers dropping out. And then there was the battle to get the film noticed in the first place. Plus, how a tiny team gave the impression of a crew of 100.
Writer/direcotr Osgood Perkins meanwhile had been mulling about a possibe character who would become Longlegs long before he embarked on an unusual serial killer film. Made on a budget of around $10m, and marketed for roughly the same amount - so how did Longlegs become the box office surprise of 2024?
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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2016 marked the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, and not unreasonably, Paramount Pictures wanted a movie. But far from being a straightforward production, Star Trek Beyond would go through different directors, and eventually find itself without a script just months ahead of filming. It made for a tense situation, and that's explored in this episode.
Also explored: the moment when Quentin Tarantino was suddenly announced as the potential writer/director of a new Star Trek movie. It involved a writers' room coming together, a move into R-rated territory - and Tarantino deciding whether he wanted it to be his final film...
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The film Rain Man became a huge box office hit at the end if 1988, and an Oscar-winner in 1989. Yet here was a movie that went through the hands of at least three directors who didn't make it, including Steven Spielberg, who was attached for nearly half a year.
But Barry Levinson did make the film - and he was able to take advantage of a situation that gave him a surprising amount of control.
Michael Flatley meanwhile had seemingly total control over his passion project, Blackbird. He wrote, directed, produced and starred in the movie, which debuted in 2018 - but then seemed to disappear.
The stories of both films are told in this episode...
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An article published back in 1992 would spark a bidding war in Hollywood. Nothing unusual there. That article would lead to Ridley Scott, Jodie Foster and Robert Redford signing up for a big, expensive movie - a movie that never got made. And it never got made because of 1995's Outbreak.
Three movies meanwhile had failed to come together in a row for filmmakers the Spierig brothers after they scored a hit with Daybreakers. But they had a project in mind, based on a Robert A Heinlein (Starship Troopers) short story. It'd lead to Predestination - but there was the small matter of starting work without securing the rights to the story...
The stories of both are told in this episode...
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Headlined by James McAvoy, Speak No Evil is a taut suspence film that's the latest from director James Watkins. Previously responsible for Eden Lake and The Woman In Black, amongst others, he joins Simon for a special episode of Film Stories.
They chat about Speak No Evil, and the confidence of holding tension. Plus, editing with Jon Harris, a bit of Rolling Thunder, and a whole lot more...
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It's not uncommon for films to get through a director or two on their way to the screen. In this episode, that's certainly the case. American Gangster might have ended up on the slate of Ridley Scott, but he was the third or fourth name involved. At one stage, Universal was said to have spent $30m on the film in fact, with no hope of getting a single frame of footage shot.
Shooting footage wasn't a problem with the low budget Piranha II: The Spawning, nominally the directorial debut of James Cameron. But Cameron was ejected from the film a week or two into shooting - even if the story goes he managed to sneak into the edit suite...
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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Director Anand Tucker began in the world of documentaries, before switching into dramatic features. His most recent film, The Critic, is arriving in UK cinemas with Ian McKellen in its lead, having had to change casts following the pandemic.
Before that, Tucker had briefly been attached to The Golden Compass, had worked on films such as Girl With A Pearl Earring and Shopgirl, and has no shortage too of stories to tell. Which he does on this very podcast...
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Two films looooong in the making in this episode of Film Stories: one's been made at the time of recording, one hasn't.
Talk first surfaced of The Flash movie back in the 1980s, but it wasn't until 2023 that a film was finally released. By then, an under-fire Warner Bros was hoping for great things from the film, and confidence appeared to be high: but there were problems, and no shortage of them.
The idea of taking the smash-hit TV show 24 and turning it into a movie seemed fairly logical, and the production budget was going to be on the modest side. Yet delay after delay hit the project - but not before an audacious Die Hard spin-off had been proposed...
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Producer Tommy Harper joins Simon for a Film Stories podcast special, to talk through a career that's taken him from not being allowed on the set of Showgirls, to producing Star Wars, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek films. Oh, and the brand new release, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
It's quite a story, with the likes of JJ Abrams, Paul Verhoeven, Tim Burton and more popping up.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in cinemas now.
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Ah, The Avengers. The 1998 big screen adaptation of the much-loved TV series is a bit of an odd movie, but as Simon discusses in this episode, things weren't quite going to plan at studio level. Not that Warner Bros handled the film particularly well come release time - an infamously late decisiont to avoid a review screening soon backfired.
In the case of Step Brothers, the third film together for Adam McKay and Will Ferrell is often cited as their best. Still, the hit comedy has a bit of a story to it - plus the pub quiz fact that McKay shot more footage for Step Brothers than Francis Ford Coppola shot for Apocalypse Now...
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, we're delighted to welcome back Paul Feig for his third appearance. This time the starting point is Feig's new film Jackpot!, that's on Prime Video now.
They also talk about the already-shot A Simple Favor 2, as well as legal stuff, Naked Gun 33 1/3, and if there's any chance on this planet of getting Spy 2....
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by actor, producer, writer and fine human being Rob Delaney.
The pair talk about Delaney's role in the smash hit Deadpool And Wolverine, while also touching on a moment in a restaurant, writing, movies, and the TV hit Catastrophe.
Plus they natter too about Delaney's book A Heart That Works, and his amazing-sounding late son, Henry.
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Deadpool And Wolverine is now in cinemas. This podcast has fruity language in it. Not usually, but this episode does.
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Episode 400! Crikey. And I'm thrilled to say that producer Gale Anne Hurd is helping with the celebrations, thanks to a huge chat about her life, her work, and The Terminator at 40.
The first part of the episode, Simon goes through the story of The Terminator, and quite how its rights ended up so muddled going forward. But the bulk of episode 400 is over to Gale Anne Hurd, in a long conversation - set against noisy background sounds! - that took place in London in June 2024.
Thanks for all your support everyone. Hope you enjoy the episode...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Lee Isaac Chung, as they discuss the brand new blockbuster movie, Twisters.
Lee talks about how he got the job in the first place, and just what time contrainsts he was up against. Plus, the depth of the casting in the film, the scale of the movie, and his work with filmmakers in Rwanda. A bit of Minari, too.
Twisters is in UK cinemas now.
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Sean Connery had vowed he was never going to return as James Bond after 1971's Diamonds Are Forever. Meanwhile, a man called Kevin McClory had agreed not to exercise his screen rights to the story of Thunderball until 1975. Yet the highest profile 'unofficial' Bond project would bring them both together, as Never Say Never Again did battle with the official 007 film Octopussy at the 1983 box office.
A different battle played out in 1999, as Robert De Niro took the plunge into comedy with Analyze This. It'd be an early hit in a year that was awash with them - yet the idea of a mob boss seeing a shrink, that seemed original when the film was conceived - was about to slam head-first into a brand new TV show...
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In this very special episode of Film Stories, Neil Jordan is the guest, talking about his brand new memoir, Amnesiac, along with tales of his movie life.
He and Simon chat about movies as varied as Angel, The Crying Game, Michael Collins, High Spirits, We're No Angels and Mona Lisa, in a far-reaching chat. Plus: Neil Jordan talks through approaching telling his own story, and why he chose to do it now...
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Damien Chazelle first started seriously considering a film about old Hollywood back in 2009, long before he made La La Land. And even when the writer/director had channelled his energies into that film, he still had Babylon in mind: a hugely ambitious, expensive, three hour film that needed an R-rating!
In the case of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, the challenge with the hit stage show was bringing it to the big screen at some scale - in spite of a truncated budget. Then there was the small matter of a pandemic getting in the way too...
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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In a very special episode of Film Stories, Baroness Beeban Kidron joins Simon for a chat about her career, her films, and her move to politics.
They go from her early film Carry Greenham Home, from being one of the first British women to direct a movie with Vroom. Then a big turning point: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, an acclaimed adaptation of Jeanette Winterson's book.
The chat covers Kidron's move to Hollywood, and then the documentary that launched what effectively became her second career...
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Two movies from 1993 and the stories behind them here: both of which had their fair share of off-set drama.
RoboCop 3 was supposed to be quickly followed by RoboCop 4, yet financial problems with parent company Orion Pictures led to a change of plan - not least when Orion went bankrupt. In the midst of this was an idea to make a RoboCop film with a PG-13 rating too.
Boxing Helena originally attracted Madonna to the title role, but this micro-budget independent movie gained infamy not for the film itself, but for the court case that ensued when potential star Kim Basinger then dropped the project.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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When Tim Burton's first film, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, proved a surprise hit for Warner Bros, the studio was keen to get a second picture off him. Yet Burton wasn't enamoured with the scripts he was being offered - until an unusual one landed on his desk. Just lacking a bit of an ending. Enter: Beetlejuice.
Rye Lane was a much smaller production, a directorial debut for Raine Allen Miller. A British romcom, it had to negotiate Covid restrictions - but then, after strong reviews, there was its release strategy to negotiate.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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Originally set to be released by Disney in 2023, Jeff Nichols' new film - The Bikeriders - was dropped by the studio at the last minute, before finally landing a new home with Focus Features and Universal.
Nichols joins us for a special podcast to discuss the film, with the conversation also taking in Take Shelter, Michael Shannon, and making a movie without too much money...
The Bikeriders finally arrives in cinemas on 21st June 2024.
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On the one hand in this episode, we've got a comic book movie that should in theory have launched further films. 2022's Morbius was designed to follow Venom into Sony's universe of Spider-Man spin-off characters. Yet so keen was the studio to join it up to the ongoing Spider-Man films, that problems ensued. And Jared Leto, in the lead role, was going method again.
The Gift, the directorial debut of Joel Edgerton, was originally called Weirdo. He designed it to be a slim film, that he knew would be up against some tough competition at the box office. Yet he had quite a special film up his sleeve...
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After enjoying success with the TV series Servant, for which she wrote and directed several episodes, Ishana Night Shyamalan was on the lookout for a story to turn into her feature directorial debut.
The tale she found involved a pet store, a creepy forest, a trip to Ireland and some people watching. And in this Film Stories podcast special, she tells us about why she made The Watched (or The Watcher in the US) and tells us more of her story.
The Watched is in UK cinemas now...
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Sam Mendes didn't want to make another James Bond film after completing 2015's Spectre. As we discover in this episode, he had another film lined up that he backed away form. He decided to gamble on 1917, a movie that he had a plan to shoot in a really rather unconventional way.
When Gone Girl hit, meanwhile, Hollywood went looking for more books that it felt might be along the same lines. It didn't take long to find The Girl On The Train, and it took seemingly even less time to get a film of it moving.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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After the release of 2008's Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, Harrison Ford declared that he'd be happy to make Indiana Jones 5, as long as it didn't take another 20 years.
It wasn't that far off before we got Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny. And in the interim, two of the three key creatives had changes roles.
Steve Martin should have got Oscar recognition for 1984's All Of Me meanwhile, but even by that point, he had an idea for a fresh take on the classic Cyrano De Bergerac story. When he couldn't find a screenwriter to tackle it for him? He took the plunge himself....
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Two films in this episode that for different reasons needed a fair amount of time to come to the screen.
Dungeons And Dragons: Honor Among Thieves didn't turn up until 2023, yet for many years, there was a rights battle over which studio could make a D&D movie. Even when the rights were sorted, challenges still lay ahead.
With The Phantom Of The Opera meanwhile, the plan had originally been to have the movie filming by 1990. Yet a separation delayed the movie, and when it returned, an actor by the name of Gerard Butler was all set for his singing lessons...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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In a special episode of the podcast, Fiona Shaw CBE is the guest, as she joins to chat about her career, and her latest movie, IF.
Topics of conversation in this chat? The problem with her bathroom, plus working on films such as Super Mario Bros and The Avengers. Then there's her time working with Terrence Malick, her work with Brian De Palma, and a very special film too that's on the horizon for her.
IF is in UK cinemas now.
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The Halloween franchise was at a crossroads after Rob Zombie's 2009 movie, Halloween II. There was only one logical thing to do next: er, Halloween 3D, which was set for the early 2010s. The first in a line of false starts, that'd eventually take us to 2018's wildly-successful reboot/reimagining.
Some reshoot work on that was done for the ending too, and the ending of Rocky V (1990) was an area of much disagreement. Sylvester Stallone had wanted to take the Rocky films back to basics, bringing back director John G Avildsen too. Yet what was expected to be one of 1990's big tickets didn't go to plan.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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With his new film, Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, now out in cinemas, director Wes Ball joins the Film Stories podcast for a long chat about the new film, and his career to date.
From his early shorts, to his fast work on Celebrity Apprentice (and boy, is there a story there), we then move through to The Maze Runner, The Mouse Guard, and right the way through to Apes...
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It's taken nearly 400 episodes, but a Star Wars film finally takes centre stage. It's 2019's saga-ending The Rise Of Skywalker, a film that was announced in 2012, and went through, well, 'changes' over the ensuing years.
The planned remake of Road House actually started life roughly around the same time, and there were a couple of false starts. But when it was finally ready to go, filming seemed to go without too much trouble. It was only in post-production that the problems started to mount...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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In a special episode, Drew Pearce joins us for a chat about his journey from making British TV show No Heroics through to writing the brand new blockbuster The Fall Guy.
Key moments? Getting stuck in Los Angeles thanks to an Icelandic volcano, landing the job of writing Iron Man 3, working out what his hourly rate was for penning a $1bn blockbuster, the last-minute call for Hobbs & Shaw and a whole lot more...
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Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin had been asked questions many times about making a sequel to their 1996 smash hit Independence Day. Several times they came close to doing so over the years, including an ambitious plan to shoot two films back to back at one stage. Yet when it came time to move forward, the big question they faced: would Will Smith want to return? And could 20th Century Fox afford him? The story of Independence Day: Resurgence is told here.
As a director, Dexter Fletcher announced himself with the impressive low budget success Wild Bill. But he was on the lookout for something different, something out of his comfort zone for his next film. What, then, about a muscal movie set around the tunes of The Proclaimers? Enter stage left, Sunshine On Leith.
Tales of both are told in this episode...
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A film that's not yet happened - at the time of recording! - takes centre stage in this Film Stories episode. In 2019, Quentin Tarantino released his apparently penultimate film as director - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood - but five years on, it's no clearer what his final film will be. It doesn't look like it's going to be The Movie Critic, as had been suggested....
One film that did happen? How about the wildy successful Erin Brockovich? A 2000 movie that brought with it the challenge of adapting a real life story to the screen. Oh, with a major movie star on board...
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In this special episode of Film Stories, Dan Stevens joins Simon to talk about his latest film, Abigail. They talk about the making of the film, the sort-of crossover with Cocaine Bear, and why it needed to be shot in a certain order.
Plus, they also touch on drinking receptables, Colossal, choosing roles, and a whole lot more...
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Two risky films take centre stage in this episode of Film Stories, starting with Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. A 170-minute film released in the midst of a summer jammed with over 100 films to choose from in cinema. Who would have thought it'd prevail at the box office?
Spielberg for one wasn't too worried: but also, he came to it directly after making The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Amistad. No wonder he had to rely heavily on his instincts.
Fran Kranz meanwhile, better known for his acting, got nowhere with a script he'd written for a $100m alien invasion movie. He turned his attention to something a lot smaller, that he could raise the funding for. He came up with Mass, on a shoestring budget. Completing the film was just part of the challenge...
Stories of both are told in this episode
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In this special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Philip Martin, chatting days after the release of his latest film.
That movie is Scoop, the dramatisation of the infamous BBC interview with Prince Andrew. The pair chat about Philip's early work, his time in Canada trying to break into the film industry, then jetting to Los Angeles at one point to pitch to John Travolta.
Then there's Scoop, and the challenges of making a film where everybody pretty much knows the ending...
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A pair of bang up to the minute films in this episode of Film Stories, both of which enjoyed the fruits of viral marketing.
Saltburn (2023) had been in the head of its writer/director Emerald Fennell for years before she even got to work on her Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman (2020). The catalyst? A really rather famous scene in with a bathtub. But who could have guessed how the internet would take hold of her film post-release?
In the case of Mean Girls (2024), the battle was on to hide what it actually was. The new take on the 2004 film of the same name was a musical, but you'd never guess that from the (very deliberate) way that Paramount marketed the movie. A movie that, incidentally, was originally intended for streaming services before getting a cinema upgrade...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Dolph Lundgren. Yep, that Dolph Lundgren: not only Ivan Dragon, but a writer, director, actor, TED Talker, academic and lover of cats.
They chat about his latest directorial outing, Wanted Man, that's available on UK digital services now. Plus, which version of Rocky IV is the best, why his cat has ended up in the end credits of his latest film, his love of watching Sex And The City, and a chat about the impact of putting his own story out into the world...
