The Interviews (ft. Jack Reynor; Seamus McLean Ross & Samuel Bottomley; Kat Coiro & Will Packer)

The Empire Film Podcast's latest episode, 'The Interviews,' delivers a dynamic trio of behind-the-scenes conversations with key creatives from three distinct films. First, Jack Reynor discusses his role in Lee Cronin's reimagined horror take on 'The Mummy,' emphasizing the film's departure from adventure tropes in favor of a visceral, family-driven ghost story rooted in Hammer Horror and psychological dread. Reynor praises Cronin’s collaborative yet visionary direction and shares intimate details about the immersive production, particularly the transformative performance of Natalie Grace in prosthetics. Next, young Scottish actor Seamus McLean Ross and English actor Samuel Bottomley reflect on their breakthrough roles in James McAvoy’s directorial debut, 'California Scheming,' a fictionalized tale of two Scottish rappers who fake an American accent to break into the music industry. They recount the intense prep—skateboarding, songwriting, and rehearsals—that forged their on-screen chemistry, culminating in a real-life concert sequence at Glasgow’s Barrowlands that felt like a fever dream. Finally, Will Packer and director Kat Coiro discuss 'You, Me & Tuscany,' a rom-com shot in Italy where location becomes a character. Coiro reveals her spontaneous location scouting and playful direction that encouraged improvisation, while Packer shares his philosophy of 'being arrogant' and 'embracing the pivot'—a mindset that guided the film’s name change from 'Italiana' to 'You, Me & Tuscany' for better marketability. The episode closes with a lighthearted nod to Ohio as a potential sequel setting, underscoring the joy and chaos of filmmaking across genres and cultures.