Baz Luhrmann Brings Elvis Back to the Big Screen with 2026 Neon/Universal Release
Following the global success of his Oscar-nominated biopic “Elvis,” Baz Luhrmann is diving back into the world of the King of Rock and Roll. His new project, titled “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” is promoted as depicting the depth of artistry of Elvis Presley. Set to be released in 2026, the film has been crafted from long-lost footage, including never-before-heard works.
The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, creating significant buzz among critics and fans. With a distribution partnership between Neon and Universal Pictures, “EPiC” is gearing up to be an international sensation.
Luhrmann Brings New Vision to a Legend
Throughout his career, Luhrmann has pushed the boundaries between genres. With “EPiC” refusing to categorize itself into a genre, such as a concert film or a documentary alone, the goal is to create an immersive experience. Elvis as a person, the body of his work, Luhrmann’s film project, and the creation of an intimacy between Elvis and the audience.
Luhrmann laid the foundation for “EPiC” with his 2022 film “Elvis.” While “Elvis” was a narrative story, “EPiC” will be the icon himself telling his own story with interviews and through his performances. It’s an ambitious endeavor that moves beyond storytelling to create a direct connection between the artist and the audience.
Unearthing Lost Treasures
The heart of “EPiC” lies in its source material. The film is constructed from an incredible archive of footage that was once thought to be lost forever. While The King’s Las Vegas residency was obviously extensively documented, there was footage that was never presented to the public and stored away for decades. With a dedicated search for the film canisters, footage from several different cameras with different angles of his performances was recovered.
The discoveries didn’t stop there. Rare 16mm and 8mm footage captured by fans and amateur filmmakers was unearthed. Audio tapes of Elvis giving reflections of his life, career, and thoughts in a candid personal narrative give viewers a unique and personal perspective on the human behind the sensation. The unique approach to the way Luhrmann depicts the multifaceted film to represent and respect the legacy of Elvis makes “EPiC” a must-see.
The Art of Restoration
Bringing this decades-old material to the big screen was a monumental task. The rediscovered footage required an intensive restoration process. In an ambitious endeavor to both maintain authenticity and modernize with technological applications, “EPiC” brings life to the archives like never before.
The sound restoration was equally crucial. Audio engineers worked tirelessly to clean up the newly found recordings of Elvis’s monologues and concert performances. By remastering the sound quality of both his concert vocals and interview narratives with top-of-the-line technology, the sound quality is clear and brings nostalgia and modernity together.
A Major Cinematic Event
The film’s premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival resonated with critics and film fanatics alike, signaling that “EPiC” isn’t only for Elvis but a deeply personal story with both nuance and sensationalism. Yet at its core, it is just this – a story about music, art, and humanity we can all relate to.
Following this successful debut, a significant distribution deal was struck. Neon will handle the domestic release in the United States, while Universal Pictures will manage the international rollout. This partnership ensures that “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” will receive a major global theatrical release in 2026 and is expected to be one of the year’s most anticipated film events.
Why “EPiC” Matters
For Elvis fans who span across countries, demographics, and generations, “EPiC” could not be more highly anticipated. It offers a chance to see and hear the King in a way they never have before. With his own words and his own concert footage, Luhrmann lets Elvis tell his own story and lets the audience understand him and his legacy as they never have before.
“EPiC” serves as a powerful reminder of Elvis’s revolutionary impact on popular culture and his unmatched charisma as a live performer. For a new generation who may only know him through the biopic or classic recordings, the film captures a vibrant, dynamic, and sensitive portrait of a man. It is set to be a definitive and enduring tribute to the one and only King of Rock and Roll.
