BBC Two Commissions David Bowie Film

A new film, David Bowie: The Last Five Years, has been commissioned by BBC Two.

The movie will air in January 2017 and is produced and directed by Francis Whately. It is a follow-up to his David Bowie: Five Years film which was originally broadcast on the channel in 2013.

The feature will look at rare and unseen archive footage of the late singer, as well as early audio interviews which have not been previously released. It will focus on three major projects of Bowie's last five years; his albums The Next Day and Blackstar, plus the musical Lazarus. The film provides access to Bowie's closest friends and collaborators.

In David Bowie: The Last Five Years, the original band members of The Next Day album will reunite with the singer's long-time producer Tony Visconti to recreate the production process for tracks on the album. There will be interviews with the video directors and the stars of Bowie's last videos, discussing how the album consolidates Bowie's back catalogue with references to his past, while also marking a triumphant return to form after a 10-year break.

For the album, Blackstar, the film visits the 55 bar in New York where Bowie first encountered the jazz quartet who would become the musicians for the album.

With regards to Lazarus, the film features exclusive access to the writer, director and cast of Lazarus and will tell the story of the project from its inception through to the opening night, showing Bowie's commitment to the project right up to the very end of his life.

The play includes a reworking of some of Bowie's greatest hits including Heroes, Life on Mars and Changes. Whately is given access to film the rehearsals in London plus a complete performance.

Francis Whately said: "I always hoped that I would make another film about Bowie as we were only able to scratch the surface in the first film, but I just didn't expect it to be this soon. However, looking at Bowie's extraordinary creativity during the last five years of his life has allowed me to re-examine his life's work and move beyond the simplistic view that his career was simply predicated on change – Bowie the chameleon… 'ch ch ch changes', etc. Instead, I would like to show how the changes were often superficial, but the core themes in his work were entirely consistent – Alienation, Mortality and Fame."

Adam Barker, Channel Executive for BBC Two and BBC Four, added: "BBC Two is thrilled to have commissioned this unique documentary chronicling the most recent achievements of one of the most significant figures in the history of music."

David Bowie: The Last Five Years is commissioned by Jan Younghusband for BBC Two. It is produced and directed by Francis Whately for BBC Studios. Phil Dolling is the BBC Executive Producer. It is being distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.

Image: BBC Media Centre.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP/LM)