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There's a Ghostbusters theme running through this episode of Film Stories, starting off with a dive into 1989's Ghostbusters II. Dismissed by critics on its release and not matching the commercial performance of the 1984 original, the movie had a very difficult path to the screen. Then, when it finally started moving forward, it found itself in a queue with films such as Twins and Scrooged, to which others had commitments to.
We dig into that in this episode - including the crucial meeting in a Los Angeles restaurant that unlocked Ghostbusters II in the first place.
Then finally, a very special guest: Ernie Hudson joins us for the second half of the episode. On the one hand, he's talking about the newly-released Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. On the other? Well, how are we supposed to resist talking to him about Congo...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, director and co-writer Gil Kenan joins to talk about his latest movie, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
He tells Simon about being one of four people to direct a Ghostbusters movie, and the one moment where it hit him how monumental that was. Plus, how filming got underway one year before release, the practicalities of puppets, and some of the career challenges that led to this moment too.
Plus, reflections on Kenan's own story, and what got him to this point in time...
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now in cinemas.
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It's back to the 1980s in this episode of the Film Stories podcast, kicking off with one last James Bond 007 adventure for Roger Moore.
A View To A Kill - teased at the end of 1983's Octopussy as From A View To A Kill - came together initially with little fuss for a James Bond movie. Roger Moore was quickly invited back. John Glen was asked to direct even before he'd finished the last film. Pinewood Studios was booked. And then the problems: question marks over whether Roger Moore was too old for the role, announcing someone for the villain who turned the part down - and then the 007 stage at Pinewood burning down.
1988's Buster by comparison was a fairly smooth shoot. Phil Collins agreed to take his first lead role, Julie Walters was in the USA for the Oscars when she got the script. But the story of one of the Great Train Robbers came with questions, not least should such a movie be with such a light tone about such a serious subject. Still, it got to the Oscars...
Stories of both - and their respective royal premieres too - are told in this episode...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, director Phillip Noyce joins Simon for a good, long chat.
They talk about many of films from across Noyce’s career, starting with his latest, Fast Charlie. The Pierce Brosnan-headlined pulpy thriller has quite the story of its own.
From there, the conversation moves across Noyce’s career: from the printer of Clear & Present Danger, working with Rutger Hauer on Blind Fury, the crisis of confidence surrounding The Giver and the impact of Rabbit Proof Fence. And that’s just a flavour of the conversation – there’s lots more…
Fast Charlie streaming on Prime Video 15 March. Distributed by Signature Entertainment
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With Christopher Nolan now an Oscar-winner, this particular episode of Film Stories begins by zipping back to 2017, when he had a his first serious drive-by of the Academy Awards. That'd be with Dunkirk, the first time he told a true story on film. It took him a long time to be in a position where he felt confident enough to make the film - and even then, he faced some pretty significant technical and logistical challenges to get it made.Even before he asked Warner Bros for the money to make it it.
Back in the mid-1990s meanwhile, uber-producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer - best known for the likes of Flashdance and Top Gun - had acquired an unusual project for them, an inspirational teacher film based on a true story. The author of that story, LouAnne Johnson, was alert to working with Hollywood though, and absolutely wouldn't be bowing down to people who thought they were Hollywood royalty. The film Dangerous Minds would, too, take some liberties with her story.
Stories of both of these films are told in this very episode...
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In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by writer/director Jeff Wadlow, as he releases his new film - Imaginary - into the world. There's therefore discussion about that, the challenge of making a traditional 'Blumhouse' film, and working with puppets too.
Along the way, they chat too about Truth Or Dare, 2005's Cry Wolf and - yes! - The Muppets. Plus, some words on The Adrenaline Film Project, a tremendous initiative that's very close to Jeff Wadlow's heart.
Imaginary is in cinemas now.
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Superhero movies? Oh, go on then. A pair of very different projects take centre stage here, at different ends of the budget spectrum.
2016's Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice was a pivotal movie for Warner Bros, and a big screen showdown that it'd first attempted nearly 20 years previously. This time, director Zack Snyder was effectively charged with leading the fightback against Marvel and its cinematic universe - and his Batman/Superman showdown would have plenty of ramifications.
In the case of 1996's The Phantom, here was a lower budget superhero outing, where the price was chopped just weeks ahead of filming. Joe Dante had originally been set to direct, and Simon Wincer would step in. But 10 days away from release, the boss of Paramount was very aware few people had heard of the movie...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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A very warm welcome to the Film Stories podcast to screenwriter (and producer!) Eric Roth. He joins Simon for a conversation that goes right back through his career: from working on a hit Airport movie, to thinking he picked the wrong ending for the thriller Suspect.
Things turned in the 1990s though with the success of Forrest Gump, and Roth reflects on that, as well as touching on films such as Michael Mann's masterpiece, The Insider. We come right up to date too with Killers Of The Flower Moon, writing for Cher, his thoughts on AI, and his upcoming project that reunites him with Robert Zemeckis...
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Two films with very short titles in this episode, starting with a comedy favourite from the 2010s.
Director Paul Feig broke out of movie jail with 2010's Bridesmaids - and he used his freshly-inked deal with 20th Century Fox to get his own take on a James Bond film to the screen. Thing is: how do you persuade studio executives that Jason Statham can be a comedy lead? And, come to think of it, how do you convince Jason Statham?
As for 1986's F/X, here was a movie written with television originally in mind, until a producer read it and reckoned there was more to it. Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson and even George C Scott were linked. But the final cast would lead to a solid hit - albeit one that led to questions over the film's title.
Stories of both in this episode...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, a pair of guests join Simon to talk about the really, really good indie film American Star, and the ecosystem of independent filmmaking.
A guessable spoiler for the film is dropped by Ian McShane in the conversation.
Director Gonzalo López-Gallego and his star/producer Ian McShane talk about how the film took years to come together, and then was shot in under a month, and edited in under a month. The pair clearly enjoyed working together, and it's a lively chat. The film is out on video on demand and in cinemas now...
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The Fantastic Four take centre stage on the Film Stories podcast, with a pair of films that each had their demands.
The 2015 Fantastic Four was set to reboot the characters on the big screen, and give 20th Century Fox another ongoing superhero franchise. Yet this didn't go to plan at all. Director Josh Trank was hired, and wouldn't get to make the film he wanted. Others were quite happy to point the finger at Trank. Either way, the film would struggle.
Yet at least it'd get a release. In 1994, a $1m version of The Fantastic Four was made, with those making it fully expecting a cinema release. Trailers were released, promotions began - but on the eve of the film's world premiere, everything was stopped: and there's a strong theory about just what happened.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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In this latest episode of Film Stories, we start with sharks. Very big sharks. A story imagined by a young screenwriter's memory of a childhood incident, that he eventually turned into a script. Then that script would go on to become Deep Blue Sea.
There were challenges, though: should the tone be Jaws-like? Or Jurassic Park? Or Alien? And then the very late need for more footage to be shot too.
In the case of 1984, adapted from George Orwell's novel of the same name, time was a luxury they didn't have. And, for six weeks of shooting, a co-star for John Hurt was missing too. Sean Connery turned the film down, Rod Steiger was rejected. But could they trust Richard Burton?
Stories of both films are told in this episode...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Oscar-nominated director of photography Hoyte van Hoytema for a long chat about his work.
They talk extensively about Hoyte's work with Christopher Nolan, not least on Oppenheimer. But also, there's a bit of Dunkirk and Interstellar in there. Furthermore, a few words on working on the James Bond movie SPECTRE too. Plus: the chances of working with Tomas Aldredson again.
Oppenheimer is available now on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K disc.
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Neither The King Of Comedy nor I Love Trouble were met with strong box office or enthusiastic reviews on their initial releases - but one has fared a lot better since.
1982's The King Of Comedy would be the last time Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese would unite for many years - and for a long time it was a project that appealed more to De Niro than Scorsese. Still, after a damp initial response, the film's reputation has grown. A lot.
Not so with 1994's I Love Trouble, a rare movie star-driven summer film from Disney in the early 1990s. Julia Roberts starred, but didn't sign on the dotted line until he co-star was chosen. That'd be Nick Nolte, and it wouldn't be a particularly successful pairing...
Stories of both movies are told in this episode.
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Was there ever a bigger casting furore in the 1990s than when Tom Cruise landed the role of Lestat in Interview With The Vampire? Based on the book by Anne Rice, the author herself was incandescent, taking out advertising the slam the casting. Meanwhile, there were issues over keeping the rights - and problems that could have been avoided had John Travolta - as was once planned - accepted the role in the 1970s!
The late Tina Turner meanwhile claimed that - for very good reasons - she never watched the 1993 biopic of her life, What's Love Got To Do With It? She was very involved with it, though, not least approving Angela Bassett for the lead role. The challenge? Bassett got the job just 30 days before the start of filming...
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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In a special episode, Simon is joined the writer and director Juan Antonio Bayona for a conversation about his work and his latest film.
That movie is the Oscar-nominated (at the time of writing) Society Of The Snow, an extraordinary drama shot over more than 100 days. Bayona talks about his process and the duty of care involved in telling the story, as well as the importance to him of a long shoot.
They touch on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The Impossible, The Orphanage and A Monster Calls as well...
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Two individual filmmakers take centre stage in this episode of Film Stories, starting with Quentin Tarantino. For a decade, he was talking in interviews about making a World War II movie called Inglorious Bastards, but he swerved making it for a long time, in favour of the Kill Bill movies and Death Proof. He argued he didn't have writer's block: he just couldn't stop writing it.
He changed the title to Inglourious Basterds, set himself a firm deadline, and started shooting just eight months before the film was due to debut at the Cannes Film Festival...
In the case of Jim Henson, he had dreams of taking The Muppets to the big screen, and as they were proving to be a sensation on television in the 1970s, he got a handsome budget to do so. The challenge? Production on The Muppet Show was ongoing, and the three month shoot would take The Muppets out of a controlled studio environment for the story for the first time.
Stories of both films are told in this episode...
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In this very special episode of Film Stories, Simon welcomes Oscar-winning writer and director Alexander Payne to chat, in part, about the newly-released The Holdovers.
Yet this is a bit of a different chat, as their conversation not only takes in the film, but also the process of finding the spark for a movie, the process of being interviewed for the release of a feature, and some book recommendations as well. Hope you enjoy the conversation, and The Holdovers is now playing...
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This time on the Film Stories podcast, its 1985 animated feature The Black Cauldron. A film whose budget more than doubled, that arrived five years later, and nearly broke Walt Disney Animation Studios in the process. Plus, its legacy is such that you won't find it anywhere near a Disney theme park. The story of one of the most remarkable chapters in Disney animation history.
Then the second film in this episode is the Oscar-nominated British satirical comedy In The Loop. The directorial debut of Armando Iannucci, it spun out of the TV series The Thick Of It - but the decision was made to not to a straight TV-to-film adaptation.
The stories of both of these films are found in this very episode...
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In a brand new special episode of Film Stories, writer/producer/director David Ayer joins Simon for a chat. It's Ayer's new film The Beekeeper that's their prime focus: an old school action film with some honey in it as well.
It's a tonal shift for Ayer, and also a rare film that he's directed but not written himself. As well as talking about that, a few words too on the media ecosystem following David Ayer's Suicide Squad experiences, and he opens up about the films that he's really keen to make next. Quite surprising choices...
The Beekeeper lands in UK cinemas on January 12th.
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In this episode of Film Stories, a pair of films that enjoyed varying fortunes on their original cinema release - both of which are said to have unreleased alternate cuts.
In the case of 1995's Batman Forever, reports of a longer version of the movie - said to be a lot darker - started surfacing a couple of years after the film's original release. Then came a DVD release added some striking deleted scenes - and director Joel Schumacher's 170-minute version of Batman Forever was starting to gather interest. Right up to 2023, when it actually screened...
2019's Cats meanwhile was up against a ferocious schedule to be finished on time. But finished it was, albeit with an upgrade patch sent to cinemas days after its release (!). Then came the rumours: was there really a cut of the film where digital feline backsides were, well, really rather obvious?
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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In a very special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by writer/director Billy Ray, to chat about his career and body of work. Simon quickly gets sidetracked by the fact that Billy started off by writing for The Jetsons, but soon they're into conversation about films as diverse as Captain Phillips, Shattered Glass, Breach, Color Of Night and Hart's War.
They also chat about AI in the film business, and cover a few of the films that Billy had written which never made it to the screen. It's a bit of a packed hour, this, and there's much that's discussed...
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In 1995, Kenneth Branagh - between the giant projects of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and his film version of Hamlet - made an utterly charming low budget comedy called In The Bleak Midwinter. He paid for the film himself, bringing together a bunch of actors to tell the story of, well, a bunch of actors. A company who happened to be putting on a Christmas Eve performance of Hamlet.
In December 2023, after years of trying, we managed to bring them all together for a special screening of the film. And what you're going to hear in this podcast episode is the conversation afterwards. Bear in mind that they'd all sat and watched the film collectively for the first time in over 25 years just before this conversation took place!
The evening was raising funds for Centrepoint, of which you can find more here: https://centrepoint.org.uk/support-us/donate?utm_source=jaagoogleads&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=csarppc23&utm_content=&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4Y-sBhC6ARIsAGXF1g6ofP7eioHgWYRsjB-cDrmSTNDzeegNsuExmtsqt6Ot4jVhAO_4DL4aAipxEALw_wcB
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At the end of a busy year for movies, this episode of Film Stories is saluting some of the films that might just have passed a few people by.
Simon, unusually, isn't by himself for this episode either, as the Film Stories magazine and website team each come along with their picks too. Chaos, as you might expect, is soon the order of the day. Although hopefully you might find a movie or two in all of this to add to your watchlist!
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Ah, It's A Wonderful Life. A Christmas classic, that managed to basically bankrupt the production company of its director, and also lose money at the box office. In fact, were it not for an admin error, there's a good chance it wouldn't be regarded as arguably the best Christmas movie of all time. One that was targeted for original release in January. Lots to chat about here.
A fair amount to talk about with 2013's Saving Mr Banks too, a movie script that Disney reportedly nearly bought simply to stop anyone else making the film. After all, Walt Disney is a key character in the movie - and Disney had hardly been keen to make a Walt Disney biopic before. Had the project been developed in-house, it likely wouldn't have happened at all.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Paul King (director/co-writer) and Simon Farnaby (co-writer) join Simon to talk about their latest movie: Wonka.
The conversation covers the writing process, how they felt after The Bunny & The Bull struggled to find and audience, a bit of Paddington 2, and a tiny dab of The Phantom Of The Open. But also: the challenges of making a Willy Wonka prequel story..
Complete with Paul King's phone going off, and Simon Farnaby trying to give Simon the giggles...
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Writer/director George Miller steps into the spotlight for this episode of Film Stories, as we dig into a pair of his sequels.
The hugely-acclaimed Mad Max: Fury Road arrived in 2015, but it had a heck of a journey to get that far. An abandoned attempt to get the film made in 2003, and then the whole production having to be put on ice for a year after weather conditions meant a change of location. And then there was the shoot itself, which came to an end without the beginning or final act of the film shot. It was quite a saga.
1998's Babe: Pig In The City was a film pretty much taken for granted by its parent studio, Universal Pictures. It wasn't until a late preview screening that the studio discovered it hadn't quite got the sequel to 1995's Babe that it was after - and urgent last minute changes were called for.
Stories of both movies are told in this episode...
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In a special episode of Film Stories, writer, director, producer and a whole lot more Reginald Hudlin joins Simon. They're talking as Hudlin's new film, Candy Cane Lane, arrives on Prime Video. And Christmas is very much part of the discussion.
But they also cover a bit of Marshall, why Hudlin put together his own website with quite so much detail, the curiosity of film critics and a whole lot more.
Candy Cane Lane is now playing on Prime Video.
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A pair of late 1990s movies in this episode, both of which are remembered three decades later for differing reasons.
In the case of 1999's Election, the Alexander Payne-directed movie remains one of the most scathing and cleverly dark high school movies of its era. Perhaps that's why Paramount Pictures at the time had problems with it, not least how on Earth do you market the film? 'Not well' was the eventual answer to that. Plus: would Tom Cruise really have been right for the Matthew Broderick role?
Then there was 1998's surprise hit Sliding Doors, a film from a first time writer/director, who spent seven years trying to nail the script, suffering a nervous breakdown in the midst of the process. Turns out too that a Hollywood legend, Sydney Pollack, would turn into the movie's guardian angel.
Stories of both are told in this episode...
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In a very special episode, Simon is joined by the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Jennifer Lee.
Jennifer Lee has also co-written and executive produces Disney's centenary animated feature, Wish, so there's some chat about that. But also, about Lee's journey from being the person brought into the Wreck-It Ralph writing team on an eight week contract, through to writing and co-directing the two Frozen movies, then taking arguably the key job at the studio.
