HBO To Release David Byrne's 'American Utopia,' Directed By Spike Lee, Later This Year

Even though we’re just now coming off the release of Spike Lee’s most recent feature film, “Da 5 Bloods,” that doesn’t mean the filmmaker is taking the rest of the year off. According to HBO, Lee is already prepping the release of his latest directorial effort, “American Utopia.”

READ MORE: ‘Da 5 Bloods’: Spike Lee Finally Makes A Worthy, If Bloated, War Epic [Review]

HBO announced that Spike Lee’s collaboration with musician David Byrne, titled “American Utopia,” will debut on the network later this year. For those unfamiliar with Byrne’s work, “American Utopia,” is a Broadway show that the musician has been performing for a while now, and he’s enlisted Spike Lee to direct a filmed version of the show for HBO. The network describes “American Utopia” as “a unifying musical celebration that inspires audiences to connect to each other and to the global community.”

“Spike and I have crossed paths many times over the years, obviously I’m a huge fan and now finally here was an opportunity for us to work together,” said Byrne. “I am absolutely thrilled with the result. The Broadway show was a wonderful challenge as well as an opportunity – it was a joy to perform and, well, best to let the quotes speak for themselves. Thrilled that this show and the subjects it addresses will now reach a wider audience.”

READ MORE: Paul Schrader Is Sad That Spike Lee Apologized For Woody Allen Comments To Satisfy The “PC Lynch Mob”

Lee added, “It is my honor and privilege that my art brother, Mr. David Byrne, asked me to join him in concert, to invite me into his magnificent world of ‘American Utopia.’ And dat’s da ‘once in a lifetime’ truth, Ruth. Ya-dig? Sho-nuff. Peace and love. Be safe.”

The show features Byrne, of Talking Heads fame, performing the songs featured on his 2018 album of the same name, as well as various tracks from his Talking Head days and solo career, alongside 11 other performers on stage.

There’s no release date set for “American Utopia,” but you can see a couple of examples of the performances from when David Byrne was recently promoting his show below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Kw-eNj-tq/