Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback delves into the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s legendary 1968 television special from the special’s Emmy Award-winning director Steve Binder’s point of view. The 1968 special resurrected Presley’s career, and the documentary examines what went on behind the scenes while bringing the show to life for a massive television audience.
“The world is filled with stories about Elvis and his historic 1968 Comeback Special, but no one has ever told this story the way only I can tell it — because I was there for every moment of it,” stated Binder. “I’m so proud of this film because it presents Elvis as he really was, and looks at a specific moment in time — when Elvis took control of his life, his career and his legacy. There’s never been a television moment quite like this one.”
Directed by John Scheinfeld (The U.S. vs. John Lennon, What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears), Reinventing Elvis will get a limited theatrical release before its premiere on Paramount+ on August 15, 2023.
“The 1960s was a decade marked by profound change,” said Scheinfeld. “No one was immune, including the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who had been driven from his throne by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and a host of younger, more vital artists. Against this provocative backdrop, Elvis and Steve Binder came together to create something extraordinary. It’s an amazing story, one that I’m honored to have been chosen to tell.”
The documentary’s produced by Spencer Proffer’s Meteor 17, with Steve Binder and Bruce Gilmer executive producing.
“Steve Binder is one of the most innovative creators in entertainment,” said Proffer. “To make electrifying paradigm shifts in television, Steve broke molds with his incredible vision. I’m proud to continue my decades-long association with Steve by creating this cinematic documentary, which does more than illuminate an hour of television — it also reveals an incredible buddy story between a pop-culture icon at a pivotal moment and a director who took risks and made history in the process.”
Paramount+ released this description of the documentary:
Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback reveals what really happened behind the scenes of this mesmerizing hour of television. When it aired on the night of Dec. 3, 1968, the special became the most-watched television event of the year, and nearly half of the entire TV-watching audience tuned in to see Elvis Presley, clad in an iconic black leather suit, deliver some of the greatest performances of his life, reinvigorating his career and changing the pop-culture landscape forever.
Told from the unique perspective of Emmy Award-winning television director Steve Binder, Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback features interviews with Elvis experts and recollections from those who attended the special in-person, as well as all-new versions of iconic Elvis hits interpreted by contemporary musicians, including superstar Darius Rucker, Latin Grammy winner Maffio and America’s Got Talent finalist Drake Milligan, who previously starred in CMT’s hit series Sun Records, also streaming on Paramount+.
