An untitled HBO Entertainment documentary about the life and music of Elvis Presley from Sony Pictures Television completes production this month and will debut on the network, it has been announced by Kary Antholis, president, HBO Miniseries and CINEMAX Programming. Directed by Emmy and Grammy winner Thom Zimny (HBO’s The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town and The Ties That Bind), the three-hour, two-film presentation takes the audience on a comprehensive journey from Elvis’ childhood through the final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions.
“The producers came to HBO and Sony with the idea for a film drawing upon very rare footage that captures Elvis’ musicianship in a new and exciting way,” said Antholis. “The artistry on display in that footage reminded us of the great work by Jon Landau and Thom Zimny on HBO films documenting the studio artistry of Bruce Springsteen, and we are thrilled to have them at the helm to lend their unique cinematic perspectives to this iconic, complex and singular artist.”
“The producers came to HBO and Sony with the idea for a film drawing upon very rare footage that captures Elvis’ musicianship in a new and exciting way.”
The project focuses on the man and his music, deconstructing why Elvis’s sound and style were so revolutionary, exploring why they made him the world’s most legendary musical icon and revealing the cost of the massive success he achieved.
With the full participation of the Elvis Presley family estate and unprecedented access to Graceland archives facilitated by Authentic Brands Group, the films include stunning atmospherics shot inside Elvis’ iconic home and more than 20 new, primary source interviews with session players, producers, engineers, directors and others who knew him. The documentary also features never-before-seen photos and footage from private collections worldwide.
The films are an HBO Documentary Films Presentation in association with Sony Pictures Television. The executive producers are Jon Landau, Glen Zipper, Priscilla Presley, Jerry Schilling, Andrew Solt, Alan Gasmer and Jamie Salter (chairman and CEO, Authentic Brands Group); directed and produced by Thom Zimny; co-producers, Zach Russo and Ernst Jorgensen; written by Alan Light.
