**ANNOUNCEMENT: Netflix Confirms Full-Length Documentary on *The Joshua Tree* Set to Premiere in….
It’s official—Netflix is taking fans on a journey through one of the most iconic albums in music history. The streaming giant has confirmed the release of a full-length documentary centered around U2’s seminal 1987 album, *The Joshua Tree*. Scheduled to premiere globally in July 2025, the film promises to be a deep dive into the album that not only transformed the band but also helped define an era.
The documentary, currently titled *The Joshua Tree: Through the Desert*, will offer a comprehensive and intimate look into the making of the album, its cultural impact, and the lasting legacy it left behind. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, newly recorded interviews with the band members, commentary from music historians, and insights from notable artists across generations, this project aims to be the definitive chronicle of U2’s magnum opus.
### A Landmark in Music History
Released in March 1987, *The Joshua Tree* catapulted U2 from rising rock stars to global superstars. With timeless tracks like “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and “With or Without You,” the album resonated with millions and showcased the band’s ability to blend political awareness with deeply personal storytelling.
Critically acclaimed and commercially triumphant, *The Joshua Tree* won the Grammy for Album of the Year and has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. More than three decades later, its messages of faith, loss, and political struggle remain as relevant as ever—a fact that Netflix’s documentary seeks to explore in rich, cinematic detail.
### Behind the Documentary
The film is being directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joe Wright (*Atonement*, *Darkest Hour*) in collaboration with U2 and their longtime creative partner Anton Corbijn, whose stark, black-and-white photography helped define the visual identity of the original album.
According to Netflix, the project has been in the works for over two years. “This is not just a documentary about a band or an album,” said Wright in a statement. “It’s a story about art as protest, about finding beauty in desolation, and about the search for something greater than ourselves in a chaotic world.”
In addition to interviews with Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., the film will include rare behind-the-scenes footage from the album’s original recording sessions in Dublin, as well as from the band’s groundbreaking 1987 tour across America. Viewers can also expect to see contributions from artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Billie Eilish, and Kendrick Lamar, each of whom reflect on how *The Joshua Tree* influenced their own artistic journeys.
### A Modern Take on a Classic Journey
While *The Joshua Tree* is undoubtedly rooted in its time, the documentary aims to make clear just how enduring its themes are. From reflections on U.S. foreign policy in Latin America to the personal grief that fueled Bono’s lyrics, the album touches on issues that still resonate today.
“Thirty-eight years later, we are still asking the same questions,” Bono says in the documentary’s first teaser clip, released this morning by Netflix. “Where is home? Where is love? Where is justice?”
The film will also explore the band’s evolving relationship with America—a central theme in the album. What began as a love letter to the vast landscapes and mythology of the U.S. became something more complex as the band grappled with the country’s politics, contradictions, and cultural influence.
### Global Premiere and Exclusive Footage
*The Joshua Tree: Through the Desert* will premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival in June before its global release on Netflix in July. The streaming platform has also announced plans for a limited theatrical release in select cities, allowing die-hard fans to experience the documentary on the big screen.
To celebrate the release, Netflix will host a live Q&A event with the band, moderated by journalist Zane Lowe, which will be streamed globally on launch day. Fans can also look forward to exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interactive experiences, and a curated U2 playlist that will accompany the documentary on the Netflix platform.
### A Legacy Revisited
This documentary marks yet another milestone in U2’s enduring legacy. Over the past few years, the band has continued to reinvent themselves while honoring their roots—from their 2017 *Joshua Tree* anniversary tour to their recent residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. With this new film, they’re once again inviting fans old and new to reflect on an album that continues to shape the musical landscape.
For longtime followers of U2 and those discovering *The Joshua Tree* for the first time, this documentary is shaping up to be more than just a history lesson—it’s an emotional and artistic exploration of a record that helped define the sound of a generation.
Stay tuned for the official trailer release in May 2025 and mark your calendars—*The Joshua Tree: Through the Desert* hits Netflix in July.
