Long before he earned an Academy Award nomination for Shakespeare in Love, director John Madden was at the helm of a galaxy far, far away—on the radio. In a recent interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, Madden opened up about directing the Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back radio dramas in the early 1980s, a gig that came about when the BBC sought to revive interest in radio drama.
“You'd think that something that's so visual and so large would not work on radio, but it does,” Madden said. “It gets a lot of attention, even now. I get asked that question all the time.” He explained that after Orson Welles, radio drama had largely faded in favor of music and commercial programming. The Star Wars team approached the BBC, and Madden, who had a radio background, was tapped to help bring the saga to life in audio form. “I remember everything about it, to be honest with you, and it still stands up perfectly well, thank you very much.”
Madden’s latest project, Onwards and Sideways, is a far more intimate affair. The dramedy, which premiered at TIFF, stars Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney as two people who meet after both receiving a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Tony (Ifans), a schoolteacher, and Emma (Linney), a pianist and mother of two, bond over their shared condition, though they approach it very differently—one wants to raise awareness, the other wants to keep it private. Over the next “five good years,” their lives become intertwined as they navigate the disease.
Linney and Ifans spoke candidly about the weight of portraying characters with Parkinson’s authentically. “It was incredibly daunting, and we felt the responsibility, certainly,” Linney said. “In my brain, I could see the very bad version of this movie because of bad choices on my part.” Ifans echoed that sentiment, noting that they were “just visiting briefly at the peripheries” of a condition that affects millions worldwide.
To prepare, the actors worked closely with Neuro Heroes, a UK-based organization of neuro physiotherapists, and with screenwriter Paul Mayhew-Archer, who lives with Parkinson’s himself. Ifans described the process as “learning another language,” one they wanted to speak fluently enough that “anyone else who spoke that language would think we were a native.” The physical demands were intense, with scenes shot out of chronological order, sometimes jumping from year five to year one in the same day.
Madden noted that Mayhew-Archer’s personal experience shaped the script, grounding it in reality. The director, whose credits also include Proof and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, praised the cast’s dedication. “They did the work,” he said, “and it wasn’t work that they could do by themselves.”
For fans of Linney, there’s more to look forward to: she’s set to join Michael Keaton in Rode to Ruin. And for those curious about Madden’s Star Wars radio days, the full interview—including a game of “Get to Know Your Cast” and a discussion of favorite movie theater seating—is available in the video above.
Onwards and Sideways is currently making the festival rounds, with a wider release expected soon. For more on the film and its stars, check out our coverage of Lanterns creator Chris Mundy’s plans and Alan Ritchson’s favorite Reacher book.
