A new documentary is on the way, chronicling the final period of David Bowie’s life and his creative journey leading up to the Blackstar album. Produced by Channel 4, The Final Act puts the spotlight on the “creative rebirth” of one of music history’s most iconic figures.
A co-production between Rogan Productions and Dogwoof, the film features rare interviews with Bowie’s inner circle, accounts from artists he worked with, and testimonials from famous fans. Jonathan Stiasny, known for productions such as Drive to Survive and Cops Like Us, is in the director’s chair. Dan Hall, who was behind documentaries such as Freddie Mercury: The Final Act and ABBA: Against the Odds, is producing the film.
“Not an End, but a Resurrection”
Stiasny describes the project’s starting point with these words: “Traditional music documentaries celebrate success. But what struck me most was that Bowie’s final period was not an ending, but a resurrection. He turned failure into victory, silence into revelation, and death into art.”
The 90-minute documentary focuses on Bowie’s final decade, culminating in the release of his Blackstar album just two days before his death in 2016. This period encompasses the artist’s return to the stage following the musical uncertainty he experienced in the 1990s, culminating in his 2000 Glastonbury performance.
The same production team previously created The Final Act documentary, which focused on Freddie Mercury’s final years. This final chapter of Bowie’s life similarly aims to explore the resilience of art in the face of death’s inevitability with a similar emotional depth. Shaminder Nahal, Head of Documentaries at Channel 4, sums up Bowie’s creative power with these words: “Bowie was one of those rare artists whose imagination never faded. This film shows how he created something extraordinary even in his final years, pushing boundaries.”
