Hello, Paul, I'm Chris Youitt and welcome to the latest Empire Podcast interview special.

It's not February 2nd, it's June 8th as I record this, but it is very much Groundhog

Day folks. 30 years ago Harold Remus and Bill Murray came together to make Groundhog Day,

a film about a phenol and selfish weatherman who relives the same day over and over again

before eventually emerging a better person on the other side. A hit at the time, it has

since become a stone-cold classic over the years, with people flocking back to it for its timeless

fives, big warm heart, easy humor, and for the many many ways of interpreting Phil Connors spell

in time prison in any number of interesting and creative ways. The concept and the initial

screenplay was the brainchild of Danny Rubin who documents the process brilliantly in his must

read book on screenwriting how to write Groundhog Day. He's been following his own advice since

because in 2016 he wrote the book for a musical adaptation of Groundhog Day that debuted at the

old thick in London. Perhaps something about being able to change and perfect a work of art over time

appealed to him. That show was directed by Matthew Warchus with Music and lyrics from Tim

Mention, the creative team behind the smash hit musical version of Matilda. And if you've

listened to the Empire podcast over the last five years or so, chances are you'll have heard me

waxlyrigal about Groundhog Day the musical because it was fantastic, playful and profound,

with incredibly inventive staging and wonderful songs that Sean the spotlight on characters

other than Phil Connors, although he was brought to life brilliantly by American actor Andy Carle

in a performance that nabbed him an Olivier award and incredibly banished all memories of Bill

Murray. Why am I telling you all this? Well because now Groundhog Day the musical is back back back

for its long promised revival, playing for the next few months at the old thick in London,

and I strongly urge you to try and get a ticket if you can. But don't worry if you can because

...