The pair talk about all of this, about the reasons it took so long to make the film Wish, and a slight issue with a character in it who happens to be called Simon...
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In the latest episode of Film Stories, a deeper dig into 1992's Batman Returns, and how 1991's firefighter drama Backdraft suddenly hotted up.
With Batman Returns, director Tim Burton had no original intention of coming back, after the problems he'd been through on 1989's Batman. But promised a freer hand, he signed on the dotted line - and it'd be fair to say didn't quite give Warner Bros the film it expected or wanted.
Backdraft wasn't quite as dramatic a story, but it did go from a relatively small drama to something a whole lot bigger when director Ron Howard expressed interest. And there was also the drive for authenticity - and how just over $1m spent on special effects paid dividends.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
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It's a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, and joining Simon for a chat about her career is writer, director and production designer Catherine Hardwicke.
The pair chat first and foremost about her latest film, the indie comedy Mafia Mamma! that's now available in the UK. They talk logistics, the challenges, and the joy that is Toni Collette. The conversation also covers Hardwicke's breakthrough film, Thirteen, and the independent movie landscape. Plus, a bit of casting, a bit of Twilight, and an insight into how she goes about making her films...
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The impact of Pulp Fiction's success in the mid-1990s meant that ensemble films based on scripts from relatively inexperienced writer/directors were on the radar of Hollywood. Step forward James Mangold's Cop Land, which was a quick beneficiary.
After an attempt to get John Travolta to star in the film failed, and incredible cast - led by Sylvester Stallone - started to come together. But had Pulp Fiction unfairly changed the expectation of what Cop Land was to be? And that's before Mangold and Harvey Weinstein clashed over the film's edit.
1994's Junior was much calmer - and much quicker. Filming began just months before the movie's release, with Arnold Schwarzenegger's box office fortunes dampened following the previous year's Last Action Hero. But others had turned the film down before Arnie got to it - in one case, for religious reasons...
Stories of both films are told in this episode...
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It's a pair of summer movies in this episode of Film Stories, both of which were affected by the pandemic, one of which would fare a lot better than the other.
The journey to 2022's Top Gun: Maverick was over a decade long, a sequel that stopped and started more than once. Tom Cruise eventually agreed to make the film though, with filming underway in 2018: yet circumstances would mean it'd be many years before audiences could clap their eyes on it.
The idea of doing a movie based around the music of Take That looked to be a strong one, and Greatest Days was all set to film in 2020. Yet when the movie had to put the brakes on, it took away most of the lead cast too - and it'd all have to be put back together two years' later. Even then, the weather gods were not with it...
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In this episode of Film Stories, a little bit of a Marvel misfire, and a film that was pitched by the owner of the company that made it.
When Marvel first for into making films, it secured over $500m via a major loan to fund its plans. It was felt that a Hulk movie, The Incredible Hulk, was needed quickly to help pay things off. That and Iron Man thus went into production at the same time - and one would go a lot, lot smoother than the other.
Life meanwhile is an often-overlooked sci-fi hit from 2017. Not only is it a good film, though, but it came together very, very quickly. And for writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Rheese, they were given a one line idea and around a month to work out just what the resultant film would be. Plus: the shadow of the not-dissimilar Alien: Covenant was on the horizon...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is chatting to director Joe Stephenson, and actor/producer Scott Chambers. It turns into quite a chat, only temporarily interrupted by a cup of coffee.
Stephenson is the director of Doctor Jekyll, in which Chambers co-stars with Eddie Izzard. He talks about trying to get a sub-£1m film moving in the UK, and how it ended up getting a posh London premiere. He chats too about films such as Chicken and McKellen: Playing The Part.
Scott Chambers chats too about his acting work in the film, but also we dig into his own secret identity, as the producer of over 100 low budget films such as Jurassic Island, Crocodile Vengeance and Darker Shades Of Elise....
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This time in the Film Stories podcast, the fast turnaround of the first Knives Out movie, and a Hugh Grant-headlined comedy drama, where Four Weddings Hugh Grant was absolutely not required.
Writer/director Rian Johnson has admitted in the past that he's not a fast writer. However, when an opportunity arose to bring a murder mystery whodunnit to the screen - long a passion project of Johnson's - he was going to have to move fast. Thanks to his Star Wars commitments, he and producer Ram Bergman had a 12 month window to write Knives Out, cast it, finance it, and shoot it. All in one calendar year.
2002's About A Boy didn't move quite that quickly, but this time the catalyst was a novel from Nick Hornby that got leaked to Hollywood early. A big bidding war led to a big cheque for the rights - but there'd be a change of director, a brief flirtation with Brad Pitt and a change of studio before it ultimately got made.
Stories of both films are told in this episode.
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It's a Kevin Costner double bill in the latest episode of Film Stories - and whilst the films are very different, there is a link between them.
1987's No Way Out is actually a remake, something its director - Roger Donaldson - wasn't actually aware of. One of the very best thrillers of the 1980s - especially if you don't know its twists and turns - its release actually ended up being held back to see if another Costner-headlined movie would prove more successful first.
Yet it was the ultimate success of No Way Out that finally led to Bull Durham getting off the ground, after a hell of a challenge to raise the money for the movie. Not the only challenge, either: an executive at Orion Pictures was causing problems, and there was a casting demand that wasn't going away...
Both films are covered in this episode. Both films are also making their UK Blu-ray debut this month, and you can find details on the releases at store.filmstories.co.uk
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Ah-ha! Two of the most acclaimed British directors of the 2010s take centre stage in this episode, albeit with very, very different films.
Christopher Nolan originally envisaged his dreamy heist movie Inception as a low budget feature. But just after he'd made Insomnia, he got 80 pages into what he felt the film should be and hit a stumbling block. Two Batman movies and The Prestige later and he finally began to crack it - and things built from there.
It was a lengthy journey too to bring the dark British comedy Sightseers to the screen, a road that began when Alice Lowe and Steve Oram started working on the two lead characters in an Ealing comedy club. And - with a helping hand from Edgar Wright - their work would come to the attention of a fast-rising director by the name of Ben Wheatley...
The stories of both films are told in this episode.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, director Oliver Parker joins Simon for a long chat about his latest film, and his career. The new film is The Great Escaper, starring Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson. They natter about how the film came to be, and the challenges involved in making the film.
They also recall when Parker managed to get Othello down to just over two hours, and running times in general. Plus, in a not entirely expected turn, they end up chatting too about Clive Barker, and the plans once upon a time to bring Hellraiser to the stage!
The Great Escaper is in UK cinemas on October 6th 2023.
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After an unscheduled week break (sorry!), the Film Stories podcast returns with the stories of two superb modern fantasy films.
Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning The Shape Of Water owes a debt to a 1950s horror, and an original idea that came to someone in their teenage years. When it came time to make the film? The budget was always going to be tight, but del Toro faced two different funding options for two different ways to make the film.
Juan Antonio Bayona's A Monster Calls, meanwhile, had a relatively swift journey to the screen, although the push to work with practical effects wherever possible did have an impact on the making of the film. Casting proved a challenge, too...
Stories of both are told in this very episode...
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R-rated movies from major studios. R-rated comic book movies from major studios. R-rated comic book movies that don't even mention the name of the umbrella franchise in the title. These were not the norm when Hugh Jackman and writer/director James Mangold somehow talked 20th Century Fox into what became Logan. Yet ironically, as the mainline X-Men franchise stumbled, it was the R-rated entries that were delivering...
Also delivering? The revival of Evil Dead on the big screen with Evil Dead Rise. It took ten years and a four season TV show in-between to bring the franchise back to cinemas, even if at one point the plan was to go straight to streaming. And it was an upcoming director who was given the responsibility...
Stories of both are told in this episode. Please don't forget to subscribe and leave a glowing review. You're lovely. Ta.
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It's been over a decade since the debate first ignited: is Tom Cruise the right person to play the character of Jack Reacher? The answer came originally in the form of a 2012 movie, although the first big screen outing for Lee Child's famous character had been in development for well over a decade by that point.
In the end, Werner Herzog was recruited too. But it was the choice of director that would have a lasting impact on Tom Cruise's career.
The film Once though had barely any expectations on it, even for a cinema release. A few screens in Dublin, maybe? And when Cillian Murphy left the film, it looked like the tiny budget would fall away anyway. What happened next? Well it was that rarest of movie fairytales...
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For the latest episode of the Film Stories podcast, a war movie, a boxing movie, and a few problems in the making of both.
1963's The Great Escape was a film that director John Sturges couldn't initially get off the ground, and he needed his success with The Magnificent Seven to make it happen. When it did? It wasn't the easiest of productions, with a lot of chopped down trees, and a star who wasn't happy with his part in the film.
Sylvester Stallone wasn't initially chomping at the bit to make Rocky III meanwhile, but when he opted to make the movie, his script would reflect the difficulties he was facing himself at the time. Then there was the small matter of finding the actor to play his opponent: Clubber Lang...
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The podcast is fully back up and running again, and this time, we turn our attention to the return of Hannibal Lecter.
2001's Hannibal was the long-awaited return of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter to the big screen, following 1991's The Silence Of The Lambs. But the original director didn't return. The original screenwriter didn't return. One of the two Oscar-winning stars didn't return. And a chance meeting in Malta - as Ridley Scott was shooting Gladiator - was what helped push things forward.
The gestation of I, Daniel Blake was a little more straightforward, as writer Paul Laverty and director Ken Loach went about their familiar process: this time, though, they'd be making a film with fairly quick ramifications. What's more, casting a lead actor who was just on the verge of jacking it all in...
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After a longer than originally planned gap (due to a dodgy voice!), the Film Stories podcast returns from its summer snooze. And what better way to start than with not one T2, but a pair of them.
First up? Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a film that cost its makers $15m just for the rights to. That, and enormous cheques to writer/director James Cameron, and leading man Arnold Schwarzenegger. All well and good: but they didn't actually have a lot of time to make the actual film.
The passing of time was one thing T2 Trainspotting had fewer worries about, arriving over 20 years following the original film. One of the key hold ups? A long-running falling out between director Danny Boyle and leading man Ewan McGregor...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that were - in the end - turned around to very tight deadlines. One slightly more expensive than the other!
The challenge with 2015's Spectre was to follow up the most successful James Bond film of all time. Skyfall had grossed over $1bn: but its director, Sam Mendes, wasn't keen originally to return for Spectre. And when the film did get filming, star Daniel Craig was covering the fact that he had a broken leg.
Less high profile drama followed 1996's When Saturday Comes, but the Sean Bean-headlined football drama still faced some uphill challenges of its own...
This is the last Film Stories episode before a summer break. In true James Bond style, Film Stories will return...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a hugely risky studio movie, and a bit of a breakthrough role for Daniel Craig.
The Insider, from Michael Mann, was telling a story about a piece of modern history just years old when the movie was made. As such, there was a huge risk of litigation, and whichever studio took the movie on was opening itself to huge risks, with no obvious box office upside. Incredibly, Disney said yes.
Matthew Vaughn meanwhile had come to prominence producing Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, that Guy Ritchie had directed. A trip to a football match unlocked the path to a new project, Layer Cake, that he'd planned for Ritchie to direct too. But when Ritchie said no? Vaughn swiftly moved to plan B...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, we're digging into the story of a much-loved modern classic.
Two films in 1990 arrived based around the story of real-life gangster Henry Hill. Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas though is something very special: Scorsese took a rare co-writing credit on the film, although at one stage, it was being suggested that Tom Cruise and Madonna take lead roles...
In the second half of the episode, we're joined by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, chatting not just Indiana Jones, but also films such as Noises Off, Jurassic Park III and Alive.
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In a very special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by the co-writer and director of the latest – and last – Indiana Jones film, James Mangold.
The pair spend some time chatting about Indiana Jones & The Dial Of Destiny, and also explore parts of the making of Cop Land and Heavy. There’s chat about Le Mans ’66 and Brummie accents, before a chunter too about Mangold’s hugely underappreciated film, Girl, Interrupted.
Hope you enjoy the conversation. As this podcast episode is being released, Indiana Jones & The Dial Of Destiny is playing in cinemas around the world.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that might just have had a bit of overlap to them!
Olympus Has Fallen began life many years before it got to the screen, but it had an added advantage over its rival in that it had a movie star in place - and Gerard Butler wanted to up the violence quotient a little too.
Sony meanwhile was spending a lot more money on a rival project, White House Down, that started filming last, but tried to release first. Turns out it had a bit of a film story of its own to it, too.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that both hit problems with one of their lead roles...
2004's Spider-Man 2 is (rightly) regarded as one of the finest superhero films, and that's impressive in itself given the tight turnaround that Sony wanted on the film. However, just weeks before filming was about to begin, there was even sizeable doubt that its leading man would be returning.
2022's The Menu meanwhile did have to change things around, having originally been set up in 2019 with a different director and a different star in one of its lead roles. And when it did come back together, there were serious doubts about whether people were even going out to the cinema to watch films like it too...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a massive hit sci-fi movie that came from smaller origins, and a baseball film that, well, hit problems.
The story of I, Robot the movie - in theory based on the work of Isaac Asimov - started with an indie script that was set effectively in one room. But over time, the film escalated, at one stage attracting Arnold Schwarzenegger. Still, when it got made, there was a disagreement ahead...
There was a hell of a disagreement on 1999's baseball movie For Love Of The Game too, regarded as the forgotten Kevin Costner baseball movie. Directed by Sam Raimi, things were going find - right up until very different views on the final cut of the film...
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A very special episode of Film Stories, with a very special guest: producer Barbara DeFina.
She tells us what's she currently up to, and takes us through her early work with Sidney Lumet. Then, the many films she produced for Martin Scorsese, including the particular challenges of The Last Temptation Of Christ, Casino, and finding the right house for Cape Fear. There's a bit of Goodfellas in the conversation as well.
It's a far-ranging conversation. Hope you enjoy it.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two relatively low budget films that both proved bigger hits than expected.
For writer/director Zach Cregger, he was in 'director jail' following the commercial disappointment of his first couple of films. Still, he managed to get his new film, Barbarian, into place (with a bit of help from a spreadsheet). The problem? Funding fell away just days before filming...
In the case of Superbad, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were teenagers when they first wrote the script. In fact, Rogen at one point was going to star - but it took a little too long to get to the screen for that to happen.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the difficult journey back to Middle Earth, and the first animated film from DreamWorks.
Following the success of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, it seemed straightforward that at some point, The Hobbit would make it back to the screen. But the path there would prove far more difficult than originally thought, thanks to legal issues, financial issues, and a late change of director.
With Antz, the first animated film from DreamWorks had a lot of pathfinding to get through just to get made - and then its release date was moved forward, meaning it was a race against time to get the film completed, before Pixar's A Bug's Life stole its thunder.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the continued attempt to find box office life in the Terminator films, and a modestly-priced movie that demonstrated the power of a trailer.
For the third attempt to make a new Terminator trilogy of movies, the plan this time was more straightforward: bring James Cameron back to the series, and give him a big chunk of creative power again. With Deadpool director Tim Miller also on board, hopes were high - but problems were mounting.
The simple concept of a bear taking a lot of cocaine meanwhile became fuel for a very R-rated studio film - even if there was some dispute about the title for a while...
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Hollywood royalty joins the Film Stories podcast for this special episode, as writer, producer and director James L Brooks.
The starting point for the chat is a film that Brooks has produced, the long awaited screen adaptation of Judy Blume's Are You There God, It's Me Margaret.
And then they get chatting about making movies, about the 1994 box office disappointment I'll Do Anything, a brief drive by As Good As It Gets, and a few hints as to the film he's workong on next.
Are You There God, It's Me Margaret is in UK cinemas now.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two very big blockbuster films, one of which had more joy finding an audience than the other.
1996's Independence Day came together at surprising speed, with creative duo Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin wary that Mars Attacks! was on the way too. And there was the small matter of getting the film's Superbowl trailer right as well.
Battleship was to be the first of up to six pictures based on board games and Hasbro properties at Universal, but at one stage, the studio's new chairperson had a choice: accept a $30m write-off, or carry on with the picture.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of 2014 releases: one of which sent a movie star grey, the other sending its director to movie jail.
Collateral marks one of the darker leading roles in Tom Cruise's career. But for a while, the film was actually set to feature Russell Crowe and Adam Sandler in its lead roles. Furthermore, the spark for the movie came when its writer was in his late teens.
The idea of bringing the hugely successful TV show Thunderbirds to the screen in a bigger budget movie had been around for a while. But when Spy Kids and the Harry Potter movies went big, so did plans for Thunderbirds - even if it didn't involve the people who created the show in the first place.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two successful movies, one of which cost a lot more money than the othert!
2005's Batman Begins gave filmmaker Christopher Nolan the latitude to properly reboot and reinvent Batman on the big screen. But he still insisted on building part of the film in his garage, and he wasn't Warner Bros' initial choice either.
