Trending Now - Unearthed Elvis Footage Reveals New Insights on Icon
WHO:
Baz Luhrmann, director of the film EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Austin Butler, actor who portrayed Elvis in Luhrmann's previous film, Elvis
Ernst Jorgensen, Elvis historian
Jonathan Redmond, editor and producer on EPiC
Angie Marchese, VP of Archives & Exhibits for Graceland
Jerry Schilling, confidant and employee of Elvis Presley
Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' manager
Peter Jackson, filmmaker involved in film restoration
WHAT:
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a film that includes concert footage from Elvis' Las Vegas residency in 1970 and his U.S. tour in 1972.
The film features 65 reels of film, some of which were damaged or unusable.
The film includes portions of a 1972 interview with Elvis and a 45-minute audio interview recorded around the same time.
Elvis performs more than 20 hits in the film, including "That's All Right," "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," "Burning Love," "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "Always on My Mind," "How Great Thou Art," "Suspicious Minds," and "Can't Help Falling in Love."
The film was presented in IMAX format.
The film took two years to secure financial backing and to track down audio from the performances.
The film includes rehearsal footage that showcases Elvis' role as a producer and his interactions with backup singers and musicians.
WHERE:
The original film stock was stored in salt mines in Kansas.
The film features footage from Elvis' Las Vegas residency and various locations during his U.S. tour.
The interviews and discussions took place at Elvis Presley's Memphis, across from Graceland.
WHEN:
Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977.
The concert footage was filmed in 1970 and 1972.
The film EPiC was released in theaters nationwide and in IMAX in 2026.
WHY:
The film aims to present a deeper understanding of Elvis Presley as a person, beyond his iconic image.
Luhrmann sought to use Elvis' own words to tell his story, as much of the interview footage had been previously censored by Colonel Parker.
HOW:
Luhrmann and his team searched Warner Bros' vaults, located in underground salt mines, to find the footage.
The film was restored with the help of Peter Jackson's team at Park Road Post.
The editing process was crucial in making the disparate footage cohere into a single narrative.
The highly anticipated film EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert has just been released in theaters nationwide and in IMAX, showcasing concert footage from Elvis' Las Vegas residency in 1970 and his U.S. tour in 1972, along with over 20 of his greatest hits. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the film features a mix of restored footage, including rehearsal scenes and interviews that provide a deeper insight into Elvis as a person, utilizing his own words to tell his story. The project took two years to complete, involving extensive efforts to secure financial backing and locate the original film stock, which was stored in salt mines in Kansas.