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| Photo credit EPiC- Elvis Presley in Concert |
Following a rousing world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert has found its global distributors. NEON has acquired U.S. rights to the film, while Universal Pictures Content Group will handle international distribution, with a worldwide theatrical rollout planned for 2026.
Described as a “one-of-a-kind cinematic experience,” EPiC brings Elvis Presley back to the stage in a way audiences have never seen before. The film combines newly unearthed archival materials—including unseen footage from Presley’s legendary Las Vegas performances in the 1970s, 16mm reels from Elvis on Tour, and intimate 8mm film from the Graceland archives—with rare audio of Elvis reflecting on his own life and legacy.
Produced by Sony Music Vision, Bazmark, and Authentic Studios, EPiC transforms decades-old footage into what Luhrmann calls an “electrifying cinematic odyssey.” The result, critics at TIFF noted, is a pulsating blend of documentary and concert film that channels the energy, vulnerability, and raw charisma of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Vogue hailed it as “a burst of concert-film adrenaline.”
Luhrmann, who previously directed 2022’s Elvis—a global hit that earned eight Academy Award nominations and grossed nearly $300 million worldwide—said the project has been a long time in the making. “From the first day my editor Jonathan Redmond and I encountered this rare footage almost eight years ago, it has been our mission that Elvis should finally fulfill his unrealized dream to tour around the world,” Luhrmann said in a statement. “This is not just a documentary and not just a concert film; it’s EPiC. I couldn’t be more thrilled that NEON and Universal will help us bring this experience to audiences everywhere—from small-town cinemas to the biggest screens in the world.”
Tom Mackay, President of Sony Music Vision, praised Luhrmann’s vision and the new distribution partnership: “Baz has crafted an extraordinary, immersive film about a legendary artist that deserves to be seen on the big screen. We’re excited to be working with NEON and Universal, who share our commitment to unforgettable cinematic experiences.”
Colin Smeeton, President of Authentic Studios, added that EPiC represents a milestone for the company. “When we started this project, Baz set out to reimagine how audiences experience Elvis—an ambition he has fully delivered on,” he said.
The collaboration between NEON and Universal Pictures Content Group marks another chapter in their shared history of bringing groundbreaking nonfiction films to theaters. Their previous partnerships on Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream and Todd Douglas Miller’s Apollo 11 each turned archival footage into immersive, critically acclaimed box office successes. With EPiC, the studios aim to continue that streak—this time with the King himself center stage.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert will be released theatrically in the U.S. by NEON and internationally by Universal Pictures International in 2026.
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