Summary
- Previously unreleased film from David Bowie’s 1978 Earls Court concerts returns as an immersive production.
- Brett Morgen restored and re-edited the 35mm footage.
- The new presentation combines three screens, LED panels, lighting and 7.1 sound.
- The world premiere is scheduled for 14 February 2027 in Berlin.
A David Bowie concert film that remained in the archives for almost half a century is finally coming to life, not in an ordinary cinema but in large arenas, with expansive visuals, theatrical lighting and surround sound.
“David Bowie in Stage” is built around previously unreleased footage from the 1978 Isolar II tour. Brett Morgen, the filmmaker behind “Moonage Daydream”, has restored and reassembled the material to make audiences feel as though they are attending a Bowie concert.
Watch the production video:
The film Bowie never completed
The footage was shot during shows at London’s Earls Court in 1978. Bowie had planned a film of the tour and commissioned David Hemmings to direct it. The project was shelved, leaving the material in the artist’s archive.
Morgen came across the original camera negatives while researching “Moonage Daydream”. Talks with the David Bowie Estate about reviving the project began in 2018, and the production gained momentum when Rob Hallett joined in 2024.
The footage captures Bowie with his touring band, including Adrian Belew, Carlos Alomar, George Murray, Dennis Davis, Roger Powell, Sean Mayes and Simon House. The performances included “Heroes”, “Fame”, “Rebel Rebel” and “Ziggy Stardust”, alongside material from the albums “Low” and “Heroes”.
Restored 35mm film becomes an arena-scale experience
Morgen spent nearly a decade editing, reconfiguring and colour-grading the footage. The work also involved hand-painted colour adjustments on selected images, while the new edit favours longer, uninterrupted takes of the performance.
The presentation will use three main screens, large-scale projections and transparent LED panels intended to create the impression that Bowie and his musicians are physically present on stage.
Lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe, whose credits include the Rolling Stones and Elton John, is creating the show’s lighting environment. Academy Award-winning sound engineer Paul Massey is responsible for the 7.1 surround mix, delivered through a Clair Global audio system.
The production is designed for venues with capacities of at least 5,000 people. Rather than simply screening a concert film, it treats the room’s lighting and the moving images as parts of a single staged experience.
Berlinale premiere and plans for a global tour
The world premiere will take place on 14 February 2027 at Berlin’s Uber Arena, in association with the 77th Berlin International Film Festival.
Presale began on 28 October 2026, with general ticket sales scheduled for 30 October at 10:00 Central European Time. Wonderworld plans to take the show to other countries, although a complete list of tour stops has yet to be announced.
Berlin is a particularly meaningful choice: Bowie created much of the music associated with this period of his career in the city.
“Stage” joins a growing range of audiovisual projects exploring Bowie’s legacy. Another side of that archive was presented through the immersive Venice exhibition of more than 800 David Bowie photographs, built around the work of photographer Denis O’Regan.
What we think
For anyone who cares about cinema and photography, this is more intriguing than another reissue of old material. These are real 35mm film images from a historic concert, preserved for almost five decades without the completed presentation they were originally intended to receive.
The challenge with a production like this is preventing the new technology from overwhelming the original images. Bowie had extraordinary stage presence, but it was recorded by particular cameras, under specific lighting, with all the limitations of filming a live concert in 1978. That texture deserves to survive.
Morgen’s decision to favour longer, continuous shots is especially welcome. A strong concert shot needs time to reveal the performance, the connection between the artist and the band, and the details that can disappear under a barrage of rapid cuts.
If the finished show lets the original film take centre stage, “Stage” could offer something rare: a chance to experience a historic performance through the eyes of the filmmakers who were actually there.
Frequently asked questions
Is “Stage” a new concert with live performers?
No. It is an immersive audiovisual presentation based on authentic footage of David Bowie filmed in 1978.
Is this the same release as the 1978 live album “Stage”?
No. The original live album and the new audiovisual show come from the same era but are distinct works.
Where and when will it premiere?
The confirmed world premiere is on 14 February 2027 at Berlin’s Uber Arena. An international tour is planned, but the complete schedule has not yet been announced.
