Ewan McGregor

Made films the shows talk about.

Wikidata Q165518: matched by corpus:resolve, told apart by the only person by that name on Wikidata.

Counted as actor. The films the hosts said they acted in, which the two lists below run through too: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977); Beauty and the Beast (1991); Shallow Grave (1994); Moulin Rouge! (2001); The Island (2005); Beginners (2010); Haywire (2011); T2 Trainspotting (2017); Christopher Robin (2018); Doctor Sleep (2019); Birds of Prey (2020); American Pastoral; Fargo (season 3); Obi-Wan Kenobi; Robots; Stay. Count them as director (1 film) instead.

Draws on

What the speakers say they, or a film of theirs, drew on. Each is a speaker's account: “the maker said so” when they report the maker's own words, “the host's read” when the read is theirs.

The Shining (1980): 6 lines

  1. lineage (sequel) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: The Shining ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). Doctor Sleep is the sequel to Kubrick's The Shining, which is the whole sell and the whole problem.
    “You're doing a sequel to The Shining.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Doctor Sleep · 0:12:41 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (sequel) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: The Shining ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The Shining.
    “Dr. Sleep, the sequel to, which I feel like is actually a better movie”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Shining with Timothy Simons (Ad-Free) · 0:58:43 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  3. lineage (homage) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: The Shining ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). Doctor Sleep has to pay some homage to Kubrick while following a novel whose author hates the film.
    “it has to thread paying some homage to Kubrick”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Shining with Timothy Simons (Ad-Free) · 2:14:53 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)
  4. lineage (lineage) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: The Shining ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). Doctor Sleep's script threads King's book and Kubrick's film, and addresses King's complaint about what Kubrick changed.
    “It addresses the conflict between Stephen King and what he didn't like about the Kubrick movie.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Fifth Annual Blank Check Awards with Joe Reid (Ad-Free) · 0:46:49 · unknown (0.50 sure it was them)
  5. lineage (lineage) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: The Shining ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). Doctor Sleep uses grown-up Danny and a new generation, Abra Stone.
    “Using a familiar figure from the original film in Danny, the grown up Danny”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 1:31:19 · Sean Fennessey (0.40 sure it was them)
  6. lineage (sequel) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: The Shining ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). Doctor Sleep is named as a continuation of The Shining, with the Stephen King thing.
    “There's also Doctor Sleep.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · A Clockwork Orange with Alex Ross Perry (Ad-Free) · 2:48:12 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Dune (1984): 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Dune ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). The Dune book's messaging is credited as one of the things that inspired Star Wars.
    “And not only that, the messaging of this is one of the things that inspired Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 0:22:22 · John Hodgman (0.70 sure it was them)
  2. theme (theme) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Dune ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Dune's Fremen/revolution material is the denser source that Star Wars abstracts; the Force is Dune without the drugs.
    “the Force in Star Wars is like doom without the drugs.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:17:01 · David Sims (0.30 sure it was them)

Dave Toschi: 1 line

  1. unmapped (namesake) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Dave Toschi ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Star Wars has a Tosche station, named after Dave Toschi.
    “It does. named after Dave Kosk.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Zodiac with Leslye Headland (Ad-Free) · 1:39:12 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Doctor Sleep (King's novel): 1 line

  1. lineage (adaptation) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: Doctor Sleep (King's novel) ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). The film is an adaptation of King's Doctor Sleep, a bestseller Warner Brothers optioned.
    “Warner Brothers, option the rights, put Akiva Goldsman on it.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Doctor Sleep · 0:14:23 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Hook (1991): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Christopher Robin (2018), which they acted in: Hook ⇒ Christopher Robin (the host's read). Hook foreshadowed reboot culture; Christopher Robin is basically Hook again.
    “Like, we're actually literally getting a version of Hook this year with Christopher Robin, the new Winnie the Pooh movie”
    The Big Picture · Steven Spielberg's Top 5 Movies With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan | The Big Picture (Ep. 57) · 0:31:49 · Sean Fennessey (0.60 sure it was them)

Seven Samurai (1954): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Seven Samurai ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Mallory notes Lucas drew on Joseph Campbell, Seven Samurai, and Hidden Fortress, and the cycle of influence is now returning in Mulan.
    “Obviously, Joseph Campbell, as mentioned a moment ago. 7 Samurai, Hidden Fortress.”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:46:32 · Mallory Rubin (0.85 sure it was them)

The Hidden Fortress (1958): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: The Hidden Fortress ⇒ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (the host's read). Mallory lists Hidden Fortress among Lucas's influences.
    “7 Samurai, Hidden Fortress.”
    The Big Picture · Did Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Experiment Work? A Binge Mode Investigation · 0:46:32 · Mallory Rubin (0.85 sure it was them)

The Shining (King's novel): 1 line

  1. unmapped (restored ending) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: The Shining (King's novel) ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the maker said so: something the speaker read that Flanagan said (his pitch to King)). Flanagan pitched going back to the Overlook as a means to restore the burn-down ending of King's book, which won King over.
    “he said, I'm going to go back to the Overlook, but as means to an end to restore your ending.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Doctor Sleep · 0:16:33 · David Sims (0.50 sure it was them)

Trainspotting (1996): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through T2 Trainspotting (2017), which they acted in: Trainspotting ⇒ T2 Trainspotting (the host's read). T2 is about the Trainspotting guys as middle-aged men reckoning with their mistakes.
    “This is about the guys who were in train spotting kind of being middle-aged men now.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 1:29:56 · Sean Fennessey (0.40 sure it was them)

Wendy Carlos: 1 line

  1. craft (score reused) · through Doctor Sleep (2019), which they acted in: Wendy Carlos ⇒ Doctor Sleep (the host's read). Doctor Sleep uses the Wendy Carlos Shining score and holds off on it for a long time.
    “Even just the way they use the Wendy Carlos score and hold off on it for a long time.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Doctor Sleep · 1:16:19 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Drawn on by

What the speakers say drew on them or a film of theirs, marked the same way.

