Questlove, formerly known as Ahmir Khalib Thompson, is bringing the story of one of music’s most influential groups to HBO.
An Earth, Wind & Fire documentary is slated to air on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned premium network in 2026, per Deadline.
Thompson first teased the project over a year after announcing the still-untitled project, which he called “the definitive story of the elements”
“Coming in 2025…..the definitive story of the elements….. The story of how a band led by a genius from Chicago changed our way of thinking, our minds and our hearts,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Having been baptized in the afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I’ve learned about them, I’ve learned about us & more importantly I’ve learned about and rediscovered myself in the process.”
The Earth, Wind & Fire doc will tell the story of the legendary musical group through exclusive archival footage, audio and written material. Like some of Questlove’s other documentary work, the project will follow both the past and the present, speaking to both the group’s history and legacy.
The new film marks Thompson’s fourth documentary as a director. He saw success with SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a documentary that examines Sly Stone’s enormous impact on music. He also won the statue for Best Documentary Feature in 2022 for “Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” after a Sundance 2021 premiere.
Thompson said in a press release, “I’m honored to tell the story of Earth, Wind & Fire and the deep meaning behind their message and music. To grow up listening to the music is one thing but to be handed the keys to the kingdom of preserving history is another. I can’t imagine a better platform on which to share this documentary with U.S. audiences than HBO.”
Thompson recently received the 2025 Peabody Trailblazer Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Oct. 10.