With The Guard, writer/director John Michael McDonagh was coming off the back of a bad experience on 2003's Ned Kelly movie. This time, he was going to direct the film himself - even if investors didn't entirely appreciate what they might be getting.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of hit films that hit at the box office, but also that each met a challenge or two.
The idea of a Hollywood take on TV show The Equalizer had been knocking around since the mid-2000s, and for a while it looked as if Russell Crowe was going to take on the lead role. But then the idea of Denzel Washington starring was mooted - leading to eight months of intensive script work to try and win him over.
It was in 1992 that the rights were picked up to remake 1940 romantic comedy The Shop Around The Corner. But it'd take the advent of widespread email use to work out a modern way forward for the story. That, and the touch of the late Nora Ephron.
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It's a very welcome return to the Film Stories podcast for the brilliant Dexter Fletcher, as he joins Simon for a special episode.
In this one, they talk about Dexter's new film - Ghosted - and the challenges involved in making it. That, and his abandoned attempt to make The Saint, working alongside movie stars in nice jumpers, late casting replacements and a whole lot more. Plus, he still wants to make a James Bond picture...
Ghosted is out now on Apple TV+.
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In a bonus special episode of Film Stories, here's a collection of interviews from our live shows that take place around the UK. At each show, we talk to people in and around the world of film, and get their stories. In this collection:
Oscar-winner Nina Hartstone on Bohemian Rhapsody, Cats, Cyborg Cop, and recreating a certain sound that I'm certainly not writing down here.
Independent filmmaker Cassiah Joski-Jethi on her writing and directing work, watching Shrek a lot, and meeting Gurinder Chadha on a train.
Children's TV legend Simon Hickson on his television work, and then his move into the world of Medicinema.
To find out where a Film Stories Movie Geek Live show is near you, head to https://www.filmstories.co.uk/live-events/
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that were released in unusual times for the pair of them!
1990's The Hunt For Red October is a cold war thriller, that landed as the Cold War was thawing. It had a different problem too: a week or two into filming, its leading man needed very quick replacing - and a fax went over to Sean Connery...
The idea of bringing together Godzilla and King Kong for a movie together meanwhile led to a bit of studio jostling - and then, of course, when Godzilla Vs Kong finally landed, a global pandemic had significantly changed Warner Bros' release strategy.
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In a very, very special episode of Film Stories, four-time Oscar winner Nick Park joins Simon for a conversation about his work and career.
So much is covered here: from the genesis of Wallace & Gromit and the early days trying to break into animation, through to the seven-year journey of A Grand Day Out and being presented an Oscar by Woody Woodpecker.
They also chat about Nick joining Aardman, the making of The Wrong Trousers (now 30 years old, remarkably!), the ramping up to a feature film, the making of Chicken Run, and working alongside DreamWorks. Plus the Wallace & Gromit movie, Early Man, and what he's up to next...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a hit Spider-Man spin-off, and the film that tried to capitalise on the success of Basic Instinct.
The first talk of a Venom movie came about in the late 1990s. But eventually, Sony would start developing the film as part of its Spider-Man rights package. The problem? It kept rebooting Spider-Man, and that kept resetting its Venom plans.
Big things were expected of 1993's erotic thriller Sliver, meanwhile. But a hugely ambitious final act was originally shot involving a volcano, that nearly led to the death of two people. And, well, let's just say that on set, not everyone was getting along...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon welcome director Jeremy Garelick for a chat about his work.
They talk about the newly-released Murder Mystery 2, as well as The Wedding Ringer, The Break Up and a few projects that didn't come to pass. And then about the eureka moment that led to Garelick searching for a disused high school for sale - and the number of films that suddenly seemed to unlock.
Murder Mystery 2 is on Netflix now.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a much-loved original, and its subsequent remake.
1969's The Italian Job came about in part due to Paramount Pictures wanting to make movies in the UK. But it was tough to get cooperation from the manufacturer of Mini cars, its famous ending came about very late in the day, and apparently - 30 years after its release - the film was still in debt!
Still, a planned remake went ahead, but the story of it for a long time was that of one of its co-star - Edward Norton - who famously didn't want to appear in the film (but ended up having to do so, under threat of legal action). 2003's The Italian Job was not without one or two other stories behind it too...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two modestly-costed movies from 2014 that turned out to be really rather successful.
Writer Derek Kolstad had got his first screen credit on a Dolph Lundgren-headlined movie. And he had a plan for a slimmed down action movie, with a 75-year old lead character. Things changed though when a man called Keanu Reeves got interested in it.
With It Follows, writer/director David Robert Mitchell had actually planned to do a different movie, until it became clear that it'd be easier to get his horror project funded. But it was still low budget enough to give him absolute control over how he wanted to shoot it...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that were adapted for the screen - albeit in very different ways.
Author Frank Miller wasn't looking to let Hollywood bring his acclaimed Sin City to the big screen. Yet filmmaker Robert Rodriguez had an unusual approach, and his own film studio to help him realise it. Plus, he wasn't strictly looking to do an adaptation anyway.
A little more straightforward was The Fault In Our Stars, adapted by John Green's novel. The trick here was to go quicker, and to have a division of a studio - the much-missed Fox 2000 - able to get the film made on a low budget. There was still a tiny permission problem when it came to filming, though...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that took a long time to come together, and an attempt by Sylvester Stallone to change direction.
1992's Basic Instinct didn't immediately seem an obvious candidate for a sequel. A huge box office take soon changed that - but the path to the follow-up would involve a bankruptcy, a legal case, and a lot of people turning the project down. Until all of a sudden, it came together...
Daylight was a quicker film to come together, and for Sylvester Stallone, a very lucrative one. He secured a huge pay packet, but also signalled a change in direction for his career. Things didn't quite go to plan.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer, producer and director Aline Brosh McKenna.
They talk about her feature directorial debut Your Place Or Mine, and the journey to get to that point. Plus, they go over projects such as The Devil Wears Prada, Morning Glory, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, We Bought A Zoo and a whole lot more. Plus, her journey into film, and a whole lot more.
Your Place Or Mine is on Netflix.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the belated return of Indiana Jones, and a smart British zombie film that faced a fair few challenges.
After the huge success of the much-loved Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade at the end of the 1980s, there was an ongoing clamour for a fourth Indiana Jones adventure. But George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford had packed schedules - and didn't always see eye to eye on where to go next.
Things were more straightforward story-wise with The Girl With All The Gifts. Author M R Carey was pretty much writing the novel and the screenplay of the story at the same time. And with a tenacious producer, funding slowly came together...
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by a legend of American independent cinema, John Sayles.
In a far-reaching conversation, they talk about John's new novel - Jamie MacGillivray: The Renegade's Journey - as well as the movie origins of the project. Plus they go back over Sayles' career, the way he managed to get his films made, ownership and copyright, battles with a movie studio and a whole lot more.
Plus: a few thoughts on where cinema stands now, and a screening too of Avatar: The Way Of Water...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how James Bond responded to Star Wars, and a comedy that onlookers had all but written off.
Moonraker wasn't expected to be the Roger Moore James Bond adventure to follow up The Spy Who Loved Me. But then Star Wars happened, and a co-production deal opened up some funding too. 007 was going to space.
More down to earth was comedy sleeper hit Look Who's Talking, a genuinely sleeper success that in turn made Bruce Willis very rich for four days of work. It's also the first film on this podcast that involves puppeteers operating sperm.
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Well, crikey.
In a very special episode of the Film Stories podcast, two things to tell you about. Firstly, this is episode 300: thank you so much for everyone who's helped me get here.
Secondly, the special guest for this episode is Hugh Jackman. We were talking in London about his latest film, The Son, but also snuck one or two other things in there as well. He seemed quite taken with it being episode 300, as you're about to hear...
Thanks for all your support, folks. Hope you enjoy the episode...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how the Die Hard franchise came to a crashing end, and an Elvis Presley biopic finally got over the line.
There's not a lot of love out there for A Good Day To Die Hard (2013), and with good reason. But the intent behind it was sound, and the man who landed the director's chair was a clear fan of the series.
Producer Gail Berman meanwhile was the person who did a lot battling to bring 2022's Elvis to the screen - not least securing the necessary music rights to Presley's catalogue twice to ensure the project kept moving. And then Baz Luhrmann got involved...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the film that gave Tim Burton his first hit in over half a decade, and a golfing comedy that took a bit of a path to the screen.
Director Tim Burton lost around a year of his working life when the planned Superman Lives film with Nicolas Cage collapsed. Which is when a script to Sleepy Hollow - that had been sat in Hollywood development for years - was sent in his direction.
The script for the charming The Phantom Of The Open originally got no traction at all. As such, its story was published in a book, an option was taken out on said book, and the process had to pretty much start all over again.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writers and producers Pen Densham and John Watson. Their story covers a lot of short films, working with Sylvester Stallone to reshape the ending of Rocky II, and the writing and producing 1991's Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. That involved a battle of the Robin Hoods too, and they also had Backdraft in production at the same time.
The pair tell their stories in this episode, and there's just time at the end for a quick venture into The Dangerous Lives Of The Altar Boys too...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that wasn't originally in the plans, and a comedy where more spin-offs were due to follow.
After the very, very difficult shoot of The Bourne Identity, the key creatives weren't rushing to return for The Bourne Supremacy. There was little chance of director Doug Liman coming back either - and that meant a turn in a slightly different direction for the franchise.
With Bad Moms meanwhile, the hit comedy lost its original studio backer and then found a home that worked: but plans for spin-offs and further sequels soon hit the buffers. But not before a hit movie came together.
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Here's a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, that might just be of interest for any filmmaker fighting their way to get a feature made. Jon Wright's new film, Unwelcome, has the backing of Warner Bros, and it's a UK horror film that gets a full national release.
It's been quite a journey for Wright to get this far, and he tells the story in this podcast special, which also takes in films such as Tormented, Robot Overlords and Grabbers. Plus there's a bit of a story for 2000AD fans too...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of hit movies, with a religious edge to each.
Filmmaker M Night Shyamalan admitted he came to Signs off the back of the mixed response to his previous film, Unbreakable. He came up with a project initially for an older actor, that blended two key ideas - and the bidding war in Hollywood for the film was a swift one.
There was a bidding war too for the screen rights to Dan Brown's extraordinarily successful book, The Da Vinci Code. At first, there was a chance it could go to TV, but $6m of Sony's money did the job - and a whole lot of controversy was just around the corner...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an action film that took time to find its audience, and a Formula 1 movie made as a British independent film.
Road House (1989) saw Patrick Swayze battling with a knee that had to be regularly drained, and also saw producer Joel Silver on the hunt for a Die Hard-size hit. Plus: the most expensive scene in this action favourite didn't involve any fighting at all.
Up until he directed Rush (2013), Ron Howard had made his films for Hollywood studios and within the Hollywood system. When he stepped in to take on this film, though, the financial safety nets were long, long gone...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hugely acclaimed and much-loved movies, that each had their challenges.
When writer/director Michael Mann first happened upon the story that would become Heat, he wasn't in a position to turn it into a major feature film. But he clearly had some unfinished business with the material.
Alexander Payne had planned to make Sideways after his success with Election. But even get the source novel published had proven to be a challenge. The film adaptation? Well, that ended up with some waiting to do as well...
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For a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Marc Forster for a conversation. They chat about Forster's latest movie, A Man Called Otto, a film that seemed to come together really quickly, but actually has been percolating for some time.
They also chat about Forster's decision in his teens to up sticks to America. And there's time too for a story from the making of Forster's Stranger Than Fiction...
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For the final episode of Film Stories in 2022, something a bit special: a welcome back to director Phil Alden Robinson, who joins Simon to tell the story of 2002's Tom Clancy adaptation, The Sum Of All Fears.
They talk about how Robinson came to the project, and the challenge when they ended up having to use locations booked for an entirely different film. Plus, dealing with Tom Clancy, the possible sequel that never was, and the incredibly spoiler-y trailer for the film. Robinson also chats about his late addition to directing Band Of Brothers, and what happened post-The Sum Of All Fears.
Thanks to everybody who's supported Film Stories this year. The podcast returns in 2023...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films from top notch filmmakers take centre stage.
1992's The Last Of The Mohicans, from Michael Mann, wasn't the easiest of productions. From personnel leaving and the threat of strike action, to the months of required training and the difficulty landing the score, it proved quite the challenge.
The Coen Brothers' O Brother Where Are Thou? was a lot calmer by comparison. George Clooney, for instance, signed on without reading the script. But there was still a bit of groundbreaking technical work that needed to be done - and a lot of music that needed to be recorded before filming could begin...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstories
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer and director Ol Parker, with the pair chatting about his latest film, Ticket To Paradise.
They look at how the film came together, and the challenges of making a film led by two major movie stars. Parker also candidly discusses the response to the movie, and the less than stellar critical response to it. He also talks about further projects, and what may lie ahead.
Ticket To Paradise is available on demand, and on DVD and Blu-ray, now.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a dash of the festive spirit as two Christmas-set movies take centre stage.
The first Lethal Weapon movie came together in just a few years, sparked by then-twentysomething Shane Black's script. The project was offered to Leonard Nimoy to look at before Richard Donner signed on the dotted line to direct - and it remains a casting masterclass too.
Jingle All The Way meanwhile came together even quicker, with Arnold Schwarzenegger suddenly having a gap in his schedule once a planned Planet Of The Apes movie he was attached to fell apart. Just six months after filming began, the film would be in cinemas - and that didn't help the movie's merchandising plans.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstories
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Oscar-winning film composer Michael Giacchino. Michael's in the awards running again for his score to The Batman, and that's one of the subjects they talk about (the film is widely available now).
They also chat about getting started, about juggling multiple projects, making sure you finish work on time, and general nerdy stuff. Simon nearly manages to offend him too. Ulp...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a much-loved box office disappointment, and a film that burned through a lot of directors
The late, great Jim Henson earned a success with The Dark Crystal, but he knew he wanted his next film to be a bit lighter, and to have human characters in it too. 25 drafts of the script and story later, Labyrinth went before the cameras - but with a lot of challenges in its path.
Uncharted meanwhile started its way to the big screen in 2008. By the time cameras rolled over a decade later, six different directors would have left the project.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Matthew Warchus and screenwriter Dennis Kelly, with the focus primarily being 2022's Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical.
In their conversation, they talk about taking the hugely success musical from stage to screen, and how brutal they had to be as they did so. They chat too the many, many drafts of the script, the songs that were filmed but which didn't make the finally cut, and a bit of CG involving a giraffe.
You also get little mentions of both Pride and Utopia too, and the pair both end up with what their clickbait news stories would be...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films from the 1990s that attracted awards attention - one with less controversy than the other.
After the way his first film was treated, writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson was adamant things would be different with his second. But who would give a twentysomething filmmaker $15m and creative control for a film on the surface about making adult movies? And why would Burt Reynolds get so upset?
Things were more straightforward with 1992's Unforgiven, the film that finally bagged Clint Eastwood an Oscar he never expected to see. However, Eastwood nearly missed the script altogether when he was recommended to avoid it. And even when he read it, it'd be a long, long wait for the film.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon chats to Oscar-winning Disney producer Roy Conli, in part about the new animated film, Strange World.
Their chat takes them back to Roy's theatrical origins but also the teacher who pushed him to read. On top of that though, they get into the Oscar bet that Roy didn't deliver on, the new bet that hopefully he will, and the ongoing challenge of making feature films!
Strange World is in UK cinemas on the very day this podcast lands...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of 1990s summer blockbusters - one of which proved more problematic than the other.
Come 1990 and there were three competing Robin Hood projects on the way from Hollywood. But it was 1991's Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves that won the race to the screen. It'd be fair to say it was not an easy journey to get there.
Off the back of making GoldenEye, Pierce Brosnan was looking for new projects - and he settled on a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. Small problem though about trying to make a movie about a museum heist: museums don't seem very keen to let you film on their premises...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon chats to writer/director James Gray. The pair met around the time of the release of his film Armageddon Time, and they chat about the complexities of getting such a movie through the studio system.
It's a really candid chat this, as Gray explores opening up his family life for a film, and his feelings on the current state of cinema. Plus, isn't it about time they brought back curtains in cinemas?
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that hardy set the box office alight - although the fallout from one was a lot, lot louder than the other!
Ed Wood was a movie Tim Burton decided to make when he walked away from a higher profile project. However, the studio paying for the movie panicked a month before production and tried to box Burton into a deal. He wasn't playing ball, though.
The Last Duel was a movie project that took over a decade to reach the screen, with the source book optioned three different times (Martin Scorsese circled the project for a while). But then in came Ridley Scott, in come disappointing box office, and in came quite the aftermath...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that was a beast to make, and a British book adaptation that Tom Hanks sort-of-unlocked.
