In all his incarnations, the Joker is an icon. From the comics, to Cesar Romero’s TV version, to Mark Hamill’s voice incarnation, to Jack Nicholson’s turn in Tim Burton’s Batman, and Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, Gotham’s greatest antagonist is a character with incredible staying power and adaptability. But for all the Jokers who have graced the screen, you’ve never seen anything like Joker – the all-new take from Todd Phillips, with Joaquin Phoenix under the clown make-up.
The new issue of Empire goes deep on the low-budget, hyper-intense new version of the Clown Prince Of Crime, inspired just as much by Scorsese and ‘70s cinema than by the Batman comics. Here’s a sneak peek inside the issue, on sale from Thursday 11 July – and available to order online here, with free p&p within the UK.
Joker
In a world exclusive, Empire gets the inside story on the comic book movie that breaks all the rules – giving a radical new take on the Clown Prince of Crime. Joaquin Phoenix, director Todd Phillips, and producers Bradley Cooper and Emma Tillinger Koskoff open up about what’s in store.
Take 20
The new-look Empire has a brand new section that takes in the 20 film moments that matter each month – with exclusive images, interviews, and insights into the film news that has everyone talking. This month, we meet the Sharks and Jets of Spielberg’s West Side Story, chat Charlie’s Angels with Kristen Stewart, return to the Overlook Hotel with Doctor Sleep, and get on board with Awkwafina’s buzz-worthy The Farewell. And don’t worry – Pint Of Milk is still here.
Spoiler Special
SPOILER WARNING: Empire’s brand new Spoiler Special section is jam-packed with spoilers. Shocking, we know – but we want to give you ample warning. If you’re caught up with Spider-Man: Far From Home, Stranger Things 3, Yesterday and Toy Story 4, get ready to delve deep into all the twists and turns, with insights from Team Empire and the filmmakers.
Empire 30: Jordan Peele
With Get Out, he delivered an instant horror classic. With Us, he proved that that was no fluke. For our #Empire30 celebrations, we catch up with Jordan Peele – the new master of horror.
The Sunken Place
Get Out’s most ambitious sequence signalled Peele as a visionary filmmaker. We spoke to the director and his filmmaking crew for an oral history on the making of a modern classic scene.
The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance
Jim Henson’s all-out puppet fantasy is back in a hugely ambitious new Netflix series. Empire enters the land of Thra to chart the prequel series’ long, epic, treacherous journey to the screen.
Gurinder Chadha
The pioneering director has been a vital voice in the British film industry for 30 years – and yet she still feels like an outsider. Gurinder Chadha talks through her career, and her latest work, the Bruce Springsteen-centric Blinded By The Light.
Jaws 2
The first Jaws was the original blockbuster – and was a notoriously nightmarish shoot. But Jaws 2 was made in just as treacherous waters. Empire looks back at the re-writes, re-shoots, and Roy Scheider drama that went on behind the scenes of the original blockbuster sequel.
Animals
Sundance hit Animals features two outstanding turns from Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat in a raucous ode to female frienship. Take a look inside the summer’s coolest indie movie
On Screen
This month we review Spider-Man: Far From Home, Ari Aster’s cult horror Midsommar, Agnès Varda’s final film Varda By Agnès, pop-drama Teen Spirit, electric historical drama The Current War, Toy Story 4 and more.
Re View
In the home entertainment section, we catch up with Robert Rodriguez to talk Alita, talk The Kid Who Would Be King with Joe Cornish, rank J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World movies, break down the big talking points of Captain Marvel with Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, give Pedro Almodóvar’s Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown the masterpiece treatment, and much more.
Pick up the issue on newsstands from 11 July, or order a copy online here.