Episode 725 of Empire's long running movie podcast brings director Christopher Nolan into the booth for an extended sit down with host Chris Hewitt about his latest film, The Odyssey, arriving in the same episode where the show's regular panel pauses to remember actor Sam Neill, who died this week at the age of 78.
Nolan Talks Through His Odyssey
Nolan, the filmmaker behind The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar and Oppenheimer, spends a substantial chunk of the episode, running from roughly the 47:24 mark to around 1:09:28, discussing how his own long journey of bringing The Odyssey to the screen has finally reached its conclusion. The conversation traces the making of the film from start to finish, giving listeners a detailed look at a project that has been closely followed since it was first announced.
A Tribute To Sam Neill
Either side of the Nolan interview, Chris Hewitt is joined in the podcast booth by Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and Alex Godfrey for a heartfelt segment remembering Sam Neill, who passed away this week aged 78. Responding to requests from listeners, the panel also puts together its picks for a Mount Rushmore of Neill's films, singling out the roles the audience asked to see honoured as the actor's finest work.
This Week's Movie Talk And Reviews
The episode also runs through the week's biggest movie news, including the newly released trailer for Tom Cruise's upcoming film Digger. Alongside that news discussion, the panel reviews three releases, Heartstopper Forever, Couples Weekend and The Odyssey itself, with the panel noting that the review of The Odyssey turns out to be so exhaustive that listeners might need the better part of a decade to fully recover from it.
Where To Listen And What Else Is Coming
Episode 725 is available through any major podcast app of choice. The same feed also carries the latest edition of The Interviews, a companion series that brings extended conversations with the stars and filmmakers behind the week's biggest releases. In its newest edition, Chris Hewitt speaks with The Odyssey's cast, sitting down with Matt Damon and Tom Holland, and separately with Himesh Patel and John Leguizamo. Listeners wanting even more coverage can also sign up for the newly launched Empire+ subscription service.