Aliens remains the template for how to make an excellent sequel - but heck, was it beset by problems. Not least that writer/director James Cameron and the crew at Pinewood Studios making the film were not exactly on each other's Christmas card lists.
Starter For Ten was a bit more straightforward, but even then, it took American money to bring a very British book to the screen. All in a film that had a hand in launching a lot of big name careers...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit films come under the microscope - but one of them nearly fell apart days before filming was due to begin.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would become for a long time the most successful independent film of all time in terms of box office returns. Yet none of the major studio would commit to the film, and it'd take a late deal to save the movie.
Timecop had a much clearer path the big screen, and this was Jean-Claude Van Damme trying to emulate the success of Arnold Schwarzenegger and cross over into the mainstream. Just don't ask him about the plans for a sequel...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two very successful films - one of which nearly lost the confidence of its parent studio
The tale behind Hidden Figures had seemingly been all but lost to history. That was until one writer went digging, and then a producer won a bidding war for movie rights in which barely anyone else was interested. A late release date change also would prove inspired.
The LEGO Movie meanwhile would take some negotiating to even get off the ground. And when it did? Warner Bros brought in two funding partners and sold off a sizeable percentage of its box office receipts too. It was not the studio's wisest move...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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Paul Feig is a busy man. He's got a new film (The School For Good And Evil) and a new cocktail book too. But he squeezed some time into his schedule for a special podcast recording, where he chats to Simon about his directorial career.
Recorded in front of a live audience in London, the pair chat about Paul Feig's early stand-up and acting work, the films that landed him in movie jail, and then the run of Freaks & Geeks, Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, Ghostbusters: Answer The Call, A Simple Favour, Last Christmas and, of course, The School For Good And Evil.
It was quite an evening, and the audio is presented in full here. Right down to the Ski Patrol chat...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that faced their challenges, but one came out of it all better than the other.
A third Blade film was announced even before Blade II had arrived in cinemas. David S Goyer took on the director's chair, but to say the production had a few problems would be quite the understatement. Gulp.
Things were a little smoother with 1992's Candyman, although writer/director Bernard Rose was first approached about a different Clive Barker story to adapt. But three different financiers meant there were differing opinions about the film behind the scenes - and distribution wasn't entirely straightforward either.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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After building a strong career as an actor over the past few decades, Frances O'Connor has now taken the jump into feature writing and directing. In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, she chats to Simon about why she's decided to take the plunge now, and what was it that unlocked her film, Emily.
She takes us into the writing process of the film, the battle to get funding, and making the move into directing. Plus, there's time for a little bit of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence chatter in there too...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that hit much bigger than expected - each of which changed a lot in post-production.
Horror hit Paranormal Activity actually first debuted on screen in 2007. But it'd be two years before it got a full wide release in cinemas, and by then the ending would have undergone changes (and a planned remake abandoned).
20th Century Fox was having doubts about 1985's Cocoon, meanwhile, to the point where Robert Zemeckis was fired as its director (making Back To The Future instead!). In came Ron Howard though, and changes would get underway...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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Decade after decade, director Stephen Frears has maintained an enviable output of movies and TV shows, and his latest film - The Lost King - is now playing in UK cinemas. He joins Simon for a podcast special, where they chat about his work, from breaking through with My Beautiful Laundrette, to the ultra-fast turnaround of Dangerous Liaisons.
They also talk about the perils of making studio films in Hollywood, why The Queen went to cinemas rather than TV (and legal advice was involved!), and the assorted challenges of The Lost King...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films released within a few months of each other, that had one or two things in common.
The Silence Of The Lambs was originally earmarked by Gene Hackman for his directorial debut, and a deal was struck for the book rights. But the story's violence was putting people off, and there was a bit of a rights hurdle that had to be negotiated too.
Things with Toy Soldiers were lower profile, but still: at one stage this low-ish budget action film was being adapted with Midnight Cowboy director John Schlesinger in mind - and then the company backing the project decided to drop out.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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Recorded before a live audience in London in September 2022, this very special episode of Film Stories sees Simon in conversation with writer and director Gurinder Chadha OBE.
They chat about her early days, how she broke into movies with I'm British But... and the wonderful Bhaji On The Beach. And then she takes us through tales of films such as Bend It Like Beckham, Angus Thongs & Perfect Snogging, Viceroy's House, What's Cookin' and Bride & Prejudice. Be sure too to keep an ear out for the audience gasp when Gurinder reveals the movie she turned down...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two movies that hit at the box office - but it didn't stop one of them being regarded a commercial disappointment.
2006's Mission: Impossible III went though a range of directors before Tom Cruise settled on giving JJ Abrams his feature directorial debut. But that decision brought with it delays, and the film's aftermath would see Cruise's deal with Paramount come to an end (temporarily).
The Birdcage meanwhile landed on Oscar-winner Mike Nichols' plate at a point where people were beginning to feel his hit movie days were behind him. Nichols though would turn a Harrison Ford movie down in order to take this one on - and to work again with Elaine May.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a franchise-starting hit, and a modest thriller with an impressive roster of personnel.
The success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now written large into movie history - but it's often forgotten just what a risk the first Iron Man movie was. And also, that it was arguably Marvel's most tight-fisted production too.
Pacific Heights was more modest, but did attract a legendary director, and in Michael Keaton, a man who'd just brought Batman to the big screen. Yet there were, as it turns out, behind the scenes problems on this one...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two big hit movies - but both of them took at least a decade to make it to the screen.
In the case of I Am Legend, the latest take on the story was all ready to go in 1997 with Ridley Scott directing and Arnold Schwarzenegger starring: but not everything went to plan there. And there'd be other attempts that failed before we got the version we got.
There's Something About Mary didn't start out as the raunchy comedy it became - but after five years sitting still in development hell, a Writers Guild Of America rule change suddenly worked to its favour.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon chats to Jan De Bont about his extensive movie career.
They chat about his work as cinematographer on movies as varied as Die Hard, Flatliners, The Hunt For Red October and Black Rain. They chat too about De Bont nearly having his face fully ripped off by a wild animal while shooting Roar. And then there's his work as a director, specifically Speed and Twister.
Flatliners has just been released by Arrow on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, and is available now.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a massive film that didn't cost too much, and a box office disappointment that did.
1999's The Sixth Sense would prove to be an absolute box office sensation: but heck. Disney wasn't happy about making it. The executive who gave the film the greenlight would ultimately lose his job, and Disney would sell off most distribution rights before it was released. But why?
Pixels meanwhile was the last film in Adam Sandler's long-running deal with Sony Pictures, and was chosen only after the studio had turned one or two other Sandler projects down. On paper, combining classic videogame characters with a live action New York-set family feature seemed a good idea. But things did not go to plan.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that went through some tough physical production.
Mind you, Quentin Tarantino's second western, The Hateful Eight, nearly didn't get as far as production. A script leak, a law suit, Tarantino dropping the project? That was all before filming began, and the idea of shooting on location in freezing cold conditions suddenly seemed a bit... taxing.
The location shoot for Romancing The Stone sequel The Jewel Of The Nile was taxing in the other direction. Piping hit temperatures, a change in personnel behind the camera, and a co-star who was contractually obliged to appear? Yep, this one was a bit of a saga.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon chats to Hollywood producer Will Packer. It's a good long chat, so they get to chew over Beast, ladder holding in Hollywood, getting non-franchise films off the ground, and the odd ways people pitch projects to Packer!
Beast is in cinemas in the UK on August 26th 2022.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that benefitted from surges in popularity for their leading actors.
The action movie Broken Arrow would ultimately end up in the hands of director John Woo, his second Hollywood feature. John Travolta led the cast. And oddly, it all came together in the way it did thanks to Free Willy 2.
Julia Roberts had already shot Pretty Woman and Flatliners by the time she was signed up for 1991 thriller Sleeping With The Enemy. Sean Connery and Kim Basinger had originally been linked - but 20th Century Fox would end up with one hell of a deal when Roberts signed up.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, David Fincher's last movie for over five years, and the challenge in bringing a much-loved man to the big screen.
Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl was an absolute publishing sensation. But even before it was released, Reese Witherspoon had snapped it up. Gillian Flynn meanwhile was able to strike an unusual deal for her book, that left her in charge of its adaptation.
The script approach for the story of Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, went through some fairly dramatic changes. In the end, it'd take nearly a decade to bring to the screen...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a Film Stories special episode, Oscar-nominated director John Madden reflects with Simon on the release of his latest film, Operation Mincemeat. The pair look at its changing release plans, and its eventual success. Plus the perils of bringing a true story to the screen.
They also touch on the release of Madden's 2016 film Miss Sloane, and go back to investigate the casting of his breakthrough movie, Mrs Brown. All this and more in our latest special episode...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that delayed production to get their star of choice on board.
The Living Daylights - the 15th James Bond film - ended up with around 18 months start to finish to get made. And it was complicated by the fact that the search for a new 007 wasn't going entirely to plan.
With Crazy Rich Asians, the core of behind the camera creatives would have never had to work again had they sold the film to Netflix. But they accepted a much lower offer from Warner Bros for the film - and they certainly had their reasons for doing so.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of sequels that both did well at the box office, but faced other problems.
Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer should have been fan gold, and was planned to set up a couple more movies. But the Fantastic Four sequel found itself looking a little out of time - and even promoting it, the cracks were showing.
Jaws 3-D meanwhile nearly ended up a very different film: an official Jaws comedy movie called Jaws 3 People 0. When the decision was made to go 3-D instead? Well, again, let's just say there were problems.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a high budget sequel, and Kevin Costner's first box office disappointment.
The original Speed movie was lean, relatively modestly costed and a big, surprise hit. Speed 2 was pretty much the opposite - and its story ended up being reverse-engineered from a dream its director had.
Revenge meanwhile brought together director Tony Scott and star Kevin Costner, but neither would quite get the film they wanted. And Scott didn't have final cut...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a deeper look at a sequel that took a while to happen, and a film that spawned no shortage of sequels itself.
The wheels of Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) started moving nearly a year before the 2009 reboot of the franchise hit the big screen. Yet it'd have to wait, not least for a definite yet from director JJ Abrams. And there'd be a bit of a post-mortem too.
Beethoven meanwhile generated no shortage of follow-ups - but the story goes its original director wasn't, er, overly keen on dogs. Quite the tail (chortle) this one...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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This episode contains spoilers.
In a Film Stories special episode, director Scott Derrickson joins Simon to chat about his new film, The Black Phone. They talk about adapting and changing the source short story, one or two moments within the film itself, right through to overseeing the release of the film.
Note that the discussion does veer into spoiler territory, hence we're releasing this after the film has landed in cinemas. Nothing major, just things you'd likely rather not know until you've seen the movie!
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of comedy sequels, that each managed to financially outperform their predecessors.
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) proved to be a masterclass in how to market a movie. But even ahead of production, all concerned were determined to make it a much bigger film that the original.
Things weren't quite as straightforward on 2001's American Pie 2, a film that originally Universal wasn't in a rush to make, then suddenly was very much in a rush to make. What's more, it underwent quite significant changes in post-production too...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a Film Stories special episode, director Dexter Fletcher returns to the podcast. He chats to Simon about his latest project, the Paramount+ series The Offer, about the making of The Godfather (it's streaming on Paramount+ now).
They also find time to chat about projects as varied as Sherlock Holmes 3, Wild Bill, The Saint, Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman and his upcoming film Ghosted. And we try and land Dexter the Bond job as well...
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In the 250th episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an all-time science fiction classic, and a very difficult comedy sequel.
1987's RoboCop needs little introduction. Yet the ultra-violent crime-battler was the result of two diffierent film ideas being brought into one. And a bit of a battle with the American ratings board was involved too.
Jim Carrey was contractually obliged to make 1995's Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, and it'd put him off sequels for the bulk of his career. Not surprisingly: it proved to be a very, very difficult production.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a Martin Scorsese film that took years to come together, and a career-altering Kevin Smith movie.
The Irishman was a long talked about reunion of Scorsese and Robert De Niro - but it was always set to be expensive, long, and not family-friendly. Just who would want to pay the bill?
Finding a financier was much easier where Kevin Smith's Zack And Miri Make A Porno was concerned - but other problems were around the corner.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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They talk about the coming together of the film, of how it changed since it was originally conceived, and the inclusion of a small shop in London.
Plus, they reflect on Trevorrow's career since his superb debut, Safety Not Guaranteed, and how the ecosystem of the moives has changed since he made it...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a British sensation and the reunion of the Top Gun team.
Trainspotting came together quickly, as director Danny Boyle and his team built on the success of 1995's Shallow Grave. Small problem? Even as the script was being written, the rights to the source book hadn't been secured.
With Days Of Thunder, it looks simple: bring the star, producer and director of Top Gun back together, and box office gold would follow. What happened though was one of the most infamous blockbuster movie shoots of its era.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two box office successes, one far more acclaimed than the other.
Prisoners was the English-language breakthrough film for director Denis Villeneuve. But by the time he got the script, several filmmakers had already come and gone.
Indecent Proposal had no such director trouble, meanwhile. Instead, it had one lead star who wanted to quit, and another whose casting got the studio sued.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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Plus, they touch on David Fincher's impact on Kosinski's career, and the temptation to tinker with the movie during lockdown...
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that did decent box office, but had other problems.
Terminator Salvation ended up in the hands of two producers who got a stroke of luck. However, things began to turn sour as the costs mounted up.
King Ralph meanwhile was a comedy that was filming in the UK - but had to do some careful stepping around the British Royal Family.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of hit family movies with very different stories behind them.
It took a little while for writer/director Paul King to confirm he was returning for Paddington 2. And for the sequel, there was a big idea that didn't fit into the first movie, plus a much-loved sequence that nearly got the chop.
Mrs Doubtfire meanwhile was a film that saw its star, the late Robin Williams, spend over 100 hours in a make-up chair. What's more, it was a movie sparking a lot of behind the scenes debate about its ending.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that both interested Oscar-winning directors - and ended up with different ones.
Steven Spielberg was originally pursuing directing Interstellar. But it was in part for reasons not related to the film he stepped away - and Christopher Nolan took over.
The big screen take on the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street meanwhile had Sam Mendes linked for a while. But it'd be Tim Burton who steered it to the screen - and the trailer proved to be quite infamous.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that - unusually - came together really quickly.
Steven Spielberg had the idea for The Goonies, with Richard Donner directing and Chris Columbus writing. It'd turn out to be a quite a lively shoot, though.
The biggest delay hitting a remake of Father Of The Bride was securing the rights in the first place - oh, and having to replace a major role in the film less than two weeks before filming.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, arguably the forgotten David Fincher movie, and the unmade sequel he nearly directed too.
The Game (1997) originally had a different director involved, but David Fincher was able to get it moving quickly after Seven hit - yet there was a sizeable legal problem with the film.
World War Z 2 should have been a logical project for Paramount after the first film hit, and it quickly greenlit the film. Yet the plug would ultimately be pulled, with the film deep in pre-production.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a trouble Marvel Studios production, and a hugely expensive independent movie. Thor: The Dark World was a sequel quickly greenlit - but it'd prove to one of Marvel's most troubled productions, with problems arising from pretty much the get go. Roland Emmerich meanwhile raised over $130m to shoot one of the world's most expensive independent films, Moonfall. He didn't have studio problems to contend with - but there were plenty of other challenges.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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National Treasure (2004) was originally announced for a summer 2000 release. Yet by the time it finally got going, it had nine writers who'd worked on it - and Nicolas Cage agreeing to star.
1992's Fortress meanwhile was originally developed as a vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger. When he turned it down, the budget was slashed - but in the hands of star Christopher Lambert and director Stuart Gordon, it'd be in profit before it opened in America.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an attempt to launch a cinematic universe, and an attempt to not directly follow-up an earlier success.
The Mummy (2017) was the starting point for Universal's planned Dark Universe of movies. Things changed a little when Tom Cruise was cast - but it became clear too late the project was in trouble.
Following the success of Four Weddings & A Funeral, there was an assumption that 1999's Notting Hill would be a sort-of follow up. Not so, the filmmakers insisted - as they faced the challenge of bringing a huge movie star to the streets of London.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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The World Is Not Enough (1999) brought in new writers, an unlikely director, and the press for an American star. And it got on the nerves of some British MPs...
Coda (2021) meanwhile was shot quickly, after nearly a year of preparation. The wait for its release was a long one - and then it looked like it'd come and gone. But then awards season kicked in.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a notorious film of the 1990s, and an early hit of the 1980s.
Last Action Hero was Arnold Schwarzenegger's eagerly-awaited first action movie following Terminator 2. It was billed as the big ticket for summer 1993. Things did not go to plan.
Burt Reynolds meanwhile vowed to never go faster than 35mph in a movie again following a string of car films. But a cheque making him the most expensive movie star in the world for The Cannonball Run helped change his mind...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by actor and writer Simon Farnaby.
