Category: News

Photo: Ross Halfin

Bleecker Street’s event cinema division Crosswalk has acquired the North American rights to the first ever authorized feature length documentary on Def Leppard, LONG LIVE DEF LEPPARD, a complete and all-access account of the epic journey the band has taken from its humble beginnings in the UK to a global fandom that continues to today. The documentary was directed by Jeff Feuerzeig (The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Author: The JT LeRoy Story) who also produced the documentary alongside Alice Rhodes and Sam Bridger for VICE Studios, Nicholas Ferrall and Jeanne Elfant Festa of White Horse Pictures, Danny Gabai of The Searchers Documentary Films, and Brian T. Nugent of Sobey Road Entertainment. The film is slated for an early 2027 release in theaters.

With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide, two prestigious Diamond Awards in the U.S., and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame®, Def Leppard continues to make a lasting impact in rock music, pushing boundaries with their electrifying live shows. Produced in close collaboration with the band, LONG LIVE DEF LEPPARD will take fans on a wild ride into the world of this iconic English rock band, with never-before-seen footage and unparalleled access to its members.

Born out of working-class Sheffield, Def Leppard’s story is one of an unbreakable brotherhood. After exploding onto the global rock scene with their hit albums Pyromania and Hysteria, the band faced two devastating chapters: drummer Rick Allen’s life-altering accident, which cost him his arm, and the loss of guitarist Steve Clark, whose anthemic and dynamic riffs earned him a permanent place among the guitar legends of all time. Those tragedies became defining moments in the band’s history, as Def Leppard rebuilt themselves and went on to become one of the most enduring forces in rock. Today, Def Leppard continues to prove its staying power, selling out stadiums and arenas around the world and recently completing a sold out residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The film was executive produced by Nigel Sinclair and Cassidy Hartmann of White Horse Pictures, Stuart Goldstein and Rosie Taylor of VICE Studios, Andrew Trapani of Sobey Road Entertainment, Emmerson G. Farrell, David Sze, David B. Kirk, Bruce Resnikoff and Adam Barker of Universal Music Group, Natalia Nastaskin and Rob Dippold of Primary Wave Music, Todd Lieberman of Hidden Pictures, Brian Monaco of Sony Music Publishing, and Mike Kobayashi of CSM Management. Amy Rattray from VICE Studios serves as Line Producer. The deal was negotiated by Avy Eschenasy for Crosswalk and Kevin Iwashina of Audiovisuel on behalf of the filmmakers.

“In the summer of ’81, after reading about Def Leppard in Creem, I saw the not-yet-famous band open for Ozzy Osbourne on his first Blizzard of Ozz tour at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall,” said Jeff Feuerzeig, Director, Writer and Producer. “These young lads from working-class Sheffield were punching far above their weight and playing for keeps. I was smitten, a fan for life. It has been an honor to collaborate with the guys and bring their unique, heartwarming, and often humorous underdog story to the screen. This is not your typical sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll tale. Long live Def Leppard, indeed!”

“Def Leppard is a once in a lifetime rock band, whose story and live performances demand to be seen and heard on the big screen,” said Bleecker Street CEO Kent Sanderson. “Longtime fans and those just being introduced to the group are going to be blown away by this high energy, compelling, and ultimately moving look into this legendary band.”

Feuerzeig is a director, writer, and producer whose feature The Devil and Daniel Johnston won the Documentary Directing Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed theatrically by Sony Pictures Classics. Additional directing credits include AUTHOR: The JT LeRoy Story for Amazon Films and The Real Rocky for ESPN’s acclaimed “30 for 30” series. He also directed numerous commercials and branded content for Google, Nokia, Samsung, and more brands than he cares to admit. As a screenwriter, his credits include Chuck, aka The Bleeder (co-written with Jerry Stahl), starring Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts, as well as the Johnny Paycheck pilot and George Jones & Tammy Wynette episodes of Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus, the animated nonfiction music series for Cinemax. He has also written for HBO, Amazon Films, IFC, and Universal Studios. Feuerzeig is a frequent guest on The Best Show and numerous podcasts devoted to music, film, and nonfiction storytelling. Albert Maysles personally invited Jeff to join Maysles Films after a screening of The Devil and Daniel Johnston. INDIEWIRE named The Devil and Daniel Johnston “The Best Music Documentary of the 21st Century.”

Coming off the success of Hadestown: The Musical, the record breaking live capture of Tony Award®-winning hit musical Hadestown, which grossed over $20m domestically and supplanted Hamilton as the highest-grossing live capture of a stage show in history, Crosswalk is continuing its track record of delivering innovative and immersive cinematic experiences to audiences globally. Next up, the company will release George Michael: The Faith Tour, the electric concert film featuring recently rediscovered, never-before-seen footage of the global superstar during the European leg of the Faith Tour, in theaters and IMAX® on December 11. Bleecker Street’s fall slate includes Academy Award®-winner Alex Gibney’s epic documentary Musk which will premiere at the Venice International Film Festival; Anton Corbijn’s A Talent For Murder starring Helen Mirren, Alden Ehrenreich, and Olivia Cooke; and Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care, both of which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The company also has Academy Award®-winner Guy Nattiv’s The Liberation starring Carrie Coon, Lily James, Odessa Young, Tracy Letts, and Bella Ramsey, which will have an awards qualifying run in 2026.