A new film about Frank Zappa, the man who possibly invented progressive rock and a few other things in modern music is on its way. Zappa is set to premiere Thanksgiving weekend 2020 both in theaters and video on demand. The film is handled by Magnolia Pictures and is directed by Alex Winter of Bill & Ted movie serial fame.
According to Deadline, the film is “billed as an intimate and expansive look into the innovative life of the iconic — and iconoclastic — musician and artist, the pic was made with unfettered access to the Zappa family trust and all archival footage. It explores the private life behind the musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time.”
The film features appearances by Zappa’s with Gail, and a number of his musical collaborators, including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White, and others.
Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles said that “Zappa is an incredibly nuanced and compelling look at the visionary iconoclast and the environment that formed him.”
Director Winter himself added that “This is the most ambitious project I’ve ever worked on, with a couple of years of archival preservation in addition to several years to make the film itself. This isn’t your typical music doc but rather a multi-faceted narrative that aims to bring this complex artist to life. Magnolia, with its long and distinguished history of platforming great cinema, is the perfect home for Zappa.”
