Back in 2001, two young actors set off on fantastical cinematic journeys that would capture the hearts and imaginations of fans for years to come. Elijah Wood slipped on a pair of hairy Hobbit feet for the long walk to Mordor in The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, while Daniel Radcliffe donned those round glasses and that lightning-bolt scar in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone – a pair of fantasy classics that began two concurrent game-changing franchises. And now, in a major world exclusive, Empire has united Wood and Radcliffe for the very first time, bringing them together in conversation and for a (distanced, Covid-compliant) photoshoot – looking back on their experiences at the heart of the most expansive fantasy sagas of the ’00s, discussing their memories of playing Frodo and Harry, and how those films changed everything in their lives and careers, and in the Hollywood landscape.
The upcoming new issue of Empire is an epic 20th anniversary celebration of the two most iconic magical franchises in cinema history – and this month’s newsstand cover features Wood and Radcliffe together at last, photographed for Empire by Art Streiber.
The exclusive subscriber cover features a different shot of the two, also captured by Streiber, with ethereal illustrations by Peter Strain.
And there’s plenty more inside the 38-page Harry Potter and The Lord Of The Rings special too – including an all-new major interview with Potter producer David Heyman answering fan questions, a look at how Middle-earth and Hogwarts were brought to the big screen, a catch-up with the greatest Rings and Potter scene-stealers, an exploration of how both series arrived when the world desperately needed them, and much, much more.
Stay tuned for more information coming soon about what else is in the mag. It’s an issue packed with more magic than you can shake a wand or a wizard’s staff at (your choice), celebrating the cinematic worlds that have kept viewers returning for two decades in both the best and worst times. The newsstand edition hits shelves on Thursday 18 February – or alternatively, you can pre-order a copy online here now with free UK postage.