Disney acquires documentary rights to 50 years of Elton John’s career

Disney Original Documentary and Disney+ have acquired the rights to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years That Made His Legend”, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the career of one of the biggest artists in the global music industry, Elton John.

According to Deadline, the project was helmed by the Oscar nominee. RJ Cutler and David Furnish and acquired for US$ 30 million. Disney’s initial idea is that the documentary will be released at festivals and spend a short period in theaters before reaching the Disney+ catalog.

Designed to serve as Elton John’s official resource, the documentary comprises never-before-seen footage of the musician’s performances, captured over five decades. The material will also show his handwritten diaries and current images of him with his family.

The documentary will also feature content from Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which captured the musician’s final months on the road, culminating in his November performance at Dodger Stadium, his final show on North American soil. The production will look back on the first five years of John’s career, when he released 10 hit albums between 1970 and 1975, seven of which reached number one on the Billboard charts and established him as a global phenomenon.

“There are no superlatives to describe Elton John and his impact on music and culture – he is simply unparalleled”declared Bob ChapekCEO of The Walt Disney Company, in a note. “Like a good Disney story, Elton’s music has universal appeal and the ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. He’s been part of the Disney family since 1994, when he helped make ‘The Lion King’ an instant classic, and we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with him on this new documentary.”

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and the Years That Made His Legend” has yet to receive a streaming release date.