There’s a new David Bowie documentary in the works by Emmy-winning director Brett Morgen. Brett is known for his Kurt Cobain documentary ‘Montage of Heck’. The Bowie documentary has already received blessing from his family.

The documentary will feature rare and unseen footage of David Bowie. Morgen has drawn thousands of hours of footage and will also write, edit and produce the documentary. A title has not yet been given yet.

Other works of Morgen include The Kid Stays in the Picture about legendary Paramount producer Robert Evans. Based on his famous 1994 autobiography. And Jane the story of Jane Goodall, a woman whose chimpanzee research revolutionised our understanding of the natural world.

Morgen has spent the last four years combing through thousands of hours of rare concert footage for the project. Described as “neither documentary nor biography, but an immersive cinematic experience,” the film has the approval of Bowie’s widow, Iman. She previously remained against a traditional biopic. “It’s just so private,” she told to Variety  “Also, it’s a family decision. It’s always a no. We always ask each other, ‘Would he do it?’ He wouldn’t. We want to honor his decision.”

David Bowie Merchandise

In other David Bowie news the 2001 lost album Toy received an official release. The album contains new songs and new versions of less-known David Bowie songs from 1964-1971. The album’s co-producer Mark Plati said “A moment in time captured in an amber of joy, fire and energy. It’s the sound of people happy to be playing music. David revisited and re-examined his work from decades prior through prisms of experience and fresh perspective. A parallel not lost on me as I now revisit it 20 years later. From time to time, he used to say, ‘Mark, this is our album’. I think because he knew I was so deeply in the trenches with him on that journey. I’m happy to finally be able to say it now belongs to all of us.”

Toy was recorded following David’s triumphant Glastonbury 2000 performance. Bowie entered the studio with his band, Mark Plati, Sterling Campbell, Gail Ann Dorsey, Earl Slick, Mike Garson, Holly Palmer and Emm Gryner. They went in to record new interpretations of songs he’d first recorded from 1964-1971. David planned to record the album ‘old school’ with the band playing live. Choose the best takes and then release it as soon as humanly possible in a remarkably prescient manner. Unfortunately, in 2001 the concept of the ‘surprise drop’ album release and the technology to support it were still quite a few years off.

Making it impossible to release TOY, as the album was now named, out to fans as instantly as David wanted. In the interim, David did what he did best. He moved on to something new, which began with a handful of new songs from the same sessions and ultimately became the album HEATHEN, released in 2002 and now acknowledged as one of his finest moments.