Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire Documentary Lands at HBO
The film will examine the legacy and impact of legendary funk band Earth, Wind & Fire.
Earth, Wind, and Fire performs at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, November 26, 1981.
Paul Natkin
Questlove is helming a documentary about seminal funk/soul band Earth, Wind & Fire and it’s been picked up by HBO. According to Deadline, the film will examine the band’s legacy, cultural impact, and body of work and will feature exclusive access to the band’s archives of visual, audio, and written material, as well as the support of the estate of founder/bandleader Maurice White and the band.
Questlove has directed documentaries about 1969’s Harlem Culture Festival (2021’s Summer of Soul) and Sly Stone (this year’s Sly Lives!). The Roots drummer first announced his EWF project last year.
“I’m honored to tell the story of Earth, Wind & Fire and the deep meaning behind their message and music,” Questlove said via statement. “To grow up listening to the music is one thing but to be handed the keys to the kingdom of preserving history is another. I can’t imagine a better platform on which to share this documentary with U.S. audiences than HBO.”
Earth, Wind & Fire was founded by multi-instrumentalist Maurice White and his brother, bassist Verdine White in Chicago in the late 1960s. The six-time Grammy winners would score numerous hits spanning several decades and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
This past summer, EWF took the stage with Sabrina Carpenter at Lollapalooza in their native Chicago.
The film is set to premiere on HBO sometime in 2026.
