The March issue, on sale 30 January, will publish 25 commemorative X-Men covers ahead of the release of ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ later this year. The exclusive covers will feature cast, both past and present and once assembled the covers fit together to create one panoramic image.
In an Empire first the film’s Director Bryan Singer will feature on his very own cover. Each exclusive cover has been revealed via a staggered 24hr social media campaign which began with Bryan Singer and was followed by cast members including James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Lawrence.
The full panorama appears on the magazine’s website.
The March issue marks the beginning of a 12-month campaign including a host of ground-breaking initiatives planned around Empire’s 25th year incorporating its 300th issue and the annual Jameson Empire Awards, which take place in March.
Mark Dinning, Editor-In-Chief at Empire, commented: “To celebrate Empire's quarter-century of enthusiasm, passion and expertise on movies new and old, this year we are going to mark our milestone birthday in absolute style and across the whole brand. Over the next 12 months we will deliver a succession of the biggest exclusives in this brand's already illustrious history, working with the biggest names in Hollywood to bring film fans the world over some genuine movie events. We have always seen the job of Empire as bringing together the people who make the movies and the people who watch them, and this year we are going to go even bigger and better than ever before."
As part of its anniversary celebrations Empire has agreed an extensive new commercial and editorial partnership with Sky Movies. The ‘Empire and Sky Movies Present…’ campaign will run across print, iPad and online at www.empireonline.com for nine months.
Bringing together the expertise of the world’s biggest movie magazine brand and the UK’s best in home movie service, the campaign sees two new content-led features promoted across Empire’s multiple platforms, says Bauer.
‘Shooting Gallery’ will provide customers with a round-up of the hottest films currently in production - an authoritative summary of the films that will be on everyone’s lips over the next year while ‘My Movie Life’ is an exclusive Q&A with Hollywood talent of the calibre of Tom Hiddleston and Anna Kendrick.
Rob Walsh, Group Brand Director at Bauer Media commented: “‘Empire and Sky Movies Present’ is a great example of two brands aligning to create exclusive and engaging content. The partnership will celebrate the excitement felt by Empire’s audience regarding the tremendous slate of films in the pipeline for the next 12 months, providing rich insight and access to Hollywood talent, making it a compelling package.”
