Baz Luhrmann announces new Elvis Presley ‘documentary’ featuring unseen concert footage.
Sharing the first look teaser on his social media, the director of 2022’s Elvis biopic starring Austin Butler, wrote: “I’m really thrilled that I am finally able to announce that we have all been working hard and collaborating on unearthing and showcasing a treasure trove of unseen footage, sound and other materials to create something special for the big (and small) screen.”
Outside Elvis’ Graceland home, the filmmaker had previously confirmed the rumour saying: “It’s true, I can’t even begin to tell you what we have found… Our sleeves are rolled up, we’re working hard, and we want to make something absolutely unprecedented and special with this material. So, it’s time, as we like to say, to TCB.”
The trailer for the project shows clips of Presley in action and concludes with Luhrmann’s logo based on The King’s Taking Care of Business ring. Watch the trailer on Facebook here.
Unseen Footage
The unseen negatives was unearthed after Warner Bros allowed him access to their underground salt mine vaults in Kansas, while researching his biopic. Talking to Deadline, Luhrmann said: “We were astonished by the sheer volume of unused footage from Elvis: That’s The Way It Is, the film of Elvis’ legendary 1970 Summer Festival in Las Vegas – all shot on anamorphic 35mm – and also from Elvis’ road concert film from two years later, Elvis On Tour.
“Equally exciting was that we found not only pictures that has never been seen at this quality but also rare behind-the-scenes audio that had been feared lost, especially some fascinating recordings of Elvis telling stories from his own life in his own words.”
He cryptically concluded by adding: “I wouldn’t call it a documentary, or a concert film; our aim here is to make something new in the Elvis canon.”
Luhrmann’s biopic, which focussed on the relationship between the young Elvis Presley and his manager Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks), was a commercial hit and won four BAFTAs in 2023, with Butler scooping the award for Leading Actor.
Elvis is streaming now on Netflix.
Read More: Vintage Rock’s Elvis Presley Top 20 (1954-59)
Dan Biggane
Dan Biggane is a writer for Vintage Rock and Classic Pop magazines. A former entertainment editor at the Bath Chronicle newspaper, he’s interviewed numerous big names from the world of rock’n’roll, including Dion, Jerry Allison, and Slim Jim Phantom. He has also contributed a number of cover features for Vintage Rock including Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury and Bo Diddley.
