Has Hollywood run out of ideas?

Has Hollywood run out of ideas?

Author: The Times August 30, 2022 Duration: 29:48

The traditional summer blockbuster season is drawing to a close but in a world of prequels, sequels and remakes, independent films are finding it increasingly hard to break through. So why are we deluged by all these spin-offs?

Guest: Kevin Maher, chief film critic, The Times. 

Host: Manveen Rana. 

Producer: Olivia Case

Clips:

Thor: Love and Thunder. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Taika Waititi.

Suicide Squad. © 2016 Warner Brothers Pictures. Director: David Ayer.

Minions: The Rise of Gru. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Kyle Balda

Nope. © 2022 Universal Pictures. Director: Jordan Peele

Spider-Man: Far From Home. © 2019 Sony Pictures. Director: Jon Watts.

Nomadland. © 2021 Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Company Nordic. © Director: Chloe Zhao.

Kramer vs. Kramer. © 1979 Columbia Pictures. Director: Robert Benton.

Hit the Road. © 2021 Director: Panah Panahi.

The Matrix. © 1999 Warner Bros. Pictures, Roadshow Entertainment Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski.

Thirteen Lives. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Bron Creative; Imagine Entertainment; Magnolia Mae; Storyteller Productions. Director: Ron Howard.

The Matrix Resurrections. © 2021 Warner Bros. pictures. Director: Lana Wachowski.

Black Widow. © 2021 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Director: Cate Shortland.

Elvis. © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures; Bazmark Films; The Jackal Group. Director: Baz Lurhman.

The Godfather. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Director: Francis Ford Coppola.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. © 1980 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment Director: Irvin Kershner.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife. © 2021 Columbia Pictures; Bron Creative; Ghost Corps; The Montecito Picture Company; Right of Way Films. Director: Jason Reitman.

Iron Man. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Director: Jon Favreau.

Everything Everywhere All At Once. © 2022 Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Bullet train. © 2022 Sony Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing. Director: David Leitch

Bande à part. © 1964 Columbia Pictures. Director: Jean Luc-Godard.

Captain Marvel. © 2009 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Doctor Strange main theme. © 2019 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composer: Michael Giacchino

Top Gun theme - Danger Zone. 1986 ©Paramount Pictures. Composer: Giorgio Moroder. Lyricist Tom Whitlock.

The Matrix Awakens - Main Theme. © 2021 Warner Bros Pictures. Composer: Don Davis

Jaws theme tune. © 1975 Universal Pictures. Composer: John Williams.

Ghostbusters theme tune. © 1984 Columbia Pictures, Fórum Home Entertainment Hungary. Composer: Ray Parker Jr.

Jurassic Park theme tune. © 1993 Universal Pictures, FilmFlex. Composer: John Williams

League of DC Super Pets theme tune (Superman theme tune). © 2022 Warner Bros. Pictures © Composer: John Williams

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace theme tune. © 1999 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment. Composer: John Williams

Iron Man theme tune. © 2008 Paramount Pictures, MORE. Composer: Ramin Djawadi

Sweet Child of Mine, Thor: Love and Thunder film trailer version. © 2022 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Composers: Steven Adler Saul Hudson, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Axl Rose.

Marvel opening theme. © 2016 Marvel Entertainment. Composer: Michael Giacchino.

Godfather theme tune. © 1972 Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions. Composer: Nino Rota.

Reviews: Mojo.com; Clipped Coin; Looper; Karsten Runquist.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Lucy Letby: What makes a female serial killer? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:02
Since the nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies, one question has remained – and may always be – unanswered: why?In this episode we speak to an expert on female serial killers who outlines why we shoul…
Investigation: Who really owns £250m of Britain's best real estate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:51
Foreign leaders’ families have been snapping up some of Britain's most expensive mansions and penthouses, but their identities were hidden from public view – until now. £250m of UK property is owned by the children of no…
Vivek Ramaswamy: The next Donald Trump? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:54
Vivek Ramaswamy - the rising star of the US Republican Party - wants to send troops to the Mexican border, abolish government departments and push for a deal to let Russia keep parts of Ukraine. Could the man nicknamed “…
Unmasking a spy: The Chinese agent stealing secrets from the UK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
The Times has unmasked a Chinese government spy who’s targeting thousands of British professionals on LinkedIn. This person - and their team - are after military secrets and sensitive intelligence in exchange for money a…
What Harry and Meghan did next [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:57
Despite this week’s release of Prince Harry’s new series for Netflix, Heart of Invictus, this summer has been a chastening time for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their deal with Spotify was cancelled and a former execu…
Prigozhin's plane crash: The last weeks of the Wagner boss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:38
Vladimir Putin has sent his condolences after a plane crash which is believed to have killed the boss of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Once close to Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s relationship with the president had so…
Can the Lionesses lift the World Cup tomorrow? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:06
This Saturday we're bringing you an extra episode from another Times podcast – The Game football podcast.The Lionesses are now just one win away from lifting the World Cup trophy. Molly Hudson and Owen Slot share the lat…
Lucy Letby: The NHS nurse who murdered babies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:48
The 33-year-old neonatal nurse has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder a further six, during a year-long period between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.Letby was acquitt…
The fire at Britain’s wonkiest pub [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:53
When The Crooked House pub near the West Midlands town of Dudley was consumed by fire and then demolished, much more was lost than just a quirky venue for a drink. Could the loss of yet another pub shine a light on somet…
How Spain's civil war became a modern-day culture war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:39
After inconclusive elections last month, today Spain's parliament reconvenes to try to form a government. But as Spanish politicians look to the future, questions from the recent past continue to haunt them. When it come…