Sir Elton John’s incredible life and career will be chronicled in the feature documentary Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and The Years That Made His Legend. The documentary’s being made with the full support of the pop icon, and Sir Elton’s partner David Furnish is directing and producing along with R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry).
The Disney Original Documentary production will feature never-before-seen concert footage, interviews, and performance clips. The documentary, which will have a limited theatrical release before airing on Disney+, is described as “the official feature on Elton John.”
“Elton and I could not think of a better collaborator than R.J. Cutler for a film that represents more than just Elton’s career — it’s his life. From the Troubadour to Dodger Stadium, we knew that R.J. would help guide Elton’s story and its many layers in a way that feels authentic and evocative. We’re ecstatic to be working together,” said producer/director David Furnish.
Commenting on the documentary, producer/director R.J. Cutler said, “What a thrill and an honor it is that David Furnish and I get to create this intimate and unique look at one of the world’s most celebrated artists. As it has for so many others, Elton John’s music has had deep meaning for me for decades, and this opportunity is nothing short of a career highlight and privilege.”
The documentary is produced by This Machine Filmworks and Rocket Entertainment, with John Battsek, Jane Cha Cutler, and Elise Pearlstein executive producing.
“There are no superlatives left to describe Elton John and his impact on music and culture — he’s simply unrivaled,” said Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “Like a good Disney story, Elton’s music has both universal appeal and the ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. He has been part of the Disney family since 1994 when he helped make The Lion King an instant classic, and we could not be more excited to collaborate with him on this new documentary.”
Disney Original Documentary and Disney+ released the following description of the documentary:
Rooted in Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour,” the feature documentary film will capture Elton John’s final months on the road, culminating in what promises to be one of the greatest send-offs in rock-and-roll history when John performs his final North American show at Dodger Stadium this upcoming November. The film will also look back at the extraordinary first five years of John’s career when, between 1970 and 1975, he released 10 iconic albums, seven of which went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts and became a global phenomenon.
With exclusive new interviews and performance clips from Madison Square Garden, London, and other performance venues, the film will be the definitive portrait of one of the world’s most successful musical artists of all time, who has inspired multiple generations of audiences and musicians.
