For months now, cinemas have been closed through additional waves of the Coronavirus pandemic. But with vaccines rolling out, the number of cases falling, and summer kicking in, the movies are about to make a major comeback – bringing blockbusters galore to the big screen where they belong. The new issue of Empire isn’t just a celebration of cinemas and the movies they’ll be screening in the near future, but also of the work that’s gone on behind the scenes to keep films shooting safely through unprecedented times. And who better to speak to that than Tom Cruise, our exclusive cover star who's on a mission to save movies.
The issue hits newsstands from Thursday 13 May – and is available to pre-order online here now – but for the moment here’s a sneak peek inside its pages.
Tom Cruise
One of the biggest movies to shoot through the pandemic was Mission: Impossible 7 – making it one of the most near-impossible Mission movies yet. In a major world-exclusive, Empire talks with Hollywood icon Tom Cruise on the M:I7 set about fighting back and making a major blockbuster in a global pandemic – plus, we chat with directors Christopher McQuarrie and Jurassic World’s Colin Trevorrow about their experiences on the filmic frontline.
The BIG Screen Preview
Welcome back to the movies, everyone! After months of delays, the summer schedule is stacked with major flicks that are sure to thrill and delight us with some much-needed escapism. From Last Night In Soho, to A Quiet Place Part II, to Freaky and Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Empire looks at 44 must-see movies coming very soon. Plus, we take a bigger look at…
In The Heights
Before Hamilton there was In The Heights – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s dazzling musical about his New York neighbourhood set in a sweltering summer heatwave, which finally comes to the screen from Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu. Empire gets the full story on its making, with Miranda, Chu, star Anthony Ramos and more.
Fast & Furious 9
The Fast family is back – so Empire caught up with returning director Justin Lin and franchise stalwart Vin Diesel for a major new interview about their time in Hollywood’s most unapologetically bonkers saga.
Censor
Director Prano Bailey-Bond makes her arresting feature debut with Censor – a head-spinning dive into the world of video nasties. Empire finds out how she captured the spirit of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci to become a vital new voice in British cinema.
Alan Partridge
Jurassic Park! Steve Coogan’s iconic comedy character is back in the second series of This Time With Alan Partridge – and sits down with Empire to talk three decades of the man himself, along with writer-duo brothers Rob and Neil Gibbons.
Eddie Murphy
Our latest celebration of the Hollywood gods is Eddie Murphy – a man who blazed a trail through Tinseltown in the ‘80s with an astonishing comedy streak, became a family favourite in the ‘90s and ‘00s, and was back to his best in Dolemite Is My Name.
Take 20
In this month’s look at all the movie moments that matter, we look at the indie cinemas fighting back post-lockdown, explore the real-life friendship behind Pixar’s Luca, get the first word on the Paranormal Activity reboot, talk Aretha Franklin with Cynthia Erivo, Jamie Bell takes on the Pint Of Milk interview, and much more.
ReView
In this month’s home entertainment rundown, we talk WolfWalkers with the Cartoon Saloon team, rank the DCEU movies, Day Of The Dead gets the Masterpiece treatment, Amy Heckerling revisits Fast Times At Ridgemont High, the directors behind Disney’s Raya And The Last Dragon break down the fantasy adventure in the Viewing Guide, and much more.
On Screen
Reviewed in this month’s issue is Billie Piper’s directorial debut Rare Beasts, Kelly Reichardt’s long-awaited First Cow, Barry Jenkins’ new series The Underground Railroad, Netflix’s animated adventure The Mitchells Vs The Machines, and plenty more.