“EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” will expand to more theaters worldwide on February 27, bringing remastered footage of the singer’s performances to a global audience, according to reports from The Commercial Appeal.
The film, utilizing restored and colorized footage from Elvis Presley’s 1972 performances in Las Vegas, aims to recreate the experience of seeing the King live. Director Baz Luhrmann, speaking to audiences at a recent screening, described discovering 67 boxes of negatives in the MGM archive that formed the basis of the project. Luhrmann explained the documentary is, in part, an attempt to fulfill a wish Elvis expressed during his lifetime: to perform in Fresh York or Britain.
Luhrmann’s approach to portraying Elvis, particularly during the later stages of his career, has drawn attention. The director acknowledged a divergence from some accounts, including those of music critic Lester Bangs, who suggested Elvis had grow a diminished figure, controlled by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Bangs reportedly observed a decline in Elvis’s spirit and physical condition during his extended Las Vegas residency, where he sometimes performed multiple shows a day. Luhrmann countered this perspective, citing Clive Davis’s recollection that an opening night performance in Vegas was among the greatest he’d ever witnessed.
The film attempts to capture the duality of Elvis’s later performances, showcasing both moments of struggle and displays of his extraordinary talent, such as his rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water.” Luhrmann noted the impact Elvis had on subsequent generations of performers, stating there would be no Mick Jagger or Harry Styles without him. He similarly highlighted the innovative nature of Elvis’s stage costumes, comparing them to the flamboyant designs of Alessandro Michele’s Gucci.
The project extends beyond simply presenting concert footage. Luhrmann framed it as “giving Elvis the world tour he dreamed but never had,” a sentiment echoed by the film’s expanded release plans. The film’s opening is expected to potentially spark renewed interest in Elvis’s music and legacy.
