As books they were generations removed from one another, but in a perfect storm of wizardry, both J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter cast their spell on cinema screens in 2001. Directors Peter Jackson and Chris Columbus, along with their extraordinary cadres of creative talent, ushered in a new era of fantasy filmmaking, the echoes of which are still evident in todays blockbuster film and television. Two decades and multiple sequels, prequels and spin-offs later, we're still entranced. This month's very special issue of Empire celebrates that legacy, curates that history and reunites the biggest names of the era.
It's on sale from Thursday 18 February, and available to order online here – but first, here’s a look inside this month’s mag.
20 Years Of Magic
Empire's multi-feature tribute to the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series begins here, with a world exclusive...
Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood
Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood – Harry Potter and Frodo Baggins – are united for the first time ever for this in-depth conversation about their life-changing roles.
Casting a Spell
A look at the importance of The Philosopher's Stone and The Fellowship of the Ring in the context of 2001. The world needed a bit of magic after 9/11. And in these days of pandemic, it still does.
David Heyman
A huge new interview with the Harry Potter producer, talking everything from Buckbeak to Butterbeer.
Magical Production Design
The Lord of the Rings' Grant Major and Harry Potter's Stuart Craig talk us through, respectively, creating the stunning environments of Rivendell and Hogwarts.
Scene-Stealers
Interviews with the actors behind Farmer Maggot (Cameron Rhodes), the Mouth of Sauron (Bruce Spence), Quidditch captain Oliver Wood (Sean Biggerstaff), giddy student Colin Creevey (Hugh Mitchell) and plenty more.
Our epic celebration is rounded out with Empire's original Lord of the Rings feature from 2001, and a look into the future of both franchises.
Ammonite
Francis Lee's second feature following the stunning God's Own Country is the romantic historical drama Ammonite. Leading Empire's non-wizard/hobbit content this month is a feature interview with Lee and his star Kate Winslet.
Brad Pitt
Never one for the easy payday blockbuster or sequel, Brad Pitt's filmography is as impressive as it's eclectic. It makes him the perfect subject to kick off Empire's major new series on the greatest ever movie stars, Gods Among Us.
Dino De Laurentiis
A big personality who made the biggest films imaginable, Empire looks back at the iconic Italian producer who remade King Kong, gave Dune to David Lynch, gave Charles Bronson a Death Wish and made Schwarzenegger a star.
Take 20
Empire's front section this month gets the lowdown from Zack Snyder on his new zombie epic Army of the Dead, and visits the set of British horror Censor. We also delve into the secrets of WandaVision, investigate Studio Ghibli's heretically CG Earwig and the Witch, and find out if Minnie Driver knows the price of a pint of milk.
Re-View
Leading this month's home entertainment section is an interview with the director and writers of the home-made, Zoom-based indie horror sensation Host. We also speak to the legendary Roger Corman, while the latest instalment of The Ranking has Steven Spielberg in its sights.
On Screen
Among this issue's reviews are Sam Levinson's romantically monochrome Malcolm And Marie; Cathy Yan's quirky Chinese comedy Dead Pigs; Kevin Macdonald's Jodie-Foster-starring legal drama The Mauretanian; and J Blakeson's I Care A Lot, a dark comedy starring Rosamund Pike and Peter Dinklage.
Find the issue on newsstands from Thursday 18 February, or buy a copy online with free UK delivery here.