In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, making a football film with actors who can't play football, and a blockbuster movie co-starring someone who'd not acted before.

Escape To Victory saw Sylvester Stallone learning to be a goalkeeper and a chunk of Ipswich Town Football Club learning to be actors. With the director of The African Queen watching on.

The Bodyguard saw Whitney Houston help Kevin Costner with singing, and Costner helping Houston with acting. It'd result in one of the biggest films of all time.

Stories of both are told in this episode.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.

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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon chats with Barnaby Thompson, director of Pixie, and producer of films such as Spice World, Wayne's World 2 and Kevin & Perry Go Large.

They chat how Pixie came together, how he came to produce films for Saturday Night Live, and how he nearly directed the Spice Girls movie. Plus a whole lot more...

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

You can find the Film Stories website here.

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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a fantasy adventure with sequels planned, and a horror thriller that proved a surprise hit.

Krull was set to be followed by at least one sequel, and the expensive production took over much of Pinewood Studios. It'd be a very difficult film to make.

As for Flatliners, the film found itself in a bidding war between producers working for the same studio for a start - and that didn't go down well.

Stories of both are told in this episode.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.

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

In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon chats with director Pete Docter about his new film Soul. And about being the new boss of Pixar too.

They chat about the challenges of the film, and maintaining a working culture via remote working. Plus how to bring the invisible to the screen.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

You can find the Film Stories website here.

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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the sci-fi film that put Danny Boyle off making sci-fi films, and a sequel that straight away needed a new director.

Sunshine came into director Danny Boyle's life over a drink in a London pub - and he'd find himself making a $20m sci-fi film in a tight London studio as a result.

With Final Destination 2, New Line was looking for a quicker turnaround sequel than it got - but it took around 70 writing pitches for a start to come up with its story.

Stories of both are told in this episode.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the hit remake that started life as a much cheaper project, and a different vehicle for Jason Statham.

The Mummy went through many directors, getting gradually more and more expensive as it did so. Its effects would prove a bit of a challenge too.

The Bank Job seemed to be a film destined not to be made when Miramax backed out of the project. Many years later, Jason Statham would help bring it back to life.

Stories of both are told in this episode.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, how Paramount gambled heavily on a Michael Crichton book, and Warner Bros dug deep for an unusual blockbuster.

Congo started as a project dreamed up in the 1970s as a vehicle for Sean Connery. By the time it made it to the screen, its author would be having nothing to do with it.

For Conspiracy Theory, Julia Roberts took a lot of persuading to do the film - and it didn't help that Warner Bros wasn't happy with the movie's price.

Stories of both are told in this episode.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, a film designed to be something of a surprise, and a comedy that a major studio abandoned.

JJ Abrams joined forces with Steven Spielberg for Super 8, and the plan was to launch the trailer at least as a complete surprise. A successful plan too.

With Good Morning, Vietnam, there were doubts that Robin Williams could lead a movie of its ilk - and a special test was organised.

Stories of both are told in this episode.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.

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

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In a special episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, Simon goes through the prolonged gestation of Bill & Ted Face The Music - and then brings in its director, Dean Parisot, to pick up the story.

They talk of the challenges of realising the film, keeping its tone right, bad weather, the Halesowen branch of Asda, and releasing the movie. Plus the pressure of getting this one right...

This episode is dedicated to @sebpatrick

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

You can find the Film Stories website here.

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

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In the new episode of Film Stories with Simon Brew, the asteroid movie in a race against time, and the Stephen King adaptation with a casting nightmare.

Three similar films were in the race when Disney greenlit Armageddon - but it committed to spending over $100m on the film without a script in place.

Actor after actor turned down Misery meanwhile, a film that took over half a year to nail down its two leads - and rewrite a key moment from the source novel too.

Stories of both are told in this episode.

Find Simon on Twitter at @simonbrew, and the podcast can be found at @filmstoriespod.

Support our work at www.patreon.com/simonbrew.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices