Film Stories with Simon Brew

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 Ame...

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 a...

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 Ac...

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 Mir...

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Colin Trevorrow, the director of the newly-released Jurassic World Dominion. 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 ecosyst...

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 di...

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...

In a special episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by Joseph Kosinski, the director of the already-acclaimed belated follow-up, Top Gun: Maverick. The pair talk about the film's journey to the screen and the challenges involved in its making.  Plus, they touch on David Fincher's impact on Kosinski's career, and the temptation to tinker with the movie during lockdown... Hosted on Aca...

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...

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 sta...

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...