David Bowie: Stage, an arena production built around previously unreleased footage from Bowie’s 1978 Isolar II tour, will premiere on February 14, 2027, at Berlin’s Uber Arena during the Berlin International Film Festival. An international arena tour is planned after the premiere.
Filmmaker Brett Morgen, the David Bowie Estate and live entertainment company Wonderworld created the production. It combines restored 35mm film with light-emitting diode (LED) screens, spatial audio and synchronized concert lighting to evoke the original performance.
Footage from Earls Court
Director David Hemmings filmed Bowie at London’s Earls Court in 1978, when his band included Carlos Alomar, Adrian Belew, George Murray and Dennis Davis. Bowie was touring behind Low and Heroes.
Bowie commissioned the film but later shelved it, reportedly because he was dissatisfied with how the performances had been captured. Morgen found the footage while researching his 2022 documentary Moonage Daydream and spent years restoring, editing and color-grading it, including hand-painted adjustments.
The production has lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, who has worked with the Rolling Stones and Elton John, and a 7.1 surround-sound mix by Oscar-winning engineer Paul Massey. Transparent LED screens are intended to create the impression of Bowie and his band performing onstage.
International tour planned
Organizers plan to take Stage to arenas with capacities starting at 5,000. Wonderworld founder Rob Hallett, a former AEG International executive, has outlined plans for dates across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.
Bowie reportedly considered using the original film to bring his performances to live spaces without touring in person.
