The Empire Podcast

Here to talk about the upcoming Marvel space opera Guardians Of The Galaxy is the head honcho of all things Marvellous, Kevin Feige, but as you'd expect, we also asked him about just why Edgar Wright left Ant-Man (and much, much more). Then there's Caesar himself, Andy Serkis, who dropped by to talk about his latest, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, and suggest what might be his character's favourite cocktail. Hint: it's not a banana daiquiri.

24: Live Another Day is (and was) a limited event television series that ran for 12 episodes - not 24, fact fans - and ended up with a lot of people getting killed by Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer. With the finale only just aired, it's our duty on the Empire Podcast to talk through the institution that is 24, and where the end of this very special London-set season leaves fans of the show. Here to help us do just that is longtime director and producer of the show, Jon Cassar, who stopped by to talk clocks, cougars and whether they'll all come back just one more time...

It's a killer week for films, with Transformers: Age Of Extinction, Boyhood, How To Train Your Dragon 2 and Begin Again all officially out this weekend, so this particular issue of the Empire Podcast is bumper-sized. This is partly because of our interviews with young acting hotshot Jack Reynor and Texan old hand Richard Linklater, but it's mainly down to all the reviews.

The one and only Peter Fonda needs no introduction - but he's getting one anyway. Star and co-writer of the Hollywood-upturning '60s classic Easy Rider, the father of Bridget, son of Henry and brother of Jane is a legend in his own lunchtime, and thanks to this special Empire Podcast, he may be a legend in yours, talking about everything from sailing, supermodels and surviving his friendship with Dennis Hopper.

Their movies actually come out next week, but that didn't stop Keira Knightley (Begin Again) and Dean DeBlois (How To Train Your Dragon 2) stopping by to talk the usual assortment of nonsense with the Empire Podcast team a little earlier than you might expect. Look forward to hearing the Pirates Of The Caribbean veteran using the phrase "Twizzly tits".

In honour of the Edinburgh International Film Festival up in, um, Edinburgh, the Empire Podcast team made the long and treacherous journey over Hadrian's Wall to record a very special live edition of the show, complete with two very special interviews: Elijah Wood and Brian Cox.

This week's Empire Podcast has a relative newcomer to Hollywood in the form of Ansel Elgort, the male lead in the box office-busting weepie The Fault In Our Stars, as well as a relative old hand in the form of Jon Favreau, here to talk about his latest, Chef.

While the World Cup encourages many to pay more attention to leathery spherical objects getting pushed around a field by 22 people over in Brazil, the Empire Podcast continues to talk about what really matters: film, TV and why If.... boasts a four dot ellipsis instead of a three dot ellipsis.

It's a TV interview special on the Empire Podcast this week, with Orange Is The New Black's Taylor Schilling and Jason Biggs causing a riot in the podbooth and Mr. Sloane's writer/director Bob Weide somehow resisting the urge to do the same.

Three big hitters are out this weekend: Edge Of Tomorrow, Maleficent and A Million Ways To Die In the West. From the first, we've got director Doug Liman, here to talk about taking over Trafalgar Square and shooting his friend's wedding videos, while from the second, we've got Sam Riley, whose gravelly voice will make your brain rumble. As for the third, well... Seth MacFarlane's a busy man.

With its fragmented timelines and complicated sci-fi-ery, X-Men: Days Of Future Past feels like the movie the Empire Podcast spoiler specials were made for. Prepare yourself for a happy couple of audio hours where your brain can come to terms with all that mutant mind-bending that occurred at your local multiplex. Helping everyone untangle their noodles this time around is X-producer (and X-writer) Simon Kinberg and at least an hour's worth of what-the-hell-happened waffle from the Empire Podcast team. Look forward to a detailed discussion of the credit sting, and what it means for the rest of the X-Men franchise.

This week, Empire Podcast veteran Hugh Jackman stops by to talk about London's second best fish and chip shop, Wolverine's love of Rick Astley and his top drawer pirate voice, with newcomer Ian McKellen instead using his interview to pitch for a job as a film reviewer. Both were in town to talk X-Men: Days Of Future Past, which the team also do, on top of some general cinematic chit chat and this week's news. Look forward to an unexpected discussion of Spice World and some top tips on how to smuggle a Snickers bar into a screening.

Judging by its opening weekend box office, chances are you've seen Godzilla. If you haven't, run for the hills - other metaphorical places to run to are available - because this is the spoiler podcast that lifts the lid on the radioactive film tin and talks in detail about Toho's finest. Featuring an illuminating interview with the man who made the movie, director Gareth Edwards, this is a must-listen for anyone curious about the return of the King Of The Monsters.

In the first Godzilla movies, The King Of The Monsters was actually just a guy in a suit, but with the advent of modern SFX, men stomping on miniature cities are no longer required. But if they were, Gareth Edwards would be the megaphone weilder shouting "Punch the water tower!" and "Drop kick that battleship!", as he's the director behind the new reboot of Toho's beloved scaley scoundrel. He's joined in the Empire Podcast this week by Two Faces Of January's Viggo Mortensen (actor) and Hossein Amini (director), who talk about everything from The Parthenon to Montesquieu.

Sensibly deciding to take his papier-mache head off for his Empire Podcast interview, Michael Fassbender was on fine form as he talked about his latest, Frank, as well as his stoat impersonation, his deleted dance sequence at the end of Prometheus and his love of Buck Rogers. Also under the interview lamplight were Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, directors of the inspirational American Samoa football documentary Next Goal Wins, who talk about how they made the beautiful game feel beautiful again.