The Oscar and Grammy-winning filmmaker behind Summer of Soul turns his lens on one of music’s most iconic and spiritually driven bands.
Questlove is back behind the camera and this time the subject is Earth, Wind & Fire.
HBO has released the trailer for Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s The Weight Of The World), a new documentary directed and produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson that traces the origin, evolution, and lasting cultural impact of the legendary nine-time Grammy Award-winning band. The film debuts Sunday, June 7 from 9 to 11 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
Before its HBO debut, the film will open the 25th Tribeca Festival with its world premiere on June 3 at the Beacon Theatre, followed by a live performance from Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots.
The documentary centers on late founding member Maurice White, whose childhood, spiritual beliefs, and philosophical passions shaped everything from the band’s genre-spanning songwriting to its increasingly theatrical live shows. Drawing from never-before-seen footage alongside the band’s rich visual, audio, and written archives, the film traces Earth, Wind & Fire’s journey from jazz and soul into R&B, Afro-funk, disco, and beyond, capturing the ambition of a band that always had its sights set on something bigger than a hit record.
The film features interviews with band members Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson, alongside a remarkable roster of participants including former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, H.E.R., and Flea. The film also places the band’s work in a longer cultural timeline, from its influence on artists like Prince to its renewed life through sampling and collaboration with today’s hip-hop artists.
For Questlove, whose filmmaking has increasingly focused on how Black music carries history, memory, and joy, Earth, Wind & Fire is a natural subject. The band broke through in 1975 with the No. 1 pop hit “Shining Star,” the first of seven Top 10 hits that included “September,” “Sing a Song,” and “After the Love Has Gone,” along with six consecutive Top 10 albums from 1975 to 1981.
The film is presented by HBO Documentary Films and produced by RadicalMedia, Two One Five Entertainment, Broken Halo Entertainment, and Word Is Bond in association with Sony Music Vision. Producers include Dave Sirulnick, Samantha Grogin, KB White, and Arron Saxe. Executive producers are Jon Kamen, Cheo Hodari Coker, Karla Zambrano, Zarah Zohlman, Shawn Gee, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, and Amos Newman. For HBO, executive producers are Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez.
Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s The Weight Of The World) debuts Sunday, June 7 on HBO and Max.