Empire dives into the Quantum Realm this month – and in addition to those rather magical Doctor Strange covers we revealed last week, there’s a stonking 162 pages inside the actual magazine itself, almost literally bursting with all manner of film-related fun. Here’s a taste of what’s inside; the issue goes on sale in all good and malevolent newsagents from Thursday 29 September.
Pre-View
The current issue went to press before certain events of a gossipy nature melted the internet. We couldn’t possibly comment, except to demurely say that we have an exclusive new look at the Brad Pitt/Marion Cotillard wartime romance Allied. That heads up a news section stuffed with goodies, including a smattering of Rogue One secrets; a dip into the final chapter of Resident Evil; and a look at Alice Lowe’s unique pregnancy thriller Prevenge.
Doctor Strange
Benedict Cumberbatch! Kevin Feige! Scott Derrickson! Chiwetel Ejiofor! Tilda Swinton! The Sorcerer Supreme reigns supreme in this month’s cover feature, with eight glorious pages of exclusive coverage on Marvel’s most mystical offering yet. Sadly, there was no room for Cumberbatch to explain his pronunciation of the word “penguins”.
Jack Reacher
Ignoring the advice of his own title, Jack Reacher has come back with Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. Returning to play the hard-hitting, hard-punching, tough-talking, shoot-first-ask-questions-never ex-cop is Tom Cruise. We enjoyed the usual exclusive access to the World’s Biggest Movie Star™ and his director, Edward Zwick.
On Screen
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children launches this month’s reviews section, which has American Honey, Deepwater Horizon and Swiss Army Man all falling under the powerful glare of Empire’s critical gaze. One of them even earns the full five stars. Find out which one by buying the issue!
Luke Cage
Staying in the Marvel multiverse, we headed north of Central Park to hang out with the man they’d rather you didn’t call ‘Power Man’. Luke Cage is joining Jessica Jones and Daredevil to fight Netflix-based crime, and we spoke with its unbreakable star, Mike Colter, and equally unbreakable showrunner, Cheo Hodari Coker, on what could be Marvel’s most exciting small-screen offering yet.
The French Connection
You ever picked your feet in Poughkeepsie? If you have, Detective Popeye Doyle would like a word. 45 years after The French Connection exploded onto the scene, we assembled a fascinating reunion chat between the film’s maverick director William Friedkin, fellow director Christopher McQuarrie, and Popeye’s real-life inspiration, Sonny Grosso.
Gene Wilder remembered
He was Leo Bloom; he was Young Frankenstein; he was the Waco Kid; he was Skip Donahue; he was, indelibly, Willy Wonka. As a tribute to the great Gene Wilder, who passed away in August, a team of Empire writers have chosen their favourite roles from the comic actor’s incredible, decades-long career – plus, a few words from his former agent, Mike Medavoy.
Empire interview: Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick never gives a boring interview, and for our big, career-spanning Empire Interview, she admits that her sleeping pills have not quite worn off – so buckle up for a hilarious, salty-mouthed ride, where we talk Trolls, Pitch Perfect, Up In The Air, and starting at number three on a Harry Potter marathon.
Oasis
With Supersonic, a new documentary on Oasis, nearing release, we thought we might as well go to the horses' mouth and speak to the frontman. Liam Gallagher himself talks us through the history of Britpop's biggest band, and we hear from director Mat Whitecross on how to make a doc about a famously quarrelsome band.
Re.View
Shane Black’s blackest of Black comedies, The Nice Guys, gets the Viewing Guide treatment this month, in a Re.View section not short on nice things. There’s a look back at Nic Roeg’s Bowie oddity The Man Who Fell To Earth; we examine that shot from Basic Instinct; and in a controversial move, we deem Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey to be a masterpiece. We’ll get letters, for sure.
Pick up this bumper, movie-packed issue of Empire on all good newsstands from Thursday, 29 September. To spare yourself all that pesky exercise in months to come, check out the very bargainsome subscription deals currently on offer{