Dune (1984): 2 lines

  1. programming (programming) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Dune (the host's read). Dune was positioned and released as the studio's answer to Star Wars, the next big space epic.
    “Uh, this movie is released with the energy of, here you go, here's the new Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 0:22:17 · John Hodgman (0.85 sure it was them)
  2. unmapped (tentpole hope) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Dune (the host's read). Dune was meant to be the new Star Wars franchise, Lynch writing the sequel, coloring books on shelves.
    “I thought it was going to be the Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Starman with Katey Rich · 2:18:09 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens: 2 lines

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (the host's read). The Force Awakens maps almost exactly onto A New Hope.
    “Force Awakens, which will maybe come up later on this podcast is in almost every respect.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 0:24:06 · Chris Ryan (0.50 sure it was them)
  2. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (the host's read). It ports over Death Star, Tatooine and R2-D2 as Starkiller Base, Jakku and BB-8.
    “in place of the Death Star, you have star killer base.”
    The Big Picture · ‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained? · 1:24:09 · Mallory Rubin (0.50 sure it was them)

Alien (1979): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Alien (the host's read). In Star Wars' wake came Alien and Blade Runner rather than more 4-color space operas.
    “the Star Wars Halo effect are like alien.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:13:21 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Arthur C. Clarke: 1 line

  1. lineage (why the sequel got written) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Arthur C. Clarke (the host's read). The speaker thinks the post-Star Wars sci-fi rush is what kickstarted Clarke finally writing the follow-up.
    “I mean, I'm realizing the other thing that probably kickstarted Arthur C. Clark finally writing the follow-up novel is the mad post-Star Wars sci-fi brush of like, oh, now Star Trek, the motion picture is getting made.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · 2010: The Year We Make Contact · 0:22:43 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Battlestar Galactica: 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Battlestar Galactica (the host's read). Star Wars' direct influence landed more on television, e.g. Battlestar Galactica.
    “And of course, on television, you had Battlestar Galactic.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:14:15 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Cinderella (2021): 1 line

  1. unmapped (imitation) · through Moulin Rouge! (2001), which they acted in: Moulin Rouge! ⇒ Cinderella (the host's read). The Amazon Cinderella tries the Moulin Rouge jukebox-musical thing and fails; Moulin Rouge is a lot harder to pull off.
    “It's trying to do the Moulin Rouge thing of like, oh, it's like a jukebox musical where we just like picked songs we like”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Starman with Katey Rich · 0:50:36 · Griffin Newman (0.45 sure it was them)

Flash Gordon (1980): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Flash Gordon (the host's read). Flash Gordon and The Last Starfighter are a grounded-in-reality category of post-Star Wars space movies.
    “Flash Gordon, I want to put as this category of things like Last Starfighter, like the Masters.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:13:54 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

George Lucas: 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ George Lucas (the host's read). Lucas's Star Wars deal (giving up salary for merch and control) enabled the Raiders deal of owning the negative.
    “he gives up his salary and his points as a director on Star Wars to retain the control and the merch.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 1:01:43 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

James Bond films (the franchise): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ James Bond films (the franchise) (the host's read). Star Wars pushed Bond into outer space.
    “James Bond went to went to the moon because of Star Wars.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Raiders of the Lost Ark with Brian Michael Bendis · 0:55:07 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Masters of the Universe (2026): 1 line

  1. lineage (origin) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Masters of the Universe (the host's read). He-Man (and the 80s toy boom) was a response to every company having passed on Star Wars merchandising.
    “so much of He-Man and the 80s for toys is a response to every major company passing on Star Wars that Star Wars is the whiff that no one can live down.”
    The Big Picture · The Top 10 Fantasy Films, The Toy Movie Hall of Fame, and ‘Masters of the Universe,’ with Griffin Newman! · 0:23:25 · Griffin Newman (0.50 sure it was them)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979): 1 line

  1. industry (industry) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Trek: The Motion Picture (the host's read). Star Trek the Motion Picture happened because Star Wars scooped the studio.
    “Like Star Wars scooped our ass.”
    Blank Check with Griffin & David · Dune with John Hodgman · 1:12:22 · unknown (0.40 sure it was them)

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983): 1 line

  1. lineage (lineage) · through Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), which they acted in: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope ⇒ Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (the host's read). A second, bigger Death Star is called a lateral remake of the first.
    “We're kind of, it's like a lateral remake.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Return of the Jedi · 0:04:32 · unknown (0.30 sure it was them)

The Killer (2023): 1 line

  1. people (casting origin) · through Haywire (2011), which they acted in: Haywire ⇒ The Killer (the maker said so: the Q and A at the screening). Fincher cited Haywire, with Prometheus, as the Fassbender movies that made him cast him.
    “He said it was Prometheus and Haywire, which makes sense.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · The Killer with Marie Bardi (Ad-Free) · 1:17:06 · David Sims (0.55 sure it was them)

What the speakers said they did

Directing (1) everyone in directing

Acting (21) everyone in acting

What was said about them, by kind

unmapped (1)

  1. unmapped (praise): Danny Boyle → Ewan McGregor. Danny Boyle said McGregor is uniquely good at depicting physical pain on screen.
    “Ewan is uniquely good at depicting pain on screen.”
    Blank Check — Patreon · Doctor Sleep · 0:49:55 · David Sims (0.40 sure it was them)

Fun items about them

None.