They talk about The Phantom Of The Open, Farnaby's latest work as screenwriter. Plus, other topics that come up include Ghosts, Mindhorn, Bill and a little bit of Paddington 2. Oh, and a tractor as well...
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, one film that found an audience, one that struggled to.
Few were enthused at the idea of another Rocky movie, yet alone a spin-off. But a young filmmaker had a pitch for Sylvester Stallone - and the worst case scenario would be he got a signed copy of a Rocky II DVD for his dad.
The Postman meanwhile was Kevin Costner's first directorial outing following his Oscar-winning success with Dances With Wolves. This time though, the reception would be very different.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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Academy Award-winning producer Lord David Puttnam - a giant of the British film industry - joins Simon for a very special episode of the podcast.
They chat about Lord Puttnam's career, his early successes with David Essex-headlined movies, his lifelong friendship with the late Alan Parker, and films as varied as Local Hero, Memphis Belle, Chariots Of Fire, The Mission and more.
Plus: no shortage of thoughts on modern film, the future of the UK industry and a whole lot more...
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that both struggled to fully find their audience.
The Iron Giant was quickly regarded as a modern masterpiece. But Brad Bird's directorial debut was made as Warner Bros was shutting down hand drawn feature animation - and the film was only given a release date very late.
The A-Team meanwhile was in development for a good decade at 20th Century Fox before making it to the screen. And it faced some uphill battles of its own.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films facing very different challenges.
James Cameron knew he was trying to do things that hadn't been done before on film with 1989's The Abyss. The film would be such a difficult shoot that even its trailer would boast about it.
Big meanwhile earned Tom Hanks his first Oscar nomination. But Robert De Niro nearly starred, and director Penny Marshall had some difficult tonal challenges to balance.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sci-fi sequel and a low budget romcom, both of which sparked at the box office.
Star Trek: First Contact was ordered whilst the previous film in the series - Generations - was still in cinemas. This time though, there'd be fewer studio mandates, but a very tight production schedule.
The pressure with The Big Sick was on getting the script right: it took years of work before the $5m film went before the cameras, and it all ended up with an Oscar nomination.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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The hugely controversial Showgirls are one stage got close to landing Madonna. But the reunion of writer Joe Eszterhas and director Paul Verhoeven would battle a whole host of problems.
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle was a more modest, off-radar production. But it still had two lead female roles that Hollywood stars weren't particularly keen on taking on.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon chats to Patrick Doyle about his work composing film music.
They cover his films with Kenneth Branagh - including their latest collaboration, Death On The Nile - and then dive into working with Brian De Palma on the film Carlito's Way.
Plus, they go right back to Doyle's first film score too...
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that gave 20th Century Fox headaches.
Tony Scott first planned to make Man On Fire in the 1980s. When he returned to the idea in the early 2000s, he switched the location to Mexico - and was heading into trouble.
The plan with 1999's Office Space was for a low budget comedy. But then Fox decided it wanted a movie star involved - and problems built from there.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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They touch on filming Confession, how Die Hard 2 changed Meaney's life, working with the late Alan Parker, the joys of Con Air and a whole lot more.
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Leap Of Faith was rushed forward when Paramount found itself without a Christmas release at all for the end of 1992. It left little margin for error.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that wanted to do things for real.
The plan with Ronin was to not use CG unless as a last resort, and to do as much as possible for real. All with the help and support of French authorities.
Knocked Up was a comedy that turned Seth Rogen into a movie star - but it went through a notable casting change, as well as post-production challenges.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit movies that overcome notable obstacles.
Wayne's World was filmed on a tight schedule, against a backdrop of sadness for Mike Myers. He'd threaten to leave the project at one point too, and the production was not a happy one.
Moneyball meanwhile was all set to film a year earlier than it did, with a different directing and some alternate casting. But Sony pulled the plug on it, five days before shooting.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two glossy Hollywood movies, both boasting impressive casts.
Remaking Ocean's Eleven had been in producer Jerry Weintraub's head for many years, but it was sending the script to director Steven Soderbergh and star George Clooney that started things in earnest.
At the time Ocean's was released, work was also underway on a Gucci family movie. That one though would take a lot, lot longer to come together...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon invites Ron's Gone Wrong and Arthur Christmas' Sarah Smith back, to chat about her work and career.
Her story is an incredible one: from her early days on BBC shows, through to making the jump to Aardman, and then launching the UK's first major digital animation feature studio, Locksmith. There, she co-directed - along with J P Vine - the terrific family movie Ron's Gone Wrong, before leaving.
She tells her candid story in this episode, including what she's up to now, post-Locksmith...
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two James Bond projects: one got made, one didn't.
2021's No Time To Die was, of course, beset by release delays and and problems. But even before then, it'd been a difficult James Bond movie to put together.
After the success of 2002's Die Another Day, MGM and Eon wanted a spin-off movie for Halle Berry's Jinx character meanwhile. It got quite far too, before the plug was abruptly pulled.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of Christmas movies, both released in 2003.
Bad Santa was beset by problems. Conceived by the Coen brothers, it had a difficult shoot, lost Bill Murray to another film, and then there were huge battles in post-production.
Post-production was tricky on Love Actually too, as a first-time movie director tried to jigsaw together a final cut of a multi-narrative film. It hadn't been the easiest movie to make, either.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an Oscar-nominated one-off, and a hit comedy that was anything but a one-off.
After Boogie Nights, writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson had a moment where he could make what he wanted, and get total creative control. It helped that he got Tom Cruise involved in Magnolia too.
Police Academy was the film that launched regular templated sequels - but there was a genuine fear that the original film wasn't going to be lowbrow enough to succeed.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, British writer/director Johannes Roberts takes us though his career to date, and with some candour too.
He talks about the new release Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City, and career-turners such as F, Storage 24 and 47 Meters Down. And he takes us through the lows as well, and the decade he spent trying to get films noticed.
Plus: he's got a Hoff story too...
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a comedy classic, and a blockbuster hit!
Monty Python's Life Of Brian was days away from its cast and crew flying off for shooting when the rug was pulled from beneath it. And when it did finally get made, its problems were far from over.
For The Perfect Storm meanwhile, Warner Bros wanted Mel Gibson and wasn't sure about Mark Wahlberg - plus Steven Spielberg gave the idea of directing the movie very little shrift!
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer/director Gil Kenan. They talk through Gil's career, from his early breakout success with Monster House to the commercial disappointment of City Of EmberI
And the story is brought right up to date with his new film as director, A Boy Called Christmas, and as co-writer, Ghostbusters: Afterlife...
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films long in the planning - but with a fair few bumps on the way.
Ridley Scott was eventually lured back to the Alien saga with 2012's Prometheus. Even then, he originally found a different director - and two different writers each took it further away from the original.
The Wallace & Gromit film, The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, was the start of the end for a major deal between Aardman and DreamWorks Animation - and Aardman was willing to take the film elsewhere anyway.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two movies that film studios had reluctance over - for different reasons!
Anchorman was a film that many passed on, and there were concerns that Will Ferrell was a big enough name to lead a studio comedy. Plus, the movie needed big changes in post-production.
Red Notice was a huge movie star package that originally was sold to Universal and Legendary following a Hollywood bidding war. But in the end, there were reasons why it ended up with Netflix.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of movies brought to life by big movie stars.
Leonardo DiCaprio beat Brad Pitt to the rights to The Wolf Of Wolf Street. The film would eventually attract a too good to be true independent investor. And yikes, would it prove to be too good to be true.
Fighting With My Family happened when Dwayne Johnson was in a London hotel room, and channel hopping. He happened upon a wrestling documentary - and got in touch with his Tooth Fairy co-star.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of hit movies, one made very quickly, one made under a veil of secrecy.
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey followed its predecessor by less than two years. It landed a young first time British director, the company behind it was in financial trouble, and there were reasons it could go so leftfield.
2019's Yesterday ended up on the slate of Richard Curtis and Danny Boyle, and involved a bumper deal for The Beatles songs. But its origins lay elsewhere...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit movies, one that proved far more stressful to make than the other.
It was the failure of Warner Bros' 1997 blockbusters that led to it gambling on Three Kings. The film's Gulf War subject matter already caused unease: and then came a very, very trouble production.
Dodgeball meanwhile was a film virtually every studio passed on, as its writer was insistent he got to direct it too. Even when Ben Stiller got interested, it'd mean a hefty pay cut to get the film off the ground.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two difficult blockbuster productions.
The Last Boy Scout brought together writer Shane Black, producer Joel Silver, director Tony Scott and star Bruce Willis. Four heavyweights, lots of arguments, and a film that needed saving in the edit.
The Beach's problems came as much before filming meanwhile: the $50m film led to director Danny Boyle and actor Ewan McGregor having a long-running falling out. Things went downhill a bit from there.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon traces the story of Locksmith Animation. Of how it came to life in 2014 with ambitions to make major animated films in the UK, and the seven year, very bumpy path to Ron's Gone Wrong.
Simon is joined by four of the Locksmith team: Sarah Smith, Peter Baynham, JP Vine and Octavio E Rodriguez. Between them, they chart the challenges of different studio partners, of making a film on difficult internet connections, and a whole lot more...
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how Apollo 13 originally had Kevin Costner in mind, and the thriller that came out of a collapsed Stephen King movie.
Apollo 13 was made at a point where practical filmmaking was more logical than relying too much on visual effects. And for the cast, that meant 13 days of particularly intense filming.
Breakdown came out of a film that didn't happen, and was equally practical. But that didn't stop the studio wanting to add ten minutes to the start of the film.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that took 30 years between them to get made.
Batman (1989) was announced twice before it finally got going. Rewrites continued throughout filming - with a $100,000 prop to fit in - and there was a bit of a casting backlash.
Our Ladies could have been made much earlier: but co-writer/director Michael Caton-Jones dug in, and refused to Hollywood-ise the story.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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Here's a shorter, extra episode of Film Stories. This time, Simon is joined by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G WIlson, the producers of the James Bond films, to talk 007 and primarily the Daniel Craig era.
This conversation was recorded as part of the press tour for No Time To Die, but the conversation goes a little broader than that.
A full episode on No Time To Die will inevitably happen at some point in the future!
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of horror movies of slightly different sizes.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was set to be the second in a loose trilogy of films. But producer Francis Ford Coppola and director/star Kenneth Branagh wouldn't quite see eye to eye.
Frank Darabont's third big screen Stephen King adaptation meanwhile - The Mist - was uncompromising and took around 15 years to get made. But not for expected reasons.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of movies that hit big, both with difficulties behind them.
The Firm was the first of John Grisham's novel to make the jump to the big screen. But notable changes were going to be made, and there was a bit of kerfuffle over the star billing on the poster.
Meet The Parents was actually a remake of a 1992 movie. At one stage Steven Spielberg and Jim Carrey came close to making the film. And much of the film still needed to be written when filming began.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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For the 200th episode of Film Stories, a 1989 modern classic that still feels incredible it got through the Hollywood system.
That film is Field Of Dreams, and for this special episode, we're delighted to welcome the film's writer/director Phil Alden Robinson. He doesn't give many interviews, and he tells - candidly - the story of the film coming together, and the challenges they faced.
Plus, he talks about the legacy of the film, and the recent celebration of it, and the announced TV spin-off.
Please note this episode contains big spoilers for the film.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of big hit movies, that each had their challenges to make.
With The Expendables, Sylvester Stallone was on acting, writing and director duties. But he ended up with as many injuries as there were action stars in his film, and it'd be a taxing movie to make.
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was the brainchild of Re-animator director Stuart Gordon, and Chevy Chase had been earmarked for the lead. But Chase was busy, and when Gordon fell ill, a new director was required late in the day.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that in their own ways changed the course of a few things.
Even though Pierce Brosnan was keen to return, the James Bond producers went for a reboot with Casino Royale. It would be a decision not shy of sizeable challenges, not least thanks to some financial troubles.
The aftermath of DreamWorks Animation's Rise Of The Guardians tends to dominate its story, but there were plenty of hurdles to get it to the screen in the first place too.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer and director Kevin Reynolds.
They talk about his high profile films (Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, Waterworld), his indie breakthrough with Fandango, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and One Eight Seven.
Plus, the shoot from hell with Rapa Nui, heading to the small screen with Hatfield & McCoys, finding the sweet spot with The Count Of Monte Cristo and his most recent film, Risen.
It's quite a career, and a very candid chat...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, one film that overperformed its box office expectations, and one that didn't.
Kevin Costner had won an Oscar for his first directorial outing, but his second - The Postman - had been widely criticised. His third, Open Range, would be a very tricky film to get off the ground.
Off the back of Airplane!, comedy team Zucker/Abrahams/Zuckler had less of a struggle to get the glorious Top Secret! made. But the problems came a little further down the road...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that both interested the Oscars, albeit taking very different paths.
Martin Scorsese may finally have won his Oscar for The Departed, but he saw this one as a B movie, and editing delays meant he only saw the very final print for the first time at its premiere.
With La La Land meanwhile, it was seen as a very risky film by Hollywood, and at one stage: but in the end, it was that rare movie where a studio would suggest increasing the budget!
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer, producer and director Bob Gale.
They talk about various elements of the Back To The Future trilogy, not least the pressures of the back-to-back filming of Part II and Part III. And, of course, of bringing Back To The Future to the stage in a brand new West End musical.
They find time too to discuss Bob's venture into movie directing, Interstate 60, and his work and friendship with Robert Zemeckis.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a Steven Spielberg film that took a long time to make, and a 1980s romcom with a casting challenge.
Ready Player One (2018) was subject of a sizeable bidding war. When Steven Spielberg finally came to the film, he'd be able to complete and release a different film from scratch during its post-production.
Working Girl (1988) had a parent studio that wanted big star names - not without problems - and the production had to be shut down for 24 hours too...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an action favourite with a lot of writers, and a war movie hit that ended up criticised in UK Parliament.
The Rock (1996) utilised lots of writers, and its stars - Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris - all had significant input. Director Michael Bay meanwhile would do a bit of battle with Disney over the film.
Jonathan Mostow first had the inspiration for U-571 when he was developing The Game. But as he lost control of that film, his submarine movie bubbled up - and hit some controversial waters.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that each came together quickly, and each topped the US box office
Hollywood was keen at the start of the 2000s to lure Eminem to a movie project. Thus, 8 Mile came together - a film where he was in pretty much every scene. Problem? He'd never acted before.
To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar had no shortage of people wanting to act in it, meanwhile. The problem? Getting insurance for the film, due to its director being pregnant.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer, producer and director Uberto Pasolini.
Uberto talks about his new film, the acclaimed Nowhere Special. And the pair go through his career, from buying his own ticket to the set of The Killing Fields, his work alongside David Puttnam, through to his time in Hollywood.
Then, they chat about his jump into producing that sparked Palookaville and The Full Monty into life. And finally, Uberto's move towards writing and directing his own films. It's an extraordinary career, even if he doesn't think so!
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film that took some rescuing from a Hollywood studio, and another that required one hell of a deal to even get going.
A Few Good Men started off as a Broadway hit: but come the movie version, executives were really rather keen to cram a sex scene in the middle of it. And its first-time screenwriter was powerless to stop it.
As for The Simpsons Movie, it was a project mooted for well over a decade - and when it finally went ahead, it was a top secret race to the finish.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film that brought one saga to an end, and another that launched a new trilogy.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix was supposed to right some earlier wrongs - but its ending got retooled in post-production, and it got caught up in Disney's takeover of Fox too.
The creative control awarded to author E L James meanwhile created challenges on the film of Fifty Shades Of Grey - and it didn't help that one of its stars quit weeks before filming.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that fell short of expectations at the box office, but whose reputation has endured.
1980's Flash Gordon was nearly directed by Nicolas Roeg (with Sergio Leono and Federico Fellini rumoured), and when it did get going, there was a sequel planned from the off. But things didn't go to plan.
Disney's animation The Hunchback Of Notre Dame remains one of its darkest family films - and a huge corporate problem at the studio meant it could fly a little under the radar.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two big screen returns: one that went a little bit better than the other.
Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987) saw Christopher Reeve return to play the Man of Steel. But a late more than halving of the production budget played havoc with the film, and led it to Milton Keynes.
The Muppets (2011) meanwhile in a small way had the hit sex comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall to thank for its existence. It was a seven year battle to get the film made.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films with very different levels of studio expectation.
Much was resting on RoboCop 2 being a huge success, but it didn't bode well when it got its final director just days before filming began. And the studio was very hands on.
Drop Dead Gorgeous was a much lower-budget project, with a writer and director who didn't really click. Plus, its studio had a little panic about it very late in the day.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer and director Paul W S Anderson.
