Fans of the King of Rock and Roll have a new reason to rejoice: Baz Luhrmann’s latest cinematic spectacle, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, is rolling out across the globe, sparking excitement and nostalgia in equal measure. The film, which fuses never-before-seen archival footage, candid audio, and cutting-edge technology, is more than just a concert film—it’s a deep dive into the enigmatic life and enduring legacy of Elvis Presley.
Australian director Baz Luhrmann, known for his signature flair and visual storytelling, returned home to Sydney to discuss the ambitious project on the Rolling Stone Uncut podcast. According to Rolling Stone, Luhrmann revealed the lengths his team went to in order to unearth unseen footage for the film. “It was really budget… we sent this guy out looking for it in actual salt mines where all MGM stuff is kept so that the negative doesn’t rot. I get the numbers wrong, but like 64 boxes, 57 hours of the Vegas concerts, which were shot over six nights,” he said. The result is a film that feels both raw and intimate, capturing Elvis at his electric best.
But what sets EPiC apart from previous Elvis documentaries is its approach to storytelling. Luhrmann was determined to let Elvis speak for himself, sidestepping the usual parade of talking heads. “When we heard the audio, the thing with Elvis is any people who are always talking about him, are talking heads. I said, ‘What if there were no talking heads? What if Elvis just sort of came to you in a sort of dreamscape and spoke and sang his story to you in his own words?’” he explained. This creative decision, as described by Ster-Kinekor, allows the audience to experience Elvis’s journey through his own voice, with audio of the singer speaking candidly about his life—a rarity in the world of celebrity documentaries.
The film’s journey began during research for Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic, Elvis, starring Austin Butler. Working out of an office in Graceland for 18 months, Luhrmann and his team stumbled across a treasure trove of Super 8 personal videos and 59 hours of forgotten footage from Elvis: That’s the Way It Is and Elvis on Tour. “We found this audio of Elvis just talking very unguardedly about his life, which he never did,” Luhrmann told Ster-Kinekor. “We thought, ‘You know what? This is an opportunity.’”
The resulting 96-minute film is described as part documentary, part live concert, and wholly immersive. It features more than 70 musical pieces performed by Elvis, including covers of songs by other artists. The period showcased in EPiC is rendered with such clarity that audiences, as Ster-Kinekor notes, will feel as if they’re in the screaming crowd, swept up in the fever of an Elvis concert.
The film’s release has been a global event. On February 12, 2026, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert made its historic Las Vegas debut at the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino—the very stage where Elvis once reigned supreme. According to BroadwayWorld, the exclusive, free screening was more than a film premiere; it was a homecoming. “To debut Baz Luhrmann’s newest Elvis film in the very theater where Elvis transformed Las Vegas entertainment is profoundly special,” said Cami Christensen, President & General Manager of Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. The event drew fans, historians, and industry insiders, all eager to reconnect with the legend’s legacy.
The film had already made waves at the Toronto International Film Festival, setting the stage for its IMAX release. NEON, the distributor behind the film, plans to launch the IMAX rollout on February 20, 2026, followed by a nationwide theatrical release on February 27. Ster-Kinekor confirmed that South African audiences will get an exclusive IMAX screening at select cinemas from February 20 for one week, with a broader 2D release to follow.
Meanwhile, the UK premiere on February 13, 2026, at London’s BFI IMAX cinema was a star-studded affair. According to the Daily Mail, celebrities including Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster, Richard E. Grant, Baz Luhrmann himself, Anita Dobson, Brian May, and others graced the red carpet. Rod Stewart even took the opportunity to show off his vocal chops, grabbing a microphone at the entrance and posing for cameras. The event was a celebration not just of Elvis, but of the enduring power of music and cultural icons to bring people together across generations.
The documentary’s content is as dazzling as its premieres. Drawing from more than 50 hours of rare archival footage, including Elvis’s legendary 1970 Summer Festival in Las Vegas and his 1972 road concert film, EPiC reconstructs the King’s later career with unprecedented intimacy. The newly restored visuals, combined with a full orchestra and Luhrmann’s signature stylized direction, aim to capture the essence of Elvis’s live performances—raw, vulnerable, and electric.
Luhrmann also reflected on the complexities of fame and the burdens it placed on Presley. “No one was built for this level of fame,” he told Rolling Stone, drawing comparisons to icons like David Bowie and Mick Jagger. He recalled a poignant metaphor: “As a kid, you sort of put on the mask and you’re funny, and people go, ‘Isn’t he funny? He’s so hilarious.’ And then you get older… suddenly you put the mask on, and you’re really famous. And then you put the mask on again… you can’t get the mask off, and the Pierrot suffocates and dies.” For Luhrmann, Elvis understood the performance of celebrity, once saying, “I’m so tired of playing Elvis Presley.”
While Elvis famously avoided overt political statements, Luhrmann highlighted the singer’s empathy, especially through songs like “In the Ghetto” and “Walk a Mile in My Shoes.” As Luhrmann noted, “There are people on reservation and out in the ghetto… but for the grace of God go you and I… before you abuse, criticise and accuse walk a mile in my shoes.’ That’s a song of empathy.”
For fans, historians, and newcomers alike, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is more than a film—it’s an invitation to witness the King as never before, in his own words, on his own stage, and in the hearts of those who continue to celebrate his legacy nearly five decades after his passing.