This autumn, the documentary “Luther: Never Too Much,” which honors the legendary R&B star Luther Vandross, will make its theatrical debut. Giant Pictures has been appointed as the film’s theatrical distributor. The documentary, which premiered at Sundance and was featured in Tribeca, Hot Docs, and Nantucket Film Festivals, will be available on CNN, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, and Max in 2025.
This release comes nearly twenty years after Vandross passed away in 2005 at age 54, following a stroke in 2003. Dawn Porter, the filmmaker behind the project, expressed her excitement, saying, “Creating this film was an incredible experience.
Luther’s prowess as a performer, composer, and producer was unmatched, and exploring his diverse impact across musical genres was a real pleasure. It’s been heartwarming to see long-time admirers reconnect with his work and new fans discover his extraordinary talent.”
Vandross began his career providing backup vocals for prominent artists like Roberta Flack and David Bowie. His debut album “Never Too Much” achieved double platinum status in 1981, and he has sold around 40 million albums worldwide.
Known for his chart-topping hits like “Here and Now” and “Endless Love,” he also dominated the R&B charts with 27 Top 10 hits, including seven No.1 singles. The documentary explores his remarkable career and personal challenges, featuring reflections from his past collaborators such as Marcus Miller, Mariah Carey, and Jamie Foxx, who co-produced the film.
Nick Savva from Giant Pictures praised the film’s impressive reception at festivals and its potential to engage both dedicated fans and newcomers. Directed and executive produced by Dawn Porter, the documentary benefits from contributions by a diverse group of producers and executive producers, including Trish D Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, and others from Sony Music and The Luther Vandross Estate. Sony Music Vision is handling the distribution, with CNN Films and OWN securing U.S. and Canadian television and streaming rights.