X-Men (2000), and how it changed superhero cinema

X-Men (2000), and how it changed superhero cinema

Author: Simon Brew March 23, 2026 Duration: 52:47
No two ways about it, 2000's X-Men movie was a massive gamble. At a time when studios needed movie star vehicles, 20th Century Fox found itself without a summer blockbuster due to a delay on a Tom Cruise film. It'd already greenlit and backtracked on X-Men once. When the film finally got going? Well, there'd be well-reported behind the scenes problems. A star who wasn't cast until shooting began. And a story that requires a fair amount of use of the word 'allegedly'... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what really happened behind the scenes of your favorite film? Film Stories with Simon Brew pulls back the curtain, exploring the fascinating and often chaotic journeys movies take from script to screen. Host Simon Brew, founder of Den of Geek, guides each episode, delving into the untold narratives that shaped cinema. You’ll hear about productions plagued by unexpected hurdles, complex rights battles that stalled projects for years, and the sheer luck or stubborn determination that finally got a film into theaters. This isn't just a review show; it's a deep dive into the history and human drama of filmmaking. Each story reveals the layers hidden within a finished movie-the near-cancellations, the last-minute rewrites, and the creative clashes that are all part of the process. Tune in for a compelling look at how films are truly made, far beyond what appears in the final cut. This podcast celebrates the resilience and sometimes madness inherent in bringing stories to life, offering a fresh perspective for anyone who loves the world of TV and film.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Film Stories with Simon Brew
Podcast Episodes
Film Stories Live: with Mark Kermode in Cornwall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:21
Up front, you can find Simon's tour dates at www.filmstories.co.uk/live. Simon Brew has been touring the UK with Film Stories in 2026, and in June 2026, he landed at the lovely Plaza Cinema in Truro. There, for an hour a…
Carlito's Way, a film it took ten attempts to make [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:03
Brian De Palma's 1993 movie Carlito's Way was not a box office success. De Palma managed to predict the critical reaction to the film, reacted to studio notes saying it was too long by making it longer, and had to retool…
Dances With Wolves (1990), plus its three different cuts... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:39
Kevin Costner gambled hard on making a three hour western, a third of which wasn't in the English language. He turned down roles in The Hunt For Red October and Presumed Innocent to take the risk of making Dances With Wo…
Howard The Duck (1986) and the first Marvel movie, plus Terri White [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:20
I hear you, folks! Do more Marvel films? Gotcha! Let's go back to 1986, and Howard The Duck, the stunning-ish George Lucas-produced film of the subversive comic book character. Howard The Duck would become notable on its…
Fight Club (1999), plus the dig against Rupert Murdoch at the end [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:49
Outside of the very well known rules, there's a whole load of other stuff about 1999's Fight Club. There's the director who turned the book down, freely admitting they didn't get it. There's the moment when the budget wa…