Film Stories with Simon Brew

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 meanwhi...

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 majo...

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 fi...

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, M...

In this episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a dose of Nicolas Cage, and a futuristic prison movie. 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...

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...

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a James Bond film that arrived quicker than expected, and a small remake that ultimately soared. 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 i...

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 fil...

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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choice...

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 f...

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 o...

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...

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...

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: i...

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films that had struggles with their casting. 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 th...

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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

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 - a...

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon chats to actor Colm Meaney about his most recent film - Confession - and some of the highlights of his career. 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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your...

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, two films up against immovable release dates. Suicide Squad was part of Warner Bros's attempts to establish a universe of comic book movies - but struggles with a different movie led to late changes. 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...

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 c...

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 c...

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...

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 ter...

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 f...

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...