The documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead is set to premiere on Sky Arts and the NOW streaming platform on 26 March 2026.
Produced by Live Nation Studios, with executive producers Michael Rapino and J. Ralph, the film also credits Violaine Etienne, Jonas Åkerlund, Orian Williams, Mark Monroe, Ryan Kroft, Jessica James Batista, Laurence Freedman, and China Chow in production roles. Grammy-winning director Jonas Åkerlund helms the project, delivering an intimate and unflinching portrait of the British punk-rock icon.
Through never-before-seen archival footage and revealing interviews with Billy Idol, his family, bandmates, and artists including Miley Cyrus, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Nile Rodgers, and Billie Joe Armstrong, the documentary traces his journey from the anarchic London punk scene to superstardom in the MTV era. It explores his personal life, his family, and the discovery of his long-lost son through a DNA test, while highlighting his cultural impact and near-fatal experiences.
After festival screenings at Tribeca and Sheffield DocFest, the documentary will make its London theatrical debut at a ticketed fan event on 3 March at Picturehouse Central, followed by a conversation with Idol, Tony James of Generation X, and John Taylor of Duran Duran. The film candidly examines themes of determination, self-destruction, and redemption, capturing how Billy Idol has remained a vital force in rock music nearly fifty years into his career.
