Baz Luhrmann: Unseen Elvis footage documentary film


By: Elvis Australia
Source: Baz Luhrmann
January 24, 2025

Baz Luhrmann is using the voracious amount of research he put into the 2022 'ELVIS' film he co-wrote into a second feature film, this one closer to documentary than narrative feature. He shared an advance look at a teaser trailer on where he's going. 

Luhrmann posted a new video on Instagram: '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 TCB!'

The trailer states: 'After 10 years away from the stage Elvis made his triumphant return in Las Vegas. For over 50 years there have been rumors of lost footage.. During the production of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis it was found'.

He told Deadline: 'There has always been talk amongst Elvis' fans, both longtime fans and newer fans brought in by our film Elvis, of missing reels and never-before-seen concert footage', Luhrmann told Deadline. 'During the making of Elvis, from very early on in my process I had the privilege to access the studio's vaults deep in the salt mines of Kansas, where troves of old film negatives are stored. 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 picture 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'.

Luhrmann added: 'We're still very much in the middle of creating this work, but there has been so much talk and such enthusiasm for this, that I felt now it was time to share what has been happening with it. I can't say much more about it, except that I wouldn't call it a documentary, or a concert film; our aim here is to make something new in the Elvis canon. My creative team at Bazmark is being led by my longtime editor, Jonathan Redmond, and we've partnered with the terrific teams at Authentic Studios and Sony Music Vision, with great support from Warner Bros., to bring something to the screen that befits the magnitude of Elvis as a performer but also offers deeper revelations of his humanity and inner life'.

Bazmark and Authentic Studios are producing the documentary. The film is presented and distributed by Sony Music Vision, in partnership with Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment'.

-

Elvis Presley Video Baz Luhrmann Update

Elvis News Latest Video Updates

© Copyright 2025 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au

This page. https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/news/baz-luhrmann-unseen-elvis-footage-documentary-film.shtml

No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission.


-
Elvis Presley Video Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD

Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.