They chat about Monster Hunter (2020), his latest feature that's finally landing in UK cinemas. But also Anderson's love of videogames, of the first Space Invaders machine, the logistics of filming in the middle of nowhere and more.
Oh, and there's a bit of Event Horizon too...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two Oscar-winning movies
The likes of Michael Mann and Mel Gibson toyed with directing Good Will Hunting, and the original idea effectively got cut in two. Plus there was a cunning trick in its script.
Fame came together quicker, but it faced a fair few problems - including the New York Board of Education being very unhappy with the tone of the script.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a blockbuster that needed a late casting change, and an indie success that struggled to get actors interested.
Maverick at one stage interested the likes of Paul Newman and Meg Ryan. And when it did get filming, the first half hour was pretty much dropped months before release.
On the other hand, Secretary spent pretty much a year in limbo as high profile actors were put off my its subject matter - and eventual co-lead James Spader turned it down originally too.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an ensemble film with a reluctant director, and a Shakespeare take that made its studio nervous.
Sneakers took years to simply write - and then when it came to finding a director, the man who took the job on had suggested John Badham first.
Romeo + Juliet meanwhile needed Leonardo DiCaprio to fly himself to Australia just to keep the studio interested - and then the shoot itself was rocked by a kidnapping.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a superhero movie that changed course, and a musical that struggled to get going.
Two months into filming on Daredevil (2003), the first Spider-Man movie went stellar at the box office - and Fox figured it might have a bigger project than it thought on its hands.
With The Greatest Showman (2017), the studio was less sure - leading to Hugh Jackman performing for studio bosses the day after a medical procedure.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer and director Will Gluck
They talk about his new film, Peter Rabbit 2, and having to wait an extra year for its release. How did the response to the first movie alter it, and what were the challenges?
Also: Will's love of opening credits, the challenges of releasing Annie in the midst of Sony's troubles, and directing Easy A as a second time director (after his first film had struggled).
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that had very, very long journeys to the big screen.
The Man From UNCLE (2015) was months away from starring Tom Cruise, and at one stage Steven Soderbergh was about to start filming too. But the project went through lots of changes.
Phone Booth (2002) kept its original writer for over 30 years, and lots of star names nearly took the lead. Directors from Alfred Hitchcock to Michael Bay were interested!
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films that worked from relatively low budgets and turned into sizeable hits.
Taken (2008) was originally set to star Jeff Bridges, and eventual lead Liam Neeson suspected it might go straight to DVD. Plus, there were fears piracy had scuppered its US chances.
With American Pie (1999), the film was written and sold in under two months - and the impact of it would be felt for much of the decade to follow.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Michael Caton-Jones for a candid conversation about his work.
Films covered go from Memphis Belle and Doc Hollywood, to Rob Roy and The Jackal through to making Shooting Dogs and Basic Instinct 2 back to back. Plus, they chat about his latest film, Our Ladies.
Note: this podcast contains some very strong language. It also contains a lot of stories not yet told!
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod. Find Michael at @mcatonjones.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two movies that went through a lot of changes on their way to the screen.
The Devil's Advocate was originally set to star Brad Pitt, with Joel Schumacher directing. When it got going, it didn't take long for problems to arise.
With Ghost, the huge hit movie was originally a lot darker - and it took some convincing before Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg were cast.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that went through many possibilities, and a smaller movie with an incredible voice.
Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade saw Steven Spielberg and George Lucas go through lots of ideas before settling on the one that was supposed to end a trilogy.
As for Little Voice, the film's lead - Jane Horrocks - was so good and convincingly, it took even the 500 extras on the set of the film aback a little.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Hollywood producer Lynda Obst.
They talk about the current state of the movie business, a look at the future, quantum computing and AI, The Hot Zone vs Outbreak, Lynda's excellent film books and how streaming has opened up the stories.
Plus: how things have changed for women in Hollywood, remembering Dawn Steel, and being grateful for Godzilla Vs Kong.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a hit family movie from an unusual source, and the most 1990s film of all time.
School Of Rock gave Jack Black a big breakthrough commercial hit. But he had doubts over the choice of director, and getting the music too wouldn't be cheap.
As for Disclosure, the controversial thriller veered away from the Michael Crichton source novel - but its advertising still got into trouble.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by writer/director Ol Parker for a chat about his varied career.
They go from Grange Hill and an unusual first screenplay commission, through the Exotic Marigold Hotel movies and getting the call for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Plus: a look at a movie that never came together, and a whole lot more.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an historical epic that never got the sequels it deserved, and a serial killer thriller that deserved more too.
Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World was eventually helped into life by a studio chief who really believed in it - but the much-loved movie hit box office traffic.
As did Copycat, released in the slipstream of Seven, yet it's a rare film in the genre with two female leads working on the same side. That, however, was not the original idea.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the movie where Tom Cruise launched his production company, and the film that made Meryl Streep an action hero.
Mission: Impossible was a film whose script hadn't come together even as shooting had begun - and the ending in particular was proving to be a problem.
The River Wild's script was more straightforward, but shooting the action was anything but - and then ther was the challenge of selling Meryl Streep as an action hero.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, films made by Kevin Costner and Arnold Schwarzenegger after their box office peaks.
Tin Cup was the film an exhausted Costner made immediately post-Waterworld. It would turn into one of the best romantic comedies of the decade.
The 6th Day came together fast - but it targeted a PG-13 rating, and Schwarzenegger wanted a less violent project. Plus: they couldn't afford to make it in America.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that struggled, and a sleeper hit that overcame a few difficulties of its own.
Star Trek Nemesis took a little while to greenlight in the first place - and then the hiring of a director best known for action didn't quite pay off.
With Sister Act, in spite of it being a huge hit, its original writer wanted to drop his name off it, in favour of the credit 'Written by Goofy'!
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Doug Liman to chat about Locked Down.
Their chat covers the conception and making of the film during the lockdown of 2020, as well as The Bourne Identity, and Liman's previously-untapped skills at costume making.
Please note: towards the end of this podcast, there is a blip with the interview recording that I've cleaned up as best I can.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a very fast return for 007, and an action comedy that surpassed expectations.
Tomorrow Never Dies had to be turned around very quickly thanks to difficulties with MGM - and it meant the script wouldn't be complete until two weeks before filming finished!
The script was in place for 21 Jump Street, but then there was the question as to whether Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum would make a good double act.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Restless Natives, Soapdish and One Fine Day director Michael Hoffman for a special episode.
They talk through his film career, from his unconventional start, to stopping in Robert Redford's house, a George Clooney basketball accident and the joy of films such as Soapdish.
Plus: the pressures of having made the Royal Film in 1995 - that also happened to be picked as part of the 100 years of cinema celebration!
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films at either end of the budget scale!
Superman Returns took over a decade to come together, with over $50m spent even by the time it was greenlit. But after the successful Batman reboot landed the year before it, the pressure was on.
Blinded By The Light took a long time to come together too - but then how do you make a wonderful British coming of age film, whilst also weaving in the music of Bruce Springsteen?
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by one half of the BBC's flagship film programme, Simon Mayo.
The pair chat about Kermode & Mayo's Film Review (Wittertainment to its chums) and the absence of Kermode & Mayo's Home Entertainment Service from BBC iPlayer.
And they talk too about Simon's books, including his latest thriller Knife Edge, and the screen adaptations of his work. Plus a bit of radio too...
Find Simon (Brew) on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films where the actors had to get used to a whole load of takes.
The Social Network came with a 161-page script from Aaron Sorkin to fit into a two hour movie. And director David Fincher came up with a simple idea to make sure it'd fit.
For The Naked Gun 2 1/2, director David Zucker had to make sure his actors stuck very much to the script - and he also wanted to make sure an environmental message snuck into the film.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film that took time to find its audience - and one that never got to find one at all.
Tony Scott had to choose between directing Reservoir Dogs or True Romance by a young, upcoming talent called Quentin Tarantino. He picked the latter - and by the time filming began, big names were queuing up for a role.
After the collapse of the planned Halo movie, a deal was struck to ensure Bioshock didn't suffer a similar fate. But it didn't go to plan.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an attempt to breathe new life into the Alien saga, and a role that changed Michael Douglas' career.
Alien Resurrection went through at least five possible endings, and wasn't originally to feature the character of Ripley. The plan for it to be a lower budget spin-off soon changed.
Michael Douglas was known for safe roles before 1987 came along, and Oliver Stone was warned about casting him too. One Oscar later...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, nipples on the Batsuit, and a franchise-starting spoof.
Warner Bros wanted Batman & Robin quickly, it wanted it family-friendly, it wanted lots of merchandise. Director Joel Schumacher? He wanted to do the Batman: Year One story.
After Scream hit big in 1996, a couple of comedy projects bubbled up - but it was the Wayans brothers who hit gold with Scary Movie (although they weren't invited back for the third film).
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the 2002 sci-fi blockbuster that wasn't Star Wars, and Harrison Ford's haircut.
Minority Report was originally set to be made as a Total Recall sequel - then found itself delayed by nearly two years due to commitments from Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise.
Harrison Ford was after a less showy role when he took on Presumed Innocent meanwhile - but the hit book would be changed notably for its screen version.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of movies that left their respective directors working 16 hours a day - sometimes more - to get them finished.
Team America: World Police was made by Trey Parker and Matt Stone in the six month gap between seasons of their TV show South Park. Which still included time for a battle with the MPAA.
Pearl Harbor had the biggest starting budget ever when it was greenlit by Disney - yet director Michael Bay would quit the film at least twice, and the studio reportedly tried to shut it down too.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by the UK's most prominent film critic, Mark Kermode.
They chat about the new series of Mark Kermode's Secrets Of Cinema, as well as the current state of film criticism, Wittertainment, and a film that Simon thinks Mark should never have chosen for worst of the week...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the film that was supposed to win Martin Scorsese an Oscar, and a sequel that originally wasn't going to happen.
Back in the late 70s, Martin Scorsese took out an advert declaring Gangs Of New York to be his next film. When he finally got to make it, it'd be something of a nightmare production.
Crocodile Dundee II was a happier ship - but it ran into a dispute of its own while shooting in New York.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Saturday Night Fever and WarGames director John Badham for a special episode.
They chat about Badham's updated book, and then explore films he's not asked about quite as much: Drop Zone, The Assassin/Point Of No Return, The Hard Way and Nick Of Time for instance.
That, and stories of A Perfect World and So I Married An Axe Murderer too...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the festive favourite realised on a slim budget, and a British Christmas film that had to battle to get to the screen.
It's well known that Warner Bros passed on 1990's Home Alone, but even when Fox picked the project up, the budget was tight - leading to some neighbourhood disturbance.
Get Santa was ready to go back in 2011 - but the overlooked, charming British festive film would take a few more years yet to make.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Frank Marshall and producer Nigel Sinclair.
They chat about making Bee Gees: How Do You Mend A Broken Heart, and the challenges of narrowing down the story. Plus, who can resist asking Frank Marshall about directing Congo? Simon certainly couldn't...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the practical challenges of bringing small creatures to life, and an overlooked Christmas movie.
1984's Gremlins was quietly groundbreaking, with effects work being cracked often just hours before it was needed. Plus, it caused ratings problems.
In The Bleak Midwinter meanwhile soon found an American studio wanting to release it - but there was a sizeable condition attached.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how the world first met John McClane, and the world's only Christmas comedy horror musical.
1988's Die Hard got the greenlight quickly once Fox realised it was short on a summer release that year - but it had to negotiate a contractual obligation first.
Anna & The Apocalypse meanwhile did something very different with the Christmas movie - and its origins lie in part with Ryan Gosling and some breakfast cereal.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the return of James Bond after six years away, and a much-loved musical movie.
The pressure was very much on GoldenEye to reinvent James Bond 007 for the 1990s - and it would have to do so on a surprisingly limited budget too.
Not as limited as The Commitments, a film whose original financier disappeared leaving its makers to follow a low budget path.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a comedy whose first cut was three times as long, and an action movie shot very much on the move!
Planes, Trains And Automobiles wasn't originally set to be directed by John Hughes. But when the cast came together, he took over the film - and he'd have a race against time to make it.
With Crank, directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor used guerilla filming tactics to shoot their movie - which nearly starred Nicolas Cage.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Simon West for a chat about his new film, Skyfire.
And, of course, the conversation moves onto Con Air, as well as The General's Daughter, Tomb Raider and a whole lot more. Plus: what's this about a Con Air musical?!
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sci-fi film that nearly starred Patrick Swayze - and the attempt to reimagine it.
1990's Total Recall took over a decade to come together, and in the end it took a bankruptcy for Arnold Schwarzenegger to get his hands on it. And he wasn't cheap.
After a sequel nearly happened, a 2012 new take on Total Recall followed - but this one faced a few different challenges.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a $115m standalone sci-fi film, and a much cheaper animated comedy.
After breaking through with District 9, director Neill Blomkamp opted for Elysium next. And he'd be wary of working with the kind of movie star a $100m budget required.
The MPAA ratings board meanwhile didn't get on with South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut at all - but the filmmakers had no intention of playing along with it all.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of films executive produced by Steven Spielberg - albeit one a lot better than the other!
Back To The Future Part II was up against big challenges, high expectations, an actor in dispute, a director editing it while making the next movie, and a whole lot more.
With The Flintstones, hopes were high at Universal for another Jurassic Park-style hit. But over 30 writers couldn't nail the script...
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, producer Jason Blum makes a return appearance to chat about The Craft: Legacy and more.
How did the project come to be? Why do actors make good directors? And why was The Gift so important to Blumhouse? This and more, in this latest Film Stories special.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, making a football film with actors who can't play football, and a blockbuster movie co-starring someone who'd not acted before.
Escape To Victory saw Sylvester Stallone learning to be a goalkeeper and a chunk of Ipswich Town Football Club learning to be actors. With the director of The African Queen watching on.
The Bodyguard saw Whitney Houston help Kevin Costner with singing, and Costner helping Houston with acting. It'd result in one of the biggest films of all time.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon chats with Barnaby Thompson, director of Pixie, and producer of films such as Spice World, Wayne's World 2 and Kevin & Perry Go Large.
They chat how Pixie came together, how he came to produce films for Saturday Night Live, and how he nearly directed the Spice Girls movie. Plus a whole lot more...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon chats with director Pete Docter about his new film Soul. And about being the new boss of Pixar too.
They chat about the challenges of the film, and maintaining a working culture via remote working. Plus how to bring the invisible to the screen.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the sci-fi film that put Danny Boyle off making sci-fi films, and a sequel that straight away needed a new director.
Sunshine came into director Danny Boyle's life over a drink in a London pub - and he'd find himself making a $20m sci-fi film in a tight London studio as a result.
With Final Destination 2, New Line was looking for a quicker turnaround sequel than it got - but it took around 70 writing pitches for a start to come up with its story.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the hit remake that started life as a much cheaper project, and a different vehicle for Jason Statham.
The Mummy went through many directors, getting gradually more and more expensive as it did so. Its effects would prove a bit of a challenge too.
The Bank Job seemed to be a film destined not to be made when Miramax backed out of the project. Many years later, Jason Statham would help bring it back to life.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how Paramount gambled heavily on a Michael Crichton book, and Warner Bros dug deep for an unusual blockbuster.
Congo started as a project dreamed up in the 1970s as a vehicle for Sean Connery. By the time it made it to the screen, its author would be having nothing to do with it.
For Conspiracy Theory, Julia Roberts took a lot of persuading to do the film - and it didn't help that Warner Bros wasn't happy with the movie's price.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film designed to be something of a surprise, and a comedy that a major studio abandoned.
JJ Abrams joined forces with Steven Spielberg for Super 8, and the plan was to launch the trailer at least as a complete surprise. A successful plan too.
With Good Morning, Vietnam, there were doubts that Robin Williams could lead a movie of its ilk - and a special test was organised.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon goes through the prolonged gestation of Bill & Ted Face The Music - and then brings in its director, Dean Parisot, to pick up the story.
They talk of the challenges of realising the film, keeping its tone right, bad weather, the Halesowen branch of Asda, and releasing the movie. Plus the pressure of getting this one right...
This episode is dedicated to @sebpatrick
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the asteroid movie in a race against time, and the Stephen King adaptation with a casting nightmare.
Three similar films were in the race when Disney greenlit Armageddon - but it committed to spending over $100m on the film without a script in place.
Actor after actor turned down Misery meanwhile, a film that took over half a year to nail down its two leads - and rewrite a key moment from the source novel too.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film finally released nearly three years after filming, and a comedy that was a comeback of sorts for Steve Martin
The New Mutants was caught up in reshoots talks, a company takeover, and a rumour that the whole film was going to scrapped and started again.
Bowfinger was an easier shoot, although it was a film that came about in Steve Martin's head some 15 years before it was made.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a huge sequel and what was supposed to be the start of a franchise.
