Warner Bros. and Elevation Pictures released the first official IMAX trailer today for EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, the highly anticipated documentary from director Baz Luhrmann. The footage offers the most detailed look yet at a project that has been decades in the making, featuring over 45 minutes of recently discovered film that was long thought to be lost.
The trailer release follows the film’s successful premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, where it earned the runner-up position for the People’s Choice Award for Documentary. Unlike standard concert films, the trailer highlights that this production uses Elvis Presley as its primary narrator. By utilizing rediscovered audio recordings, the film allows Presley to reflect on his own legacy, fame, and personal faith, effectively removing the need for traditional “talking head” interviews.
Journalistic reports following the trailer’s debut emphasize the technical restoration of the footage. During the research phase for his 2022 biopic, Luhrmann’s team uncovered 68 boxes of film negatives in underground salt mines. These included pristine 35mm and 8mm outtakes from the 1970s concert films That’s the Way It Is and Elvis on Tour. Today’s trailer showcases the results of a two-year restoration process, specifically optimized for high-fidelity IMAX screens.
The trailer also introduces audiences to the film’s “DNA-infused” musical approach. Developed by producer Jamieson Shaw, the soundtrack features seamless blends of multiple Presley recordings to create new, modern mixes.
According to the release schedule confirmed in the new footage, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert will begin a one-week exclusive IMAX engagement on February 20. A wider theatrical release will follow on February 27. Additionally, Sony Music is set to release a 27-track original motion picture soundtrack on February 20 to coincide with the film’s premiere.