Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert film will start streaming next month on Disney+ with the addition of five songs that were not shown in theaters. The move comes a day after Swift won two Grammy awards at Sunday Show and announced that her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, will drop in April. The company CEO, Bob Iger, confirmed the news during Wednesday’s investor call, saying that the movie will debut exclusively on Disney+ on March 15 and feature five additional acoustic performances of the tour’s hit song “Cardigan.” Disney did not disclose the deal’s financial details, which will give it exclusive streaming rights to the concert.
The Eras Tour film, directed by Emmy-winning director Sam Wrench, bypassed major studios and bucked industry convention by selling tickets directly to AMC theaters, quickly amassing $262 million at the box office and becoming the top-grossing live music documentary of all time. The new version of the film, to be called Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor Version), will add an acoustic performance of Cardigan and four other songs cut from the theatrical release.
While Swift’s fans may have been thrilled by adding four more songs, some were disappointed that the film would no longer feature her dazzling choreography and elaborate costume changes. However, Iger said the new version would be “the same electrifying concert experience you loved in theaters.”
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As part of the deal, Disney will also stream Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, a documentary that Swift filmed and produced, featuring intimate renditions of the tracks on her 2020 album. The deal is the latest in a string of collaborations between the star and the Burbank entertainment giant, which include a series of low-fi movies directed by Swift that will premiere this year on Disney+ and a feature-length project she’s working on with Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures.
Disney shares rose after Iger’s announcement, with the stock up more than 2 percent on Thursday. The company has been boosted by strong subscriber growth for its digital streaming service, a partnership with Fortnite maker Epic Games, and a sports app venture with Fox and Warner Bros Discovery. Disney shares have gained over 13 percent this year and are trading at an all-time high.
The Eras Tour premieres just a month before Swift’s new album is expected to drop, following the record-setting success of her last record, Midnights. The record won Album of the Year at the Grammys, making it her fourth win in that category and tying her with Elvis Presley for the most wins by any artist. The album is set to be released on April 19.