"George Michael: The Faith Tour," a restored and remastered feature based on a long-lost film, is being lined up for a worldwide big-screen release this year.
George Michael Entertainment and Universal Music Group-owned Mercury Studios are behind the new and never-before-seen project, which will be accompanied by the release of an 18-track album of previously unheard performances by the pop icon.
Directed by longtime collaborators Andy Morahan and David Austin, the new film comprises footage shot at the famous Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy during the European leg of the Faith Tour in 1988.
It is made up of footage assembled from a 14-camera shoot captured on 35mm over two nights, featuring the then-24-year-old pop star at the height of his powers.
The movie’s distributor and release dates are being kept under wraps for now, but when it plays in theaters the plan is for it to open with an original short film by photographer Mary McCartney — daughter of Paul McCartney — contextualizing the tour’s cultural significance.
The short includes voice-over from an unheard interview given by Michael alongside unseen images captured by American photographer Herb Ritts and behind the-scenes footage of the “Faith” music video.
The 18-track live album, called "The Faith Tour," heralds from George Michael Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment and will feature previously unreleased recordings from Michael’s Wham! and solo catalogs.
It comes a decade from the singer’s death.
Morahan is the prolific music video director who teamed with Michael on a host of songs, as well as artists including McCartney, Elton John, Bryan Adams, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Pet Shop Boys, Cyndi Lauper, Aretha Franklin and more.
Austin, Michael’s longtime collaborator and friend, has managed his estate since his passing and co-directed and co-produced 2017 documentary "George Michael: Freedom."
Written, arranged, produced, and performed almost entirely by Michael, the "Faith" album earned the Brit performer a Grammy for Album of the Year and a record-breaking run of four U.S. No. 1 singles with “Faith,” “Father Figure,” “One More Try” and “Monkey,” making Michael the only British male solo artist ever to achieve four U.S. No. 1 singles from a single album on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, topping charts in 10 countries.
The iconic singer rose to fame in the 1980s as a member of the duo Wham!, selling more than 30 million records.
He later embarked on a solo career and sold more than 125 million records worldwide and is one of the bestselling musicians of all time, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart eight times in the U.S. and hitting the No.1 spot on the UK singles chart seven times.
Michael was the most-played artist on British radio between 1984 and 2004 and released his final studio album in 2004, followed by a last live album in 2014.
The much loved singer and philanthropist died of heart disease in 2016 at 53.
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