‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ is still up for sale

Becoming Led Zeppelin

“Becoming Led Zeppelin,” the feature-length documentary about the origins of Led Zeppelin, is still up for sale and its producers are currently hunting for a distributor, according to a film industry document reviewed by LedZepNews.

The film premiered at the Venice and Telluride film festivals in September but no announcement of a release has been made, leading to speculation that the film is being re-edited or has been delayed or possibly withdrawn.

However, LedZepNews has learned that “Becoming Led Zeppelin” has been completed and the film’s producers are still hunting for a distributor to release it.

“Becoming Led Zeppelin” is included in a document titled “UK Films For Sale” produced by UK Film, the UK film industry umbrella group. The document was shared with film distributors at the Cannes Film Festival which takes place on May 17-28 in Cannes, France.

The document was created on May 16, according to its metadata, meaning that “Becoming Led Zeppelin” remains up for sale and its producers are likely using the gathering of film distributors at Cannes to hunt for a way to release it.

The status of “Becoming Led Zeppelin” is listed in the document as “completed,” dispelling speculation that the film may be re-edited following a mixed reception from critics last year.

Several reviews criticised the 137-minute film for being too long. The Hollywood Reporter called the film “an overlong but essential, joyous portrait”.

The Wrap said in its review that “if you’re a diehard fan, you’ll probably glory in what the film delivers and wish there were more of it; if you’re not, you may find yourself power-chorded into submission sometime before the 2-hour and 17-minute running time comes to an end”.

It has been more than 3 years since the film was announced

It was announced in May 2019 that the surviving members of Led Zeppelin had participated in a film about the origins of the band. At the time, the film was in “post-production” meaning filming had already been completed.

LedZepNews reported in April 2020 that the film had the working title of “Apollo” and revealed that it had a runtime of 147 minutes.

And LedZepNews also reported in December 2020 that the film likely uses footage of Jimmy Page performing with The Yardbirds at the Village Theater in New York on August 25, 1967.

In March 2021, LedZepNews reported that the film was also set to use footage of Led Zeppelin performing at the Laurel Pop Festival in Maryland on July 11, 1969.

The next official announcement fans had was in August 2021 when the official title “Becoming Led Zeppelin” was shared along with a brief teaser of the film and the news that it would have its premiere at the Venice film festival the following month. LedZepNews reported that month that the film had a final runtime of 137 minutes.

September 2021 saw the release of the sole official trailer of the film, as well as multiple screenings of the film in Venice and surprise screenings in Telluride also. Page attended the Venice film festival to promote the film.

Since then, there has been no news about the film and its eventual release.

However, Robert Plant distanced himself from the film in interviews published in November 2021. He told Vanity Fair that he was only “minorly” involved in its production. “I’m fully aware of all this, but it’s really hard to get romantic about it—despite the fact that it changed my life and allowed me to mature and to move through the sphere. I’m not very good at reminiscing,” he continued.

In a separate interview with Variety published around that time, Plant also said that it’s “very odd … to see a group of people try to bring some perspective to it now,” adding “I’m not sure it’s not just too vast to be solarized and polarized like that.”

LedZepNews reported in February that a production company connected with the film faced being shut down in the UK because it was late filing its accounts. The accounts have since been filed.

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16 Comments on "‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ is still up for sale"

  1. Hope to see this soon.
    Would fly to Can if I could !!

  2. David c stevens | 24th May 2022 at 4:20 pm | Reply

    Sorry ascap “”foxy dead girl”” is just one of numerous publishing company’s that hold millions in royalties.just get one of those fly by nite asap publisher’s to peal off your asking price.foxy dead girl is a STP publishing company.that would be a very good investment.why led zepplins former members don’t buy it outright is beyond my comprehension.you don’t want to end up like zz top with a compromised 1970s based Pop Group.its like a matter of integrity.250 million richer but your pop group starts transmitting on huwai satellites or sputnik.

  3. I hope that Warner bros (the same company, that distributed the movie “the song remains the same” even if we have to see it in the states via fathom events…I hope we can make this happen with petitions

  4. In the end,everything related to a LZ release becomes a soap opera.

  5. Why would this product not be released direct to home video and packaged to sell like any Madison Ave promotion ?
    This is not movie theater product in our current time in history. And, streaming services are in no mood for paying a King’s Ransom for another retro era rock group retelling like we’ve already seen for free on cable TV channels for years. Zeppelin’s rabid fan base (me included) would prefer to watch it at home in the man cave on Hi Def DVD. On the other hand, if this kind of product comes along post humus years from now including all the naughty bits and portrayed by good actors , well then, bring it to the Cinema and let the money pile up big time ! But, not so is the case with a sanitized, rated PG , History Channel retelling of four young lads from England who hit the big time with unique sounds.
    Remember the old adage : Sex Sells. As does the Underbelly of realities.

  6. Sorry spellchecker…
    Posthumous …..

  7. , down to earth Zeppelin fan can’t wait to see that movie

  8. cant believe this hasn’t been picked up by Amazon or similar. I’d pay to see it at a cinema seems Hope they don’t edit it

  9. I agree 👍! I am so very excited to see this film! Especially since I am from nearby Laurel MD and was also born in 1969! I’d want to watch this one if it were 3 1/2 hours too long !!! I can’t imagine how any kind of Led Zepp Doc could be “too long” thats Crazy talk to me! ! !

  10. Maybe it’s just, well, a load of old crap?

  11. Roy JOHN Watson | 26th May 2022 at 4:45 pm | Reply

    love to see the concert footage in this film as madman grant would not have the band filmed professionally apart from the super show 69 and albert hall 1970 BATH FESTIVAL WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT FOOTAGE and song remains the same 73 has always robert plant has not got much interest in zepps past only living in the past jimmy page might be trying to get it out as he said a while ago hes working on various projects

  12. Martin b Single | 27th May 2022 at 6:38 am | Reply

    Tank you!Me i hope to see the movie soon.

  13. Plant probably will buy the rights to it and then lock it in a safe, inside a vault, inside a volcano.

  14. samer j bseiso | 15th July 2022 at 4:20 am | Reply

    such bullshit.zepp is the best of all time

  15. Aguardo anciosamente este filme.
    Sou fā do Led Zeppelin no Brazil

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