Exclusive, never-before-seen archive footage of Elvis Presley is set to captivate British audiences next month in a groundbreaking new film directed by Baz Luhrmann. The material, which includes lost visuals from The King's legendary Las Vegas residency and rediscovered audio of him speaking, promises to be a cinematic event for fans worldwide.
A Treasure Trove Unearthed
Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and his team made an extraordinary discovery: a vast collection of unseen footage from Elvis Presley's seven-year Las Vegas residency, which began in 1969. The treasure was located in a Warner Bros. vault within an underground salt mine in Kansas. Among the finds were pristine clips originally shot for the concert films Elvis: That’s the Way It Is (1970) and Elvis on Tour (1972), as well as a new video from his famed 1957 'gold lamé jacket' concert in Hawaii.
For Luhrmann, the most precious elements were the "unheard recordings of Elvis talking about his life and music." The director and his editor, Jonathan Redmond, have spent the last two years meticulously restoring the video and clawing back sound from unconventional sources. This painstaking work brings to life moments like Elvis, in his trademark white Vegas suit, padding towards the stage to the sound of Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Fulfilling an Unrealised Dream
The restored material will form the core of Luhrmann's new project, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. The director describes it as an experience that is neither a traditional documentary nor just a concert film. Instead, it is his mission to give Elvis the global tour he never accomplished in person. "From the first day... it has been our mission that Elvis should finally fulfill his unrealised dream to tour around the world," Luhrmann stated.
Despite being one of the best-selling artists in history, Elvis seldom toured after the 1950s. He focused on recording singles, making movies like Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas, and his record-breaking Vegas residency. It was on that Vegas stage where he debuted his epic showstopper, Suspicious Minds—a performance that often ran over seven minutes and earned him standing ovations.
UK Release and Lasting Legacy
The film will premiere in the UK to coincide with what would have been the singer's 90th birthday year. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert will have its UK IMAX premiere on February 20, 2026, followed by a wide release on February 27, 2026. This release finally confirms rumours about unseen Elvis footage that have circulated for four decades.
Elvis Presley, born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935, was just 21 when Heartbreak Hotel stormed the charts. He died of heart failure at Graceland on August 16, 1977, aged 42. Yet, as the trailer for EPiC highlights with Elvis snarling into the mic, "There’s been a lot written and a lot said but never from my side of the story." This new film, packed with unseen footage and intimate audio, aims to change that narrative forever, offering British fans a fresh and thrilling encounter with The King.
