THIS MONTH

SO, THIS IS IT: my final letter to you, in my final issue as Editor-in-chief. I’ve been thinking a lot during these last months, as I prepared for this moment, about what makes

Empire what it is. But I’ve realised I was asking the wrong question. Because it’s not what; it’s who. And the answer to that question might begin with us, but it ends with you.

So, let’s start at the beginning: with the Empire team, that I’ve been so proud to lead for the last six years. Who put their considerable brains and even bigger hearts into everything they do. Chris, Nick, James, Chris, Lizzie, Joanna, Ben, Mike, Ian, John, Helen and Aliyah. We might not always agree on Star Wars or Scorsese, but we are of one mind in the unassailable fact that there’s, quite honestly, nowhere else we’d rather be. Than here, with each other, with all of you.

Which brings me to the end, to you. Empire is so much more than the words and pictures printed on these pages and bound together. A great magazine, it’s said, is always a gang. But even this isn’t right; isn’t quite enough. For we’re a community. One that challenges and criticises when needed, but also laughs and supports; shares, influences, inspires, needles, argues and, yes — you can’t stop me, I’m going to say it! — loves. And boy, do we love.

My vision for Empire when I nervously stepped across the threshold on 14 September 2015 was quite simple. That we would, with welcoming, open arms (and eyes and ears), be a home for everyone, anyone with a passion for the moving image. From filmmakers to fans and everything (and everyone) in-between. The only thing that would unite us, truly, would be our deep, abiding, full-throated love of movies (and telly!). That no-one would be excluded.

Whether you’ve been with us for two months or 32 years, it’s truly been an honour to write to you every month, to talk to you in the days and weeks in-between. Because, to answer the question I began with, it’s you who make

Empire what it is, will continue to do so long after my face is no longer on this page; when that of the person after me isn’t either. We’re simply lucky guardians, who do our utmost to evolve when evolution is needed, while protecting the wonderful legacy built by those who came before.

Empire is you. And me. And them. It’s us.

See you at the pictures sometime.

(Empire Forever.)