Iron Maiden 50th Anniversary Documentary To Feature Rare Footage, New Animated Sequences with Mascot Eddie
Universal Pictures Content Group announced on Friday (March 14) that it has begun production on a documentary chronicling heavy metal icons Iron Maiden's 50-year career. The currently untitled film is slated for release internationally in the fall, with U.S. theatrical distribution details to be confirmed later.
According to a release, the long-awaited doc is an 'emotive journey through Iron Maiden's 50 Year history told from the perspective of both the band and some of their most devoted followers – from longstanding superfans to established names from the worlds of film and music such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Gene Simmons.'
More from Billboard
Ye Slams Kendrick Lamar for Being on Playboi Carti's New Album: 'I Don't Like [His] Music'
Watch Gene Simmons Hilariously Take Over a Los Angeles Weather Report & Deliver a Chaotic Forecast
Jay Rock Arrested For Felony Gun Possession in Los Angeles
In addition, the doc is slated to feature exclusive interviews with key band members and the final interview with original vocalist, Paul Di'Anno, who died in October 2024 at 66 from a tear in the sac around his heart. In addition to rare archival footage of the group, the doc will also include all-new animated sequences with Maiden's fan-favorite ghoulish grin zombie mascot Eddie, who has appeared on all their album covers.
'We're proud Universal Pictures Content Group has chosen to share the unique story of Iron Maiden with the world,' said Maiden manager Rod Smallwood in a statement about the film that will be directed by Malcolm Venville (Churchill At War). 'We have given them unrestricted access to the band, our fans and musical peers. We trust that they will excite not only music fans but also anyone who loves a story of an underdog beating the odds to become and remain one of Britain's biggest musical exports since our first record released 45 years ago.'
The movie description continues, 'The film offers a unique visual experience that highlights Iron Maiden's widespread impact and the strong connection between the band and their truly global army of fans. The film also explores the cultural movement Iron Maiden has helped shape and their enduring legacy in both music and fan culture, challenging common perceptions of the wider significance of rock music and heavy metal.'
Iron Maiden formed in East London in 1975 and helped spearhead a resurgent wave of British metal on their way to selling more than 100 million records worldwide thanks to such hard-charging hit singles as 'Run to the Hills,' 'The Number of the Beast,' 'Aces High,' 'Flight of Icarus,' 'The Trooper' and 'Hallowed Be Thy Name.'
'We're thrilled Iron Maiden have entrusted us to bring their legacy to cinemas around the world,' said Universal Pictures Content group executive vice president Helen Parker. 'Working closely with the band and their passionate fans has been an unrivalled experience allowing us to tell their story in a unique way and celebrate their incomparable fearless creativity in their 50th anniversary year.' The film will be produced by Dominic Freeman (Spirits in the Forest – a Depeche Mode Film), with Parker serving as executive producer.
Iron Maiden will launch their 50th anniversary Run For Your Lives tour in Budapest on May 27, with 32 other dates currently scheduled throughout Europe through August 2.
Best of Billboard
Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1
Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits
H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Festival brings 'big names in intimate spaces'
In 2022, comedians Charlotte Evans and Will Adamsdale began what was then Exeter's only regular new material comedy gig. Held in a tiny cafe, they said often the only noise in crowd was from a loud refrigerated meat counter. Three years later, Locally Sourced comedy has evolved into a four-day festival with more than 60 acts performing across 15 venues. Ms Evans said: "We never set out to make a festival, we just wanted a regular night to perform comedy. "It makes me so proud to see acts who started in front of the meat counter selling out their solo shows." Tim Key, Bridget Christie and Mark Watson were some of the big names performing alongside strong local acts at the festival which began on Thursday. JoJo Maberly performed her first-ever stand-up gig in Exeter three years ago and returned to the festival with her musical-comedy show Angst & Angstability. "It's so great to see the comedy world come alive in Exeter," she said. The success of the festival was depended on by comedians who said they were becoming increasingly priced out of the well-trodden routes to success. The cost of attending the Edinburgh Fringe, which served as a cheap breakthrough for so many top British comedians, has soared in recent years. In 2024 comics spoke out against "soaring costs" and "pure greed" which had prevented them from performing or making money at the festival. Comedian Greg Winfield, from Barnstaple, decided to go on a solo tour with his show Whatever You Say, attending the Exeter Comedy Festival but not Edinburgh. The comic of eight years said: "I think the old school way of doing comedy, of either moving to London or being on a relentless Edinburgh churn, is probably less important these days. "[Exeter Comedy Festival] the finest comedy festival in the South West - I challenge others to raise themselves to this level." All 15 venues at the Exeter Comedy Festival were independent businesses. They ranged from a cocktail bar, a vegan cafe to a barber shop, which was converted into a performance space. Alongside their shows, a number of comedians submitted pieces of art for a festival exhibition. Curated by Karen Lockhart, it features pieces by Spencer Jones, Emma Hughes, Olaf Falafel and others. Ms Lockhart said: "I wanted to give an outlet for all these comedians who also have something else going on." Festival organiser Georgia Thomas predicted the festival would continue to grow but it would stay true to having "big names in intimate spaces". "We wanted to create a festival similar to the shows you can see in Edinburgh and London without having to travel so far," she said. "Having big names in intimate spaces helps reduce the hierarchy which is good for them, good for local acts and good for us. "We'll keep the intimate vibe but grow the festival to benefit comedians, audiences and local businesses." Exeter Comedy Festival
