The story of the elements will finally be told!
Six-time Grammy winner and Roots founder Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is set to direct a new documentary on the iconic group Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF), Variety reports. Questlove announced the project on social media just before the 21st night of September, emphasizing the exciting “definitive story of the elements.”
“Having been baptized in the Afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I’ve learned about them, I’ve learned about us & more importantly, I’ve learned about and rediscovered myself in the process. I’m so excited to be directing a documentary preserving their positive but VERY vulnerable and real story of Soul, Self & Struggle,” wrote Questlove.
Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most successful bands of all time, boasting more than 90 million records sold, six Grammy Awards, and 11 back-to-back albums going gold or platinum. The new documentary will explore the band’s origin story and their chart-topping success, focusing on their humble beginnings and their indelible cultural impact, featuring archival material and the support of late founding member Maurice White’s estate.
“We look forward to this in-depth journey of our band, and are so excited to have Questlove directing the documentary,” said EWF band members Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson via statement.
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Questlove previously won an Academy Award for “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” his directorial debut chronicling the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. He also recently announced a new podcast in partnership with Michelle Obama about Stevie Wonder’s classic years. This latest offering is in step with his longstanding commitment to preserving the culture.
“The story of how a band led by a genius from Chicago changed our way of thinking, our minds and our hearts…This is the story of joy, persistence, love, pain, magic and self-discovery,” Questlove added.
The new Earth, Wind & Fire documentary is currently set for release in 2025.
Cover photo: Questlove to Direct New Documentary on Iconic Group, Earth, Wind & Fire/Photo credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images