This fall, the long-awaited documentary ‘Luther: Never Too Much’, celebrating the life and legacy of the legendary R&B singer Luther Vandross, is set to hit theaters nationwide on November 1. In 2025, the documentary will make its television debut on CNN, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, and Max, expanding its reach to audiences across the U.S. and Canada.
After premiering to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival and making stops at the Tribeca Festival, Hot Docs International Film Festival, and Nantucket Film Festival, the film has now secured a theatrical distributor in Giant Pictures. The documentary’s release will mark nearly 20 years since Vandross’ untimely death at the age of 54 in 2005, following complications from a stroke two years prior.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter, ‘Luther: Never Too Much’ delves deep into the extraordinary career and complex personal life of the eight-time Grammy winner. Vandross, who began his career as a backup singer for icons like Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, and David Bowie, went on to achieve massive success with his debut album ‘Never Too Much’ in 1981.
Over the course of his career, Vandross sold 40 million albums worldwide, with most of his releases achieving platinum or double platinum status. His impact on the music industry is undeniable, with five Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 27 Top 10 hits on the R&B chart, including seven No.1s. Songs like “Here and Now,” “Endless Love,” and “Power of Love/Love Power” continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
The documentary doesn’t shy away from Vandross’ personal struggles, including his battles with his sexuality and overeating. It also features insights from some of his closest collaborators and friends, including musical partner Marcus Miller, Mariah Carey, Nile Rodgers, Clive Davis, Valerie Simpson, Richard Marx, and Jamie Foxx, who also served as a producer on the film.
“It was a joy to work on this film,” Porter shared in a statement. “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.”
‘Luther: Never Too Much’ is executive produced by Porter, with Trish D Chetty and Ged Doherty producing for Raindog Films; Foxx and Datari Turner for Foxxhole Productions; and Leah Smith for Trilogy Films.
Nick Savva, general manager of Giant Pictures, expressed his excitement about the upcoming release. “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.”
The Luther Vandross Estate also shared their enthusiasm: “As we approach 20 years since Luther Vandross’ passing, The Luther Vandross Estate is thrilled for the upcoming releases of ‘Luther: Never Too Much’ theatrically and on CNN. It has been a mission of ours for the last 15 years to bring the story of Luther’s journey creating amazing and inspiring music to the world. Dawn Porter and her team created a film that honors the man and his talents.”
Executive producers include Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction; Tom Mackay and Richard Story for Sony Music Entertainment; Jon Platt and Brian Monaco for Sony Music Publishing; Colin Firth for Raindog Films; Phil Thornton on behalf of Foxxhole Productions; Carmen Romano, Brenda Shields, Fonzi Thornton, Seveda Williams, and David Gottlieb for The Luther Vandross Estate; and Lawrence Mestel and Natalia Nastaskin for Primary Wave Music. Sony Music Vision is the distributor, while CNN Films and OWN hold television and SVOD rights.