The Lost World Jurassic Park was Steven Spielberg's first film as director following Schindler's List - but his interest in making it would slowly wane.
In the case of Salt, it went through several directors with Tom Cruise for a long time linked with starring. And then the script made its way to Angelina Jolie.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, writer, producer and director Don Hahn is our very special guest.
Having produced Disney classics such as The Lion King and Beauty & The Beast, Hahn has directed two excellent documentaries about that era: Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) and Howard (2018). And he tells Simon the stories behind them in an extensive chat.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how the 20th James Bond film pushed things a little too far, and a western with British origins.
Die Another Day was the first 007 movie to heavily lean on CG, and one big sequence hadn't even been conceived when filming began.
Sharon Stone had movie star clout when The Quick And The Dead got greenlit - and she used it to secure Sam Raimi as director, and at least two of her co-stars.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Scorsese and De Niro's third film together in the 90s, and how Kevin Smith took on the Hollywood system.
Casino wasn't originally going to be the film Martin Scorsese made in the mid-90s - and he found himself up against problems when its source novel came out after the film.
With Red State, writer and director Kevin Smith decided to challenge the way Hollywood did business - with mixed results.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a Spielberg summer blockbuster and a bit of a hit out of nowhere.
War Of The Worlds wasn't even greenlit until eleven months before its release - and filming wouldn't start for three more months after that.
The Mask had more time on its side, and by the time it came to its release, it turned out it had the world's biggest new movie star in its ensemble. Not bad, for a film originally envisaged as a horror trilogy.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that went through a fair few ideas, and a comedy that heavily stumbled at the box office.
Die Hard With A Vengeance saw big changes behind the scenes - and a struggle to find an ending that works. As for Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, it turned into a film that had as much footage to work through as a documentary that had shot for a year.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit movies with two very different stories behind them.
Warner Bros traded Forrest Gump to get its hands on Executive Decision. But things were a little tense on set, not least with Steven Seagal.
As for Men In Black 3? Well, yikes. A film that cost a quarter of a billion dollars to make, with a three month shutdown in the midst of filming. It's hard to know where to begin.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit comedies made at different ends of the 1990s.
Death Becomes Her was expensive, technically demanding and ultimately visually groundbreaking - and it'd be the film that brought Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn together, after they passed on Thelma & Louise.
The Wedding Singer, meanwhile, would alter notably because of two women: Drew Barrymore, and the late, great Carrie Fisher.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, director Peter Cattaneo chats about his latest film, now heading to disc, Military Wives.
He and Simon chat about releasing it the week before cinemas closed, losing a week of production, and also Cattaneo's earlier movies, Lucky Break and The Full Monty.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how a spoof movie eerily echoed newspapers headlines, and a drama that fell a little through the cracks.
Hot Shots! was written months before real life conflict echoed some of its plot - and production had a few challenges too.
As for the Kevin Costner-headlined Thirteen Days, it's a film whose reputation has grown, but several studios and even more directors came and went before it finally got off the ground.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the last James Cameron/Arnold Schwarzenegger collaboration, and a beloved film that went through major difficulties.
Arnold Schwarzenegger came to True Lies off the back of the box office disappointment Last Action Hero - and James Cameron needed to make a film to justify a huge deal his company had signed.
As for Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory? For a much-loved film, it was a very, very taxing production.
Stories of both are told in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a much-loved 90s superhero film, and a comedy that took nearly a decade to get to the screen.
The Rocketeer was a big hope in 1991. It was switched to come out under the Disney label, and there were sequel plans too. And then its release happened.
As for Blockers, how a first-time movie director got the job - and how the film evolved into something rather special.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Disney's odd attempt to create a superhero, and a troubled X-Men movie.
Condorman was a big gamble for Disney in the early 80s, as it tried to follow in the path of Superman. Things didn't go to plan.
Nor did they with the third X-Men film, that lost a couple of directors, had to ink new deals with all its cast - and then faced a script leak.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel with a bumpy production, and a blockbuster that was originally set for Spielberg.
Scream 4 (2011) was intended to kickstart a new trilogy of films. But who was ultimately in control of it?
Delays kept hitting The Mask Of Zorro (1998) meanwhile. And it lost several directors on its way to the screen.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a 'strange' action movie hit, and a sequel that took seven years to come together.
Face/Off was originally set 100 years in the future, and at one stage Johnny Depp was on the wishlist. Plus one studio bought the film and let it go.
Rocky Balboa saw Sylvester Stallone wanting to right the wrongs of Rocky V. But his new co-star gave him a shock on day one of filming.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two 2000s movies that each deserve a little more love.
Steven Spielberg came to Catch Me If You Can immediately after filming Minority Report - but several directors nearly helmed the project before him.
As for Music & Lyrics, it was a romcom with a bit of a bumpy shoot - and a lot of singing lessons for its lead male!
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that came together at very different speeds.
Alien Vs Predator was sparked by a spec script, but it'd be Paul W S Anderson who got the job - and he spent his own cash on something rather special for his pitch.
Parenthood, meanwhile, was the idea of director Ron Howard - but bringing together its incredible cast was not without challenges.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films with long gestation periods.
Disney was unsure of making TRON: Legacy for a long time. It took a trailer for a film that hadn't been greenlit yet to ultimately make it decide.
Steve Coogan, meanwhile, was reluctant to finally press ahead with an Alan Partridge movie. And when he did, it proved to have a very difficult first week of filming.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that both ran a little behind schedule for different reasons.
V For Vendetta was all set for a November 5th release until production delays kicked in. And there was a whole other conversation happening about the film.
The American President came from an original concept by Robert Redford - but he left the project, which would have unexpected ramifications for TV.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two big movie star vehicles. One hit just a little bigger than the other.
Kevin Costner was first in line for Air Force One, and Harrison Ford was coming off the back of two box office disappointments. Fate would take a turn.
For Kindergarten Cop, the film had to come together really quite quickly - but Ghostsbusters 2 also got in the way.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, producer Jason Blum chats about the state of current cinema.
He and Simon talk about The Invisible Man, reading press notes, the struggles with Tooth Fairy, plans for Upgrade and much, much more. Plus they have a moment where they might just fall out for a second or two...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit movies that both came together quite quickly.
Swordfish was a film whose opening monologue lured in its stars. But it was a complicated action scene, and a notorious hacking sequence, that proved taxing.
Meanwhile, While You Were Sleeping was the film that proved Sandra Bullock was a movie star. Yet several other people nearly took the lead first.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon is joined by multi-award-winning lyricist and composer, Stephen Schwartz.
They talk about The Prince Of Egypt, the making of the film and the new West End musical version. How Schwartz came to work on Disney films, and his aborted time on Mulan. Plus the status of the Wicked movie.
Find more about The Prince Of Egypt musical at https://www.theprinceofegyptmusical.com/
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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Film Stories with Simon Brew hits its 100th episode, with the stories of two hugely difficult films to make.
Kevin Costner turned down major roles and gambled his career to make Dances With Wolves - and yet in spite of his star power, no Hollywood major would touch it.
There have been two attempts to make Cats, meanwhile, and the latter attempt proved to be an insane, unwinnable race against time.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a remake that got too expensive for its planned rating, and a family movie the surprised the world.
RoboCop (2014) was originally set to be made by Darren Aronofsky, with Tom Cruise amongst those mentioned for the lead. The eventual film based some testing battles to get to the screen.
As did Babe (1995), a film that George Miller waited a decade before he could make it - and then elected not to direct.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, one massively expensive blockbuster, and an indie hit that had to scrape every penny together.
The Lone Ranger (2013) was originally going to be made by Columbia after the success of The Mask Of Zorro. Eventually, Disney took it on - but with some sizeable problems.
For Muriel's Wedding (1994), writer/director PJ Hogan had a fight and a half on his hands just to get the funding together.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a James Bond battle against the odds behind the scenes, and how The Shadow and Batman sort of led to a different big screen hero.
Skyfall (2012) was caught up in the financial meltdown of MGM, and became a hostage of circumstances. But it proved to 007's benefit.
It was only when director Sam Raimi couldn't get the rights to Batman or The Shadow that he pressed ahead with what became Darkman (1990) instead.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a testing sequel, and a surprising comedy.
Clear And Present Danger (1994) was expected to be a smoother production after the difficulties of forerunner Patriot Games. Spoiler: it wasn't.
As for Instant Family? Had it not been for the two Daddy's Home movies, the terrific comedy-drama might not have happened at all.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the final episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew of 2019, director Dexter Fletcher chats to Simon about Rocketman, Eddie The Eagle and a bit of Sunshine On Leith.
Plus: how does it feel when your movie becomes part of the awards season conversation?
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support us on Patreon here.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon is joined by the director of Jumanji: The Next Level, Jake Kasdan.
They talk writing, finding small moments that count, the ZX Spectrum and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Plus, reacting to the success of the last Jumanji film.
The new film is in UK cinemas from December 10th 2019.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the film that marked Bill Murray's return to the screen after four years away, and a movie that once had Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt set to star.
1988's Scrooged is now a popular Christmas favourite. But the making of it was fraught with difficulties. As for 2019's Le Mans 66 - well, even the title continues to cause trouble!
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon is joined by the writer, director and star of Motherless Brooklyn, Edward Norton.
They talk about the film's journey to the screen, the current cinema ecosystem, and the challenge of pacing. With a bit of Kevin Costner conversation in there too.
The film is in UK cinemas from December 6th 2019.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a huge animated challenge, and a film that started off planned as an X-Files episode
The Nightmare Before Christmas required a new facility, and a director too when Tim Burton's commitment to Batman Returns got in the way.
As for Final Destination? The hit franchise-starter's journey began with a teenager's idea for an Elm Street sequel.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two 90s movies, that faced very different challenges.
The Frighteners wasn't originally envisaged as a film. Wasn't envisaged as a summer movie. And wasn't envisaged as a film that followed an Oscar-nominated breakthrough movie. Yet, in each case, it was.
The Green Mile, meanwhile, was a film that hit a sizeable casting roadblock - until Bruce Willis picked up the phone.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a controversial 90s big studio movie, and a smaller Irish musical.
Michael Douglas was all set to take time off before the script for Falling Down turned up. Plus, there remains a question mark over an apparently out of focus shot in the film.
Sing Street meanwhile was originally set to feature the music of U2. But things changes, and circumstances led the film towards a big box office battle.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films from the 2010s that were faced with very different challenges.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 had to carry the baggage of seeding several other films, whilst juggling high studio expectations. Plus, a very taxing New York shoot.
With Brotherhood, in spite of its two predecessors being profitable hits, it was still a struggle to get funding. But a low key trailer release proved a turning point.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon is joined by director Bill Condon to talk about the story behind his new film, The Good Liar (2019).
They chat about how unusual a movie it feels in the current climate and the challenge of keeping a thriller's secrets under wraps. Plus, the conversation also touches on the lost sequel to FX, and Condon's upcoming musical take on Scrooge.
The film is in UK cinemas from November 8th 2019.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two 90s movies, both of which came together surprisingly quickly.
When Oliver Stone decided to press ahead with JFK, Mel Gibson was on the wishlist to star. The film proved a race against time, too, which in turn led to its innovative, acclaimed editing.
10 Things I Hate About You was conceived in part to take advantage of the late 90s teen movie boom. Yet it had a major late location change, and there's the small matter of its lost sequel.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that proved surprise hits for different reasons.
Bram Stoker's Dracula was testing very badly, and had been recut over 30 times. Columbia Pictures thus chose what proved to be a hugely successful promotional strategy.
Had its creators been able to crack the third act sooner, The Naked Gun would have arrived in the early 80s. And when it did arrive, they found themselves up against a lot of comedies at the box office.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film that struggled against stiff competition, and a genuine surprise hit.
Tim Burton's Mars Attacks was wrong-footed when the Independence Day trailer landed. But the film's roots went back a very long way.
With Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon had been looking for a more commercial film. It took a producer picking up an unsolicited manuscript to put that into motion.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon is joined by directors Richard Phelan and Will Becher to chat about making Farmageddon: A Shaun The Sheep Movie.
The conversation covers Aardman, RoboCop, The Thing, 'editing' a stop frame animated film, and how it felt making their respective directorial debuts. Plus, the sequence that took two people a year to complete...
The film is in UK cinemas from October 18th 2019.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that needed some fast recasting, and an animated film that needed some fast retooling.
When Fox restricted the budget for 1990's Predator 2, both Arnold Schwarzenegger and director John McTiernan were out. And that wasn't the only problem.
Pixar's hugely acclaimed Ratatouille, meanwhile, was in such trouble that a new director was needed, with just 18 months to totally turn the film around.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, one big sequel with problems, and a drama that had to wait for its release.
Terminator Genisys (2015) was set to kickstart a new trilogy of Terminator films. But then so was Terminator Salvation (2009) before rights issues hit.
2002's In America boasts four lead characters, three of which are based on its screenwriters. And it had a bit of a journey to the screen.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the thriller that fuelled a split between two companies, and an early digital filming forerunner.
1993's In The Line Of Fire nearly starred Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, but when it did get made, there were 'conversations' over who was responsible for its success.
Meanwhile, 2002's 28 Days Later started life when director Danny Boyle brought The Beach to the big screen. It'd take full advantage of emerging digital filming too.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, changes in the Harry Potter franchise, and a cult hit from a reluctant director.
2004's Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004) saw the popular series in need of a mini-course correction, and some notable personnel changes.
Allan Moyle, meanwhile, had John Cusack in mind for his 1990 movie Pump Up The Volume. And he wasn't keen to direct it.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the return of Judge Dredd to the big screen, and the role that helped land Brendan Fraser The Mummy.
2012's Dredd righted many of the wrongs of the big budget 1995 movie based on the same character. But behind the scenes, there were some notable challenges.
Back in 1997, Disney's live action George Of The Jungle helped cement Brendan Fraser as a movie star - but the film's original screenwriter was reluctant to take the project to Disney in the first place.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a comic book movie drastic course change and a small budget hit with an awful lot of characters.
1995's Batman Forever was set to still star Michael Keaton up until a year before release. Yet Warner Bros wanted - and got - a very different film to 1992's Batman Returns.
As for 2014's Pride, this terrific British movie had a big cast and a small budget - and that was a combination that presented a fair few problems.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a sequel that needed to win an audience back over, and a groundbreaking low budget sci-fi movie.
2017's Alien: Covenant was faced with a choice as to whether to directly follow 2015's Prometheus, or try to be a more direct Alien prequel. It's a conundrum the production would wrestle with.
1992's The Lawnmower Man, meanwhile, was made for a fraction of the price. Its visuals remain striking, it led to Stephen King taking legal action, and a groundbreaking VHS release too.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon is joined by director Randal Kleiser, to talk about 1986's Flight Of The Navigator, and its new Blu-ray reissue.
The chat also covers Grease, the Muppets film that Kleiser never got to make, studio executives, his current projects, White Fang, his Honey I Shrunk The Kids sequel, and a whole lot more...
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the comet movie that had a tight deadline, and the Arnie comedy with an unusual deal behind it.
1998's Deep Impact was to have been directed by Steven Spielberg - but with Armageddon on the horizon, some fast action was needed. Even though the project originated decades before.
Much faster to the screen was 1988's Twins, a film that made Arnold Schwarzenegger more money than his first few Terminator films, such was the groundbreaking deal that was struck.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, an expensive blockbuster, and a modestly costed comedy.
2014's Edge Of Tomorrow was a sizeable gamble for Warner Bros. It went through many writers, had a maverick director, and nearly ended up with Brad Pitt in the lead.
Few saw the sizeable success of Joe Pesci-headlined comedy My Cousin Vinny coming, meanwhile. Pesci wasn't first choice, though, and the original script had a different spin on the character.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a pair of comedies take centre stage.
The much-loved 1999 film Galaxy Quest was originally a much darker, foul-mouthed film. And Harold Ramis was attached to direct. But things changed quite a bit...
Role Models changed director too, and found itself in a race against time to its release, with a lot of improvisation, and some Jason Bourne-esque fighting.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two sequels, one with a far more complete script than the other!
2001's Jurassic Park III arrived a year after originally planned, thanks to a very late decision to abandon the script - after $18m had already been spent on the film.
Muppets Most Wanted (2014) meanwhile faced huge logistical problems, courtesy of a decision to make the film in London. That, and its late name change caused a problem too.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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In the latest episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two hit movies that each had scripts in constant flux throughout filming.
1997's Con Air at one stage had a very different White House finale, and the film shoot itself get through an awful lot of water melons.
Three Men & A Baby (1987) meanwhile came together very fast - but one of its stars, Steve Guttenberg, quickly found himself risking the wrath of director Leonard Nimoy.
Stories of both are discussed in this episode.
Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.
You can find the Film Stories website here.
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.