Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the Academy Award-winning documentarian and drummer for The Roots, has announced that he will helm a new film about beloved R&B/soul/funk pioneers Earth, Wind & Fire due out in 2025.
Earth, Wind & Fire, formed by the late Maurice White in Chicago in 1969, is among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million records worldwide. The group has won six Grammys on 17 nominations, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and earned just about every honor that can be bestowed upon influential musical acts.
The film, which Questlove called “the definitive story of the elements” in an announcement post on social media, tells “the story of how a band led by a genius from Chicago changed our way of thinking, our minds and our hearts.”
He continued, “Having been baptized in the afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I’ve learned about them, I’ve learned about us & more importantly I’ve learned about and rediscovered myself in the process. … I’m so excited to be directing a documentary preserving their positive but VERY vulnerable and real story of Soul, Self & Struggle.”
“This is the story of joy, persistence, love, pain, magic and self discovery,” he added. “This is Earth, Wind & Fire.”
Related: Nigel Hall, DJ Harrison Release Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Album [Listen]
Per Variety, “The forthcoming feature documentary, which Questlove teased on social media as coming in 2025, will examine the group’s lasting legacy, cultural impact and enduring body of work with exclusive access to archives of visual, audio and written material, as well as the support of the estate of the late Maurice White and the band. … In a joint statement, Earth, Wind & Fire band members Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson, added: ‘We look forward to this in-depth journey of our band, and are so excited to have Questlove directing the documentary.’”
The film does not yet appear to have an official title. The post from Thompson refers to it simply as “a Questlove Jawn.”
Related: Read Questlove’s Review Of Dead & Company At Sphere [Photos]
The project, appropriately announced on the 21st night of September, marks the first music documentary from Questlove since his acclaimed examination of the 1969’s Harlem Cultural Festival, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which earned him his first-ever Academy Award in 2022 (Best Documentary Feature) among various other honors. As of last year, he was also reportedly directing a hybrid live action/animated reboot of Disney’s The Aristocats.
Watch the first teaser for the new Questlove Earth, Wind & Fire jawn below.
Earth, Wind & Fire remains active on the road to this day. The band is currently gearing up for a seven-show stint at Las Vegas, NV’s The Venetian Theatre in October. For a list of dates and ticketing information, head here.
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