Baz Luhrmann's 'EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert' Rocks IMAX & Future Plans

The acclaimed director's latest Elvis project offers an intimate look at the King's 1970s Las Vegas residency.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Baz Luhrmann's new concert film 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' is proving a hit, opening exclusively in IMAX theaters this weekend before expanding to wider release on February 27. The film, built around newly restored footage unearthed after decades in a salt mine, offers an intimate look at Presley's early 1970s Las Vegas residency, allowing the King to narrate his own story through concert performances and candid backstage moments. Luhrmann is aiming to challenge perceptions of Presley's later years and showcase his continued artistic vitality.

Why it matters

Luhrmann's 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' provides a fresh perspective on the King's legacy, moving beyond the well-trodden biopic narrative to immerse audiences in the raw energy and creativity of Presley's live performances during his iconic Las Vegas residency. The film's strong IMAX opening signals ongoing public fascination with Elvis and a desire to experience his music and persona on the biggest cinematic scale possible.

The details

The journey to 'EPiC' began during the production of Luhrmann's 2022 biopic 'Elvis,' when the director and his editor discovered 69 boxes of previously unseen footage from Presley's 1970s concerts and rehearsals. This trove of material, including 59 hours of concert footage, 8mm film, and 50 minutes of previously unheard audio of Presley reflecting on his life, quickly changed the plan from using the footage as supplementary material to creating a standalone concert film. Luhrmann and his team then faced the challenge of restoring the aging footage to IMAX quality and locating the original audio tracks, with help from the team behind the restoration of The Beatles' 'Get Back' footage.

  • The film opened exclusively in IMAX theaters this weekend (February 23-25, 2026).
  • The film will expand to wider release on February 27, 2026.

The players

Baz Luhrmann

An acclaimed Australian filmmaker known for his maximalist style, who is the director of 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' and the 2022 Elvis Presley biopic.

Elvis Presley

The legendary American singer and actor, whose early 1970s Las Vegas residency is the focus of Luhrmann's new concert film.

John O. Redmond

The editor who worked with Luhrmann on 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' and the 'Elvis' biopic.

Peter Jackson

The filmmaker known for his work restoring The Beatles' 'Get Back' footage, who provided technical expertise to help bring the decades-old Elvis footage to life.

Bono

The U2 frontman, who wrote and performed a new poem about Elvis Presley that is featured in the film.

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What they’re saying

“Our big focus is to make a theatrical cinematic experience, and to make it feel as much as possible like you're actually in the audience and your experience of Elvis is kind of unfiltered.”

— Baz Luhrmann, Director (newsdirectory3.com)

“We had this audio... of Elvis just talking about his life in a way in which you really never hear him talk.”

— Baz Luhrmann, Director (newsdirectory3.com)

“What gets lost is that when he first did that show, everyone expected him to do a nostalgia show, but he was totally on the cutting edge.”

— Baz Luhrmann, Director (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

Luhrmann confirmed that a stage musical adaptation of the 'Elvis' story is in development, and he remains deeply immersed in his long-gestating Joan of Arc project, which he describes as equally ambitious and personal.

The takeaway

Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' offers a fresh and intimate look at the King's artistic legacy, challenging perceptions of his later years and immersing audiences in the raw energy and creativity of his iconic Las Vegas residency. The film's strong IMAX opening signals a continued public fascination with Elvis and a desire to experience his music and persona on the biggest cinematic scale possible.