Def Leppard Documentary Coming to Theaters Courtesy of Bleecker Street and Crosswalk

Metal fans rejoice! A new doc will look at the highs and lows of the legendary band.

Bleecker Street’s event cinema division Crosswalk has acquired the North American rights to “Long Live Def Leppard,” the first-ever authorized feature-length doc about the legendary metal band.

The film was directed by Jeff Feuerzeig, who previously made “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” and “Author: The JT LeRoy Story.” Bleecker and Crosswalk are looking at an early 2027 release in theaters. Crosswalk is riding high after the success of this summer’s “Hadestown: The Musical,” which grossed over $20 million domestically and toppled a little show called “Hamilton” to become the highest-grossing live capture of a stage show in history (in fairness, “Hamilton” had been widely available on Disney+ before it hit theaters).

The film will explore Def Leppard’s rise from a working-class background to the top of the charts. But it will also delve into the many challenges and setbacks the band faced. For instance, 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 death of guitarist Steve Clark, whose riffs defined the group’s sound. Yet Def Leppard rebuilt itself and has continued to sell out stadiums and arenas. The group has sold 110 million albums worldwide and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Its members also, it must be said, have some of the greatest heads of hair in music (sorry, fellas).

“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, who wrote the film as well as directed and produced it. “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!”

Feuerzeig 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 deal was negotiated by Avy Eschenasy for Crosswalk and Kevin Iwashina of Audiovisuel on behalf of the filmmakers.

Now where do we get those Union Jack outfits?