The No-Holds-Barred Feature Documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, Is Coming To Sky Arts In March
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Carl Roberts 
The no-hold-barred feature documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, is coming to Sky and NOW in March. Watch the trailer for it here.
A deeply personal, uncompromising portrait of the legendary punk rock icon. Sky Arts will bring audiences a no-holds-barred exploration of the life of legendary British punk-turned-rock icon Billy Idol, from 26 March on Sky and the streaming service NOW.
Fresh from festival premieres at Tribeca and Sheffield DocFest, Billy Idol Should Be Dead is a deeply personal, unyielding look at one of Britain’s most successful and rebellious artists, recently named a nominee for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
BILLY IDOL
Commenting on the documentary, Billy Idol says:
“I’m thrilled the documentary about my life, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, will be available on Sky Arts. I hope everyone enjoys watching the film as much as I enjoyed living it all! Well, maybe don’t have quite as much fun, but you get the idea.”
Directed by Grammy Award-winner Jonas Åkerlund, the film blends never-before-seen archival material with revealing interviews from Idol. His family and bandmates. In addition, it features artists including Miley Cyrus, the Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones and Paul Cook, Nile Rodgers and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong.
THE PREMISE
Chronicling his anarchic beginnings in the London punk scene to superstardom in the MTV era, when “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell” ruled the music charts. The film reveals what Idol had to overcome. It shows what he faced to not just survive, but to remain a vital figure in rock ‘n’ roll almost fifty years into his career. With intimate access to Idol’s family and inner circle, including his late mother Joan, longtime girlfriend Perri Lister and all three of his children, the film shares another story. Remarkably, it reveals how a DNA test led Idol to discover his long-lost son, Brant.
Exploring Idol’s cultural impact and near-fatal exploits alike with unflinching candour, Swedish filmmaker Jonas Åkerlund – world-famous for his music videos for major artists from Madonna and Taylor Swift to The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney – paints a portrait of determination, self-destruction, and redemption. In fact, it is a must-see celebration of resilience and rock ‘n’ roll.
The film will make its London theatrical debut at a ticketed fan event organised by Live Nation Studios and Fremantle on 3 March 2026 at London’s Picturehouse Central. The conversation will feature Billy Idol, Tony James from Generation X, and John Taylor of Duran Duran.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Billy Idol Should Be Dead is produced by Live Nation Studios. Executive producers are Michael Rapino and J. Ralph. Producers include Violaine Etienne, Jonas Åkerlund, Orian Williams, Mark Monroe, Ryan Kroft, Jessica James Batista, Laurence Freedman and China Chow.
Fremantle holds international distribution rights, excluding the US. The deal for Sky and NOW with Fremantle was negotiated by Facundo Bailez, Head of Acquisitions. And Amy Swinglehurst, