THIS MONTH AT EMPIRE
HELLO! IT PROBABLY goes without saying that
we are excited. Like, insanely excited. This has been something of a tumultuous year for cinema so far (Highs! Lows! Crushing disappointments! Surprise hits!), but the moment we’ve been waiting for is here: the very first, super-exclusive look at Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Everything we’ve seen up to now has raised our heart rates significantly. Then our own Dan Jolin spent time getting under the skin of the first standalone origins story with director Gareth Edwards and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. It’s shaping up to be gritty, action-packed and kind of dark, and we are thrilled. It’s perfect to propel us into Episode VIII next year.
Looking forward as we are to the end of the year, it seems the perfect time to see what autumn and winter hold. With Doctor Strange, Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them, American Pastoral, Assassin’s Creed, Deepwater Horizon and A Monster Calls all lying in wait (among others), it’s fair to say the best is yet to come.
Speaking of which, I must point you in the direction of p.86 — on which you will find a story by Jim Hosking, director of one of this year’s most out-there films. The Greasy Strangler is surreal, gross, twisted and really, really funny. Since I saw it one morning in June with coffee and pastries (not a wise move), I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. If you’ve got a strong stomach and a crooked brain, give it a watch. And on that last bit, we can actually help.
This month (23-25 September, to be precise) sees the inaugural Empire Live, our film and entertainment event at The O2 London where we’ll be hosting screenings, script-reads, parties, masterclasses, interviews, panels and quizzes. We’d love you to join us — tickets are available at empirelive.com. Do say hi — and in this instance, coffee and pastries would be entirely fitting. Unless it’s prior to our preview of The Greasy
Strangler. Good lord, man! Take them away!