Devo are getting a full-length documentary film. Simply titled Devo, the movie will be directed by Chris Smith (American Movie, Fyre, Tiger King), and BMG, Fremantle Documentaries, and Warner Music Entertainment are onboard as executive producers. It marks the first-ever fully authorized film about the new wave group.
Using a mixture of interviews and archival footage, Devo will explore the group’s formation in the wake of the Kent State massacre, Devo’s years as outsiders in the music scene, their breakout moment with “Whip It,” and the faithful fandom they’ve maintained. The film is currently in production.
In a statement, Smith explained why he was compelled to direct the documentary, saying, “Devo was a huge influence on me. Their approach to music, film, video, and art was something I had never seen before and was one of the truly formative artistic influences that showed me there were entirely new ways to look at things.”
In both 2022 and 2021, Devo were nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their storied history was chronicled in a set of books, titled The Brand and Unmasked, back in 2018, too.