After founding this forum back in 2017, and after being introduced to Baz at a Warner Bros. meeting over three years ago, we have finally reached the moment we’ve all been waiting for—the premiere of *EPiC* at TIFF. For years we had to keep quiet about Baz’s plans until he made the official announcement himself, and now the world has finally seen the result.
Some fans will no doubt have their quibbles about certain footage not making the cut—I’ll admit I personally wanted more of Richmond!—but the fact remains that this film is a true work of love from Baz. So much dedication has gone into restoring and digitizing those 59 hours of incredible footage. Baz has even hinted twice now about a full Hampton Roads release, so we should keep our eyes peeled for that in the near future.
Naturally, he had to trim the project down to a tight 96 minutes to suit today’s audiences, but by all accounts the film is powerful, exciting, and deeply moving. The best part? It’s Elvis himself telling his own story—no outside interviews, just the King front and center.
I want to thank my right-hand man and dear friend Phil Shakespeare, as well as my left-hand man (and great friend!) Aaron Battin. Thanks also to all the fans who have supported this forum for the past eight years. A special thanks to Baz for recognizing our efforts at that early Warner Bros. meeting and acknowledging the fans’ passion for this footage. And to our friends at Instagram’s *Elvis On Tour 1972* page for keeping the flag flying.
The journey doesn’t end here. With extended Blu-ray editions, an IMAX version, and restored shows confirmed by Graceland and EPE, the future looks bright. The cat is finally out of the bag—and it’s thanks to you, the fans.
