**Judas Priest Documentary, Co-Directed by Tom Morello, Coming from Sony Music Vision**
Sony Music Vision has officially announced the production of *The Ballad of Judas Priest*, a comprehensive documentary chronicling the legendary heavy metal band’s five-decade journey. Co-directed by acclaimed documentarian Sam Dunn (*Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey*) and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine—marking his directorial debut—the film promises an unfiltered look into Judas Priest’s enduring legacy .
Formed in the industrial heartland of Birmingham, England, Judas Priest rose from humble beginnings to become pioneers of the heavy metal genre. With over 50 million records sold and 19 studio albums released, their influence extends beyond music into fashion and culture, notably popularizing leather and studs as metal attire .
The documentary aims to delve deep into the band’s history, featuring iconic tracks like “Breaking the Law” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” while also exploring lesser-known aspects of their journey. Morello and Dunn intend to highlight how Judas Priest not only defined the sound and look of metal but also contributed to making the genre more inclusive .
In a statement, the band expressed their enthusiasm: “We have lived and breathed metal for over five decades, and finally in this documentary, we are summoning our congregation to officially witness our lives uncensored, in a never-before-seen way…the cassock comes off, revealing Priest in all its metal glory!”
*The Ballad of Judas Priest* is being produced by Banger Films, with executive producers including Morello, Rick Krim, Sheila Stepanek, and Jayne Andrews. Sony Music Vision will present and distribute the film, with additional executive production from Tom Mackay, Krista Wegener, and Abby Davis .
This announcement follows the band’s recent success with their 2024 album *Invincible Shield*, which earned Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance and marked the first time a heavy metal band released studio albums 50 years apart . Judas Priest is also set to embark on a co-headlining North American tour with Alice Cooper this fall, further solidifying their status as metal icons .
While a specific release date for the documentary has not been announced, anticipation is building among fans eager to witness this intimate portrayal of a band that has profoundly shaped the heavy metal landscape.
