ELVIS GOLD – Buried in a SALT MINE?
Baz Luhrmann’s new documentary unearths long-lost Elvis footage and launches a formally advancing stage musical, reshaping Presley’s legacy in real time.
At a Glance
- Luhrmann found 35 hours of 35 mm negatives buried in a Kansas salt-mine vault.
- He partnered with Park Road Post to rebuild the audio using original vocals and new orchestrations.
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert premiered at TIFF 2025 and will release in IMAX via Warner Bros.
- A full Broadway-style stage musical based on the 2022 Elvis film is in development.
Discovery In The Depths
Luhrmann dove into Warner Bros.’ storage vaults hidden in a salt mine in Kansas. He described his team’s mission as “like Raiders of the Lost Ark” when shaking loose 35 hours of 35 mm negatives. This archival treasure had long been rumored. The footage emerged as the spine of EPiC’s visual core.
Watch now: Baz Luhrmann discusses “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” at the world premiere in Toronto
Assembling The Dreamscape
Luhrmann worked with Peter Jackson’s Park Road crew to restore audio. They fused Presley’s original vocal tracks with newly constructed orchestrations and re-recorded elements. The result is a hybrid audio-visual “dreamscape” rather than a straightforward live record.
The team extracted vocals from isolated feeds. Background singers and crowd noise were rebuilt or removed. This process created a heightened performance space that feels both real and surreal.
Premiere And Musical Trajectory
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert made its world debut at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It will be released by Warner Bros., including premium formats like IMAX. Luhrmann also revealed a stage musical based on his 2022 Elvis film is in formal development.
He confirmed that original elements from the film’s soundtrack and visual style will inform the theatrical production. The musical will not directly replicate the movie but expand on its storytelling arc.
A Lasting Bond With The King
Luhrmann conceded his career and Elvis are now forever intertwined. He hinted the newly released footage is only “the tip of the iceberg,” teasing additional concerts resting unseen in vaults.
One such performance in Hampton Roads alone would cost over half a million dollars to mount. Whether that investment comes next may depend on how audiences respond to EPiC this fall.
Sources
TheWrap
The Washington Post
New York Post
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