Entertainment journalist Leigh Livingstone and movie expert Tim Iffland review the newest film releases, plus break down the latest trailers and movie news. Bite-sized, moreish and a little salty – this is Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim.
TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF POPCORN PODCAST, WE’RE GIVING AWAY THREE GIFT PACKS FEATURING AN OFFICIAL POPCORN PODCAST MUG, MOVIE MERCHANDISE AND A $20 ITUNES GIFT CARD, SO YOU CAN WATCH YOUR FAVOURITE NEW RELEASE MOVIES!
All tagged Celebrity Interview
Jonathan Bailey joins Popcorn Podcast to take us behind the scenes of Jon M Chu's highly anticipated Wicked adaptation. Bailey, of Bridgerton fame, portrays Winkie Prince Fiyero alongside Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's Glinda – he delights with talk of clunky booties, Wizard of Oz Easter eggs and how to dismount a horse in style. Tune in and swoon out…
Step into the Popcorn Podcast Colosseum for a review of Ridley Scott's long-awaited Gladiator sequel. Leigh and Tim dive into Gladiator 2, starring a wild Paul Mescal, the regal Connie Nielsen, a mysterious Pedro Pascal and King Denzel Washington. Ridley Scott has been described as a man in a hurry, but it took 24 years to deliver a follow-up to his Oscar-winning, genre-redefining original – are we not entertained?…
Jason Scott Lee joins Popcorn Podcast to talk The Wind and The Reckoning, Hawaii's first native language film to receive a wide release. The movie, inspired by real events, follows the rebellion of a group of Native Hawaiians as they resist government-mandated exile during an outbreak of leprosy in 19th-century colonial Hawaii. Lee (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Mulan) also shares what it was like filming a movie about a pandemic during an actual pandemic and the groundbreaking film that blows his mind…
Love on the Spectrum star Michael Theo drops by Popcorn Podcast to talk acting, his love of movies and being recognised as a CGA Rising Star. Each year, the Casting Guild of Australia (CGA) comes together to identify a group of extraordinary actors they believe have the potential to break out on the world stage. Theo recently made his acting debut in the ABC series Austin, after his small-screen turn in the uplifting Netflix docuseries Love on the Spectrum…
Gladiator II star Connie Nielsen joins Popcorn Podcast to discuss her return to Ancient Rome in Ridley Scott's epic sequel. The Danish actor (also known as Queen Hippolyta in the Wonder Woman and Justice League films) reprises her role as Lucilla, some 24 years after the Oscar-winning Gladiator, returning as the now-grown Gladiator Lucius’ (Paul Mescal) mother. In a wide-ranging interview that gets a little emotional, Nielsen reveals how Lucilla has changed and shares insights into Ridley Scott, as well as shocks us with a surprising fact about the original Gladiator…
Shari Sebbens joins Popcorn Podcast to discuss her leading role in Indigenous psychological horror The Moogai. Sebbens shares what she loves about the horror genre, the importance of telling Indigenous stories and how she balanced crazy and truth in her chilling performance…
It takes two to tango as Popcorn Podcast prances through Venom: The Last Dance. In a bite-sized and salty new episode of Popcorn Podcast, YOU get a symbiote and YOU get a symbiote, plus there's everything from dead arms to irresponsible hippie parents and plot-splaining exposition. We. Are. Popcorn Podcast.
Writer and director Parker Finn joins Popcorn Podcast while in Australia for SXSW Sydney to chat much-anticipated horror follow-up Smile 2. In our interview, Finn unravels his manic writing process; reminisces on Naomi Scott’s impressive ability to chug; and shares what Smile 2 says about celebrity consumption – all while nerding out over his opening one-take shot…
Academy award-nominated filmmaker Carlos Saldanha drops by Popcorn Podcast to talk his new film, Harold and the Purple Crayon. Starring Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel, Harold and the Purple Crayon is the first film adaptation of the beloved children’s classic that has captivated young readers for decades about an adventurous Harold who can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. In our chat, Saldanha shares how long the animation veteran has been eyeing a live-action project; the power of imagination; and a sticky situation on set he had to think fast to solve...
Oscar-nominee June Squibb and co-star Fred Hechinger – who we'll also see in the upcoming Gladiator II – delight in this Popcorn Podcast episode about their new film, Thelma, which puts a clever spin on movies like Mission: Impossible with an elderly grandmother as an unlikely action hero. In our warm and fuzzy chat, Squibb and Hechinger share their admiration for each other; why Hechinger “tickles” Squibb; and stunt advice for Tom Cruise...
