The year in Marvel has largely been one of getting the Disney+ series off the ground, and venturing into new territory in the movies – establishing new worlds and characters in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings and Eternals. But capping off the year is one of the MCU’s beloved characters – Tom Holland’s Peter Parker – in his biggest solo outing yet, Spider-Man: No Way Home. With multiverse-spanning villains to battle, his secret identity no longer secret, and Doctor Strange willing to bend reality to help him out, the stage is set for a massive Marvel blow-out full of mind-bending surprises.
Empire’s world-exclusive No Way Home issue is about to hit shelves – but before it does, here’s your sneak peek inside this month’s mag, on sale Thursday 28 October.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Ready for some multiversal madness? Empire speaks to No Way Home stars Tom Holland, Zendaya and Benedict Cumberbatch, director Jon Watts, Marvel boss Kevin Feige and producer Amy Pascal about Spider-Man’s epic next adventure – from the return of Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock, to those internet-consuming rumours, and the end of Holland’s Spidey-contract.
Spencer
The writer (Steven Knight), director (Pablo Larraín), star (Kristen Stewart), and composer (Jonny Greenwood) of the Princess Diana fable break down the creative process that helped them get under the skin of a tragic icon.
Titane
Raw director Julia Ducournau is back with the Cannes-conquering Titane – a blazing blast of oil, blood, fire and metal unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Empire talks to the filmmaker about her uncompromising vision.
Paul Schrader
The writer-director delves deep into his biggest preoccupations with Empire, talking First Reformed, Taxi Driver, Auto Focus and his latest work, The Card Counter.
The Hallmark Channel
It’s one of the most prolific film factories in the world, pumping out romcoms at a rate of knots. Empire investigates the weird world of Hallmark movies – and the filmmakers that bring them to life.
Howard The Duck
Long before today’s Marvel dominance, cult comic book character Howard The Duck came to the screen with the help of George Lucas – and famously bombed. Empire revisits the bizarre story behind one of the strangest flops ever made.
Halle Berry
The Oscar-winning star turns director for her filmmaking debut Bruised. She talks her directorial vision, her fight preparation, and her extensive career of blockbuster roles.
Gods Among Us: Natalie Portman
In our celebration of Hollywood icons, we revisit the career of Natalie Portman – from her time in the worlds of Star Wars and Marvel, to her break-out role in Léon, via V For Vendetta and Garden State.
Take 20
This month’s round-up of all the film (and TV) news that matters includes a fresh look at Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley, the narratively-experimental return of Doctor Who, Adam McKay’s star-studded satire Don’t Look Up, Henry Cavill on Season 2 of The Witcher, Joaquin Phoenix and his young co-star Woody Norman on C’mon C’mon, a Q&A with Succession’s Brian Cox, and much more.
Review
In the home entertainment arena this month, we revisit Naked with Mike Leigh and David Thewlis, snuffle around for treasures with Pig director Michael Sarnoski, debunk the myths of A Clockwork Orange with Malcolm McDowell, rank the films of Angelina Jolie, and chart Han Seoul-Oh’s journey through the Fast Saga with Sung Kang and Justin Lin.
On Screen
Reviewed this month are the likes of spooky sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter, Princess Diana psychodrama Spencer, tennis biopic King Richard, Edgar Wright’s Last Night In Soho, Celine Sciamma’s Petite Maman, and Jeymes Samuel’s punchy Western The Harder They Fall.
Find the issue in shops from Thursday 28 October.