Published 9th December

This month we’re looking into our cinematic crystal ball to get giddy about the gifts awaiting us the other side of Christmas. And while there’s an embarrassment of riches to choose from, there’s one film that stands head and shoulders above the rest: Black Adam was already an exhilarating proposition, but when you sit down with star and producer Dwayne Johnson to talk about it, the hairs really stand up on the back of your neck. Dwayne, or ‘DJ’ to his friends, is always passionate about his projects, but he’s positively evangelical about this movie and, as a self-confessed Black Adam nerd, eager to get it right.

If that’s not enough to get you itching for 2022, we also have Maverick, Thor, Porpentina, Shuri and a return to Pandora to look forward to in the coming year. Plus, we talk to Paul Thomas Anderson and Alana Haim for Licorice Pizza, get dark with The Black Phone and sit down with Jessica Chastain to talk about her illustrious career so far. This issue also comes with a special 48-page supplement celebrating 2021 in film: counting down the best movies of the year and the most important players from a memorable 12 months.

We hope you have a very happy holiday season, and enjoy the issue!