The R&B crooner’s life story opens in theaters starting Nov. 1. It will then premiere on CNN, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, and Max in 2025.
Luther: Never Too Much, a new documentary by Giant Pictures, will chronicle the life of the late R&B singer, songwriter and record producer, who died from health complications at 54. “It was a joy to work on this film,” award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter said in a statement.
She added, “Luther was a spectacularly talented performer, composer and producer. His influence was found in multiple genres, and it was a delight to discover each one. It has been so much fun to see longtime fans remember why they love him, and new fans come to understand his brilliance.”
The documentary had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and later went on to be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, Hot Docs International Film Festival and Nantucket Film Festival, among many others.
“The whole Giant Pictures team fell in love with Luther: Never Too Much following its stellar film festival run this year. The film is a huge crowd-pleaser and a must-see, not only for existing fans of Luther Vandross, but also for those discovering his incredible talents for the first time. We are excited to partner with Sony Music, Raindog Films and CNN Films on this nationwide theatrical release,” said Nick Savva, general manager of Giant Pictures.
Per a press release, there will be nationwide sneak previews through AMC theaters before the film opens in theaters throughout North America starting Nov. 1. It will then premiere on CNN, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, and Max in 2025.
The film will include more than 40 years of archival footage from the “Dance with My Father” crooner, as well as new interviews from Mariah Carey, Roberta Flack, Jamie Foxx, Richard Marx and Dionne Warwick.
Foxx, 56, who serves as one of the film’s producers, shared how playing Vandross’ music would always help him score points while dating.
“Back in the day, if you wanted to fall in love, you let Luther do the work for you,” he said. “So I would put the phone up to the radio — and what’s crazy is you had to wait for it to come on the radio.”
He continued, “So I would put the phone up to the radio and say, ‘This is what I want to tell you.'”
Fans of Vandross will also hear how he got his start after he crashed a recording session for David Bowie’s Young Americans and became one of the most sought-after backup singers for artists such as Chic, Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin before his 1981 solo breakout R&B hit “Never Too Much.”
The “Here and Now” artist died in 2005 due to “a combination of stroke, diabetes and hypertension,” his niece, Seveda Williams, told PEOPLE about her Grammy-winning late uncle in celebration of Black Music Month.
“He was singing up to the last minute,” she added. “I hope people see him as human, a man who had a great career, but a man who lived a life.”
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