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Prince William sounds alarm on oceans: 'Diminishing before our eyes'
Prince William sounds alarm on oceans: 'Diminishing before our eyes' Prince William on Sunday called on world leaders and businesses to take urgent action to protect the planet's oceans, saying it was a challenge "like none we have faced before." Speaking ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference, which begins in France on Monday, William said rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing were putting pressure on fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them. "What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes," William, heir to the British throne, told the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco. "Put simply: the ocean is under enormous threat, but it can revive itself. But, only if together, we act now," he told the meeting of investors and policymakers. Princess Charlotte is 10! She looks just like Prince William in new birthday photo taken by Princess Kate This week's U.N. conference aims to get more countries to ratify a treaty on protecting ocean biodiversity, which currently lacks sufficient signatories to come into force. William addressed Sunday's gathering in his role as founder of the Earthshot Prize, launched by the prince in 2020 with the aim of making huge strides to tackle environmental problems within a decade. On Saturday, William's office released a video of him talking to David Attenborough, one of the world's best-known nature broadcasters, about his latest documentary "Ocean," which examines the plight of the seas. "The thing which I am appalled by, when I first saw the shots that were taken for this film, are what we have done to the deep ocean floor," Attenborough told him. "If you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms."
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Love Island confirms first bombshell to enter villa in show first
Love Island has confirmed the first bombshell of season 12. The ITV2 dating show kicks off a new season tomorrow night, introducing a new batch of singletons looking for love in the sun. Ahead of the launch episode, the first bombshell who will be entering the villa to shake things up for the original 12 Islanders has been confirmed. Toni, a 24-year-old pool cabana server from Connecticut, will make a bombshell entrance, marking the first American contestant to appear on the UK version of the show. The news was first teased in a video shared to Love Island's official Instagram page yesterday, in which host Maya Jama received a voice note from a mystery American. Related: Best streaming services "Hey Maya. I heard you want more twists. How about an American bombshell? Get ready. I'm on my way," the Islander teased, to which Maya added: "Alright, there's the sweet, sweet sounds of an American." Toni was officially confirmed today, revealing in a pre-entrance Q&A that she's looking for someone who "can make me laugh" and who's "quite active". She's also excited about the prospect of dating a British man, saying: "I've lived in three different states and I'm still single. It's time to try something new! "I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners." Related: Toni, who works as a pool cabana server in Sin City, Las Vegas, said she is "willing to relocate" for love, though it "would just break my heart to not have my job anymore". As for what kind of Islander she'll be, Toni said: "I don't want to be super messy. I'm not really like that. "I'm hoping to come out with friends of course. I guess I'm the party starter, I want everyone to have fun." Love Island starts Monday at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX. Read more Love Island news on our dedicated homepage Digital Spy's first print magazine is here! Buy British Comedy Legends in newsagents or online, now priced at just £3.99.£18.99 at at Audible£99.00 at Amazon at at at EE at at £328.00 at at at at at EE at at at at at at at Amazon at at at at Sky Mobile at at at EE£19.00 at Game at Pandora at at at at at Game£259.99 at at Three at at Pandora at at at at at at at $15.00 at at £1199.00 at AO at at Fitbit£49.99 at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at John Lewis£39.97 at at at Amazon£157.00 at John Lewis at at at at at at at John Lewis & Partners at at at at at at at Fitbit at at Three$29.85 at at Amazon at at at Amazon£184.00 at John Lewis & Partners at at at Apple£699.00 at at at at at Amazon at at at at at at Three£379.99 at at at at Audible at at EE£249.00 at John Lewis at at at at at at at at John Lewis at EE at at £379.00 at at at at Amazon at at at Apple at at at Samsung at at at at Three at Apple at at John Lewis at $365.00 at Microsoft at crunchyroll£1199.00 at AO£79.00 at Samsung£449.00 at John Lewis£79.98 at at Amazon at at at at at John Lewis & Partners£79.98 at at at Microsoft at at at Microsoft at at at at at at John Lewis£39.99 at Amazon at at John Lewis & Partners at at now at at at Microsoft at at at John Lewis at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at at You Might Also Like PS5 consoles for sale – PlayStation 5 stock and restocks: Where to buy PS5 today? IS MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7 THE BEST IN THE SERIES? OUR REVIEW AEW game is a modern mix of No Mercy and SmackDown
