THIS MONTH

IN STEPHEN KING’S The Stand, an apocalyptic thriller which I’m currently reading for a bit of light relief, it’s mentioned that the last film released in movie theatres before they go dark is a Nightmare On Elm Street sequel. In the book, of course, those pandemic-hit theatres never re-open. Fortunately, we don’t live inside Stephen King’s head, and a throng of exciting movies is looming large. That’s right, the answer to the question, “What was the last thing you saw on the big screen?” need no longer be, “Vin Diesel in Bloodshot.”

Inside this issue, we catch up with a whole host of Hollywood stars and directors, finding out what they have in store for us when their creations finally arrive. And it’s an electric mix. There are rollercoaster-ride blockbusters. There are dramas about the human condition. There’s a long-awaited Steven Spielberg musical. There’s even something called Monster Hunter, in which… well, you can probably guess. After months devoid of giant screens, fresh popcorn and thundering sound, Hollywood’s raring to get going again. And so, frankly, are we.

Until then, there’s plenty within these pages to keep you busy. We catch up with the writer of last year’s

Queen & Slim, Lena Waithe, to discuss how the Black Lives Matter movement is impacting the film industry, and the work that remains to be done. Janelle Monáe, one of the most exciting stars working today, tells us how she’s shaking things up. There’s even the latest on

Labyrinth 2, a sequel worth doing a magic dance about.

In short, the future is looking bright. And don’t let Stephen King tell you different.