Author, charity founder and adventurer Ed Jackson joins Popcorn Podcast to talk about his new documentary, The Mountain Within Me. From award-winning filmmaker Polly Steele, the film follows Ed Jackson's journey to recovery after suffering a serious spinal cord injury in 2017 which put an end to his professional rugby career. Determined and ambitious, Jackson decides to climb some of the most challenging peaks on earth. In our open and honest chat, Jackson shares the lessons he learned from his darkest days in recovery; his evolving relationship with the word “no”; growing through trauma; and the inspiring work of his charity Millimetres 2 Mountains...
Aussie talent-to-watch Shabana Azeez joins Popcorn Podcast to discuss her complex role in Australian thriller Birdeater. The tense film follows bride-to-be Irene (Azeez) as she is invited to her fiancé's bachelor party, but when uncomfortable details of their relationship are exposed, the night takes a feral turn. The delightful Azeez shares how equally excited and terrified she was to play Irene; how she hopes audiences react to the controversial film; how collaboration was key when it came to intimacy; the classic movie that brings her joy; and so much more…
Twisters director Lee Isaac Chung joins Popcorn Podcast to talk helming a long-awaited sequel to 1996 cult classic Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Chung hopes to blow audiences away with his take on the action-packed blockbuster, this time featuring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glenn Powell as tornado chasers in pursuit of a monster storm. After bringing us the deeply personal Oscar-nominated Minari, Chung shares why independent filmmakers are perfect for big-budget popcorn films and how he stays true to the original Twisters while upping the ante for fans and new audiences alike…
Let's get Goofy! Legendary voice actor Bill Farmer drops by Popcorn Podcast ahead of Metro Comic Con to talk walking in the oversized shoes of one of Disney's most beloved characters – the one and only Goofy Goof. Farmer has been solely responsible for voicing the often clumsy, good-natured animated icon since 1987, as well other instantly recognisable characters, such as Sylvester, Yosemite Sam and Foghorn Leghorn in the original Space Jam film, and Stinkie in some of the Casper films. Farmer shares how he helped turn Goofy into a film trailblazer; the memorable fan encounter that has stayed with him through the years; and gives us one helluva Goofy holler…
Rachel House opens her heart to discuss her brilliant feature film directorial debut, The Mountain. Starring Elizabeth Atkinson, Terrance Daniel and Reuben Francis, The Mountain is about three children on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga (Mountain), where they learn the true spirit of adventure and the magic of friendship. The conversation begins with Tim's new Gandalf tattoo, but quickly ventures into the personal layers House brings to her story; the power of using kids as vessels to communicate profound things about culture and identity; and a look back at a film that brought her joy…
The Exorcism writer/director Joshua John Miller drops by Popcorn Pals to discuss his new meta horror film starring Australia's Russell Crowe and Sam Worthington. The Exorcism is a movie within a movie about a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a remake of the 1973 Oscar-winning horror, The Exorcist. As if that wasn't meta enough, Miller's own father (Jason Miller) starred in the original as Father Karras! In our chat, Miller reveals what his multi-layered movie says about redemption and forgiveness – and the "hellscape" of Hollywood – the importance of queerness in the story and so much more…
The delightful Hannah Waddingham drops by Popcorn Podcast to discuss her wickedly brilliant role in The Garfield Movie alongside Chris Pratt. Waddingham may be "jet-lagged up the wazoo" for our interview, but the triple-threat superstar still regales us with juicy tidbits about her villainous character, Jinx, shares why Saturdays are actually the worst day of the week and responds to a special message from Leigh…
Popcorn Pals travels 300 years into the future with entertainment journalist Connor Dalton to chat Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Set many years after the reign of Caesar, Noa (Owen Teague), a young ape, goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. Tim and Dalton talk The Simpsons connections, sequel fever, flawless visual effects and jet lag-afflicted double features. All this and much more!…
Let's hear it for the stunties! Popcorn Podcast tumbles into David Leitch's The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. The action-packed ode to stuntpeople – the brave souls who get shot at, crashed into and thrown through windows for our entertainment – marks former stuntman Leitch's most personal project to date, filmed among the stunning sites of Sydney. Drop in to this bite-sized no-spoiler Popcorn Podcast episode for The Fall Guy fun…
Filmmaker Matt Brown joins Popcorn Podcast to discuss his latest film, Freud's Last Session, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins as neurologist Sigmund Freud and Matthew Goode as famous author CS Lewis. Brown drops by to discuss how he convinced Anthony Hopkins the role of Freud was right for him; how to hold onto our beliefs while still respecting differing opinions; and how he put that philosophy into practice while collaborating with playwright Mark St Germain on Freud’s Last Session…
