Film Stories with Simon Brew

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...

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 h...

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 Joh...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 an...

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, t...

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...

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 see...

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! St...

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...

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 m...

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. Un...

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...

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...

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...

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 Wh...

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 e...

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 pe...

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 -...

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 tim...

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 direct...

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...

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 to...