It’s big. It’s blue. It’s brimming with brand new information. The new issue of Empire is about to hit newsstands, with a major world-exclusive deep-dive into Avatar: The Way Of Water – James Cameron’s long-long-long-awaited return to Pandora. From brand new character and story details, to exclusive images and insights into the ultra-ambitious production, it’s your ultimate ticket back to the bioluminescent world where it all began.
You can find the issue on sale from Thursday 7 July – or order a copy online here – but for now, here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.
Avatar: The Way Of Water
The director behind the biggest movie of all time is back – and he’s got a plan for four blockbuster behemoth sequels, beginning with The Way Of Water. Empire ventures to James Cameron’s Lightstorm HQ for an all-access tour of his hugely-anticipated follow-up to Avatar, talking technological advances, the epic ensemble cast, the surprises you never saw coming, and where he sees the saga going over a quartet of movies.
Thor: Love And Thunder
Having unleashed a blast of cosmic energy into the MCU with Thor Ragnarok, Taika Waititi is pushing every dial further in sequel Love And Thunder. Empire catches up with the Kiwi king himself, MCU boss Kevin Feige, and stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Tessa Thompson, to talk love, lunacy, and levelling up the God Of Thunder once more.
Nope
With Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele changed the game and confirmed himself as a major filmmaking voice. Now he’s back in the writer-director’s chair for his third feature – UFO thriller Nope. He talks Hollywood history, hair-raising scares, his reunion with Daniel Kaluuya and his thoughts on the cosmos in a major new Empire interview.
The Sandman
For decades, Neil Gaiman’s comic book epic has been considered a masterpiece in its medium. Now, the man himself is directly involved in trying to bring his wild vision of magic, mythology, and metaphysics to the screen in an uncompromising Netflix series. Empire speaks to showrunners Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Henberg, and stars Tom Sturridge, Gwendoline Christie, Boyd Holbrook, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, about opening up Dream’s world.
Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary
The friendship between Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary – who dreamed up Pulp Fiction’s screenplay together – began in the world of video shops. Now, they’re teaming up for The Video Archives Podcast, a show in which they pore over decades of VHS tapes together. In a huge new Empire interview, the pair discuss their history with videos, how the humble VHS inspired their movie careers – and their continuing friendship.
Michael Mann On Heat 2
The original is a crime cinema classic. And now, decades later, Michael Mann has cooked up novelised sequel-prequel Heat 2, telling a whole new story about Vincent Hanna and Chris Shiherlis. The legendary filmmaker talks to Empire about making his literary debut – and why he still plans to make Heat 2 as a film down the line.
Gods Among Us: John Travolta
He gave Hollywood chills, and they’ve been multiplying ever since. Our tribute to the titans of the big screen continues with a look over the career of John Travolta – from Grease and Saturday Night Fever to Pulp Fiction, Blow Out and beyond.
Take 20
In this month’s news section, we present a major Star Wars Celebration blowout with an exclusive new look at Andor and reports on Ahsoka, The Mandalorian Season 3 and more. Plus, we talk Brontë and Barbie with Emma Mackey; we give Black Adam the Trailer Talk treatment; we get close-up with She-Hulk: Attorney At Law; Joe Carnahan pays tribute to the late, great Ray Liotta; we get animated with Henry Selick’s stop-motion comeback Wendell & Wild; blast off to the world of Willow; get the lowdown on Predator prequel Prey, and much more.
Re View
In this month’s home entertainment section, we revisit Get Carter for its 4K reissue with writer-director Mike Hodges in a major new interview. And we rank the Planet Of The Apes movies, go moment-by-mad-moment through Nicolas Cage freakout The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent, talk Pink Flamingos with John Waters, delve into Adrien Brody’s greatest characters with the man himself, and much more.
On Screen
Reviewed in this issue, you’ll find Pixar sci-fi spin-off Lightyear, Iranian road-trip drama Hit The Road, dino epic Jurassic World Dominion, Joseph Kosinski’s Netflix thriller Spiderhead, David Simon’s We Own This City, Disney+ series Ms Marvel and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Westworld Season 4, and more.
Empire's Avatar: The Way Of Water issue is on sale from Thursday 7 July. Order a copy online here. Avatar: The Way Of Water comes to UK cinemas from 16 December.