‘The Velvet Underground’ documentary coming to Apple TV+

Apple has landed the rights to “The Velvet Underground,” a new feature documentary from Academy Award-nominated director Todd Haynes (“Carol,” “Far From Heaven,” “I’m Not There”) and Polygram Entertainment, produced by Motto Pictures and Killer Films in association with Federal Films.

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964 by singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise. The band’s integration of rock and the avant-garde achieved little commercial success during its existence, but it is now recognized as one of the most influential bands in rock, underground, experimental, and alternative music.

“The Velvet Underground” shows just how the group became a cultural touchstone representing a range of contradictions. The Apple Original film features in-depth interviews with the key players of that time combined with never-before-seen performances and a collection of recordings, Warhol films, and other experimental art that creates an immersive experience into what founding member John Cale describes as the band’s creative ethos: “how to be elegant and how to be brutal.”

“The Velvet Underground” is produced by Polygram Entertainment in association with Federal Films, a Motto Pictures and Killer Films production. Haynes directs and serves as producer. The film is produced by Christine Vachon, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, Carolyn Hepburn and David Blackman.

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung, LG, Sony, and VIZIO smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, and at tv.apple.com, for US$4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.

(Dennis Sellers has been covering the Apple industry since 1996. In addition to“Apple World Today,” he also runs his own freelance writing/editing service. If you want more info about the latter, email him at dennis.sellers@comcast.net.)