Film Stories with Simon Brew

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and Educating Rita (1983) | A mighty messy Star Wars production

Two very different films in this latest episode of film history podcast Film Stories. Firstly, it's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, an infamously difficult production that saw director Gareth Edwards fashion a war tale in the Star Wars universe - and then reshoots become Hollywood trade press fodder. Coming off the back of two James Bond films meanwhile, director Lewis Gilbert reckoned he might be able to get interest in a film take on hit play Educating Rita back in the early 1980s. He got a short, sharp shock - but a dinner party offered him a very welcome stroke a luck. Stories of both films are told in this episode. Please do the like and subscribe and leaving a nice review thing. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with Tiff Stevenson | Movies, and featuring in a film that shouldn't be any good

She's a comedian, writer, actor and film nerd, and Tiff Stevenson also is a go-to for hosting things on boats, it turns out! In this Film Stories special, she talks about her role in a film called Slotherhouse. A horror slasher movie, with a sloth in it. As the pair discuss, it sounds like both an intriguing and terrible idea, yet it somehow works! It's one of the many movie discussions that come up in this chat... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost Famous (2000) and Cellular (2004) | A box office stumble, and an underappreciated action thriller

Regular episodes of Film Stories with Simon Brew resume for 2026, with two very different films in the spotlight. First up there's Cameron Crowe's superb Almost Famous, a film he got the greenlight to make in the aftermath of Jerry Maguire's success. A hugely personal story, here's how it stumbled at the box office, but found new life. Then, from the same brain that gave us Phone Booth comes Collateral. There aren't many film you could bill Chris Evans, Oscar-winner Kim Basinger and Jason Statham in, all from the director of Snakes On A Plane. How, then, did this one end up a treat? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversation with writer/director Craig Brewer

In this long chat about Song Sung Blue and his other film work too, writer/director Craig Brewer joins Simon Brew to chat about his film story. The pair chat about what led to the Neil Diamond-inspired Song Sung Blue coming to life, as well as the influence of films such as The Commitments and Shadowlands. Plus how his late father had a dramatic impact on his career, a bit of Hustle & Flow, and - just before we're cut off - Rocky IV too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Romesh Ranganathan episode (Film Stories 500 celebration live from London)

To celebrate Film Stories turning 500 episodes old (and then some!), a very special live recording took place in London in November 2025. Long-time Film Stories supporter Romesh Ranganathan joined Simon Brew on stage to go through his, er, 'storied' cinema career and talk movies. This show is rated 15 for language. You probably could have guessed that. A video version of this show is available on YouTube: www.youtube.com/filmstories Please subscribe. Please leave a nice review. And thank you for all your help and support in getting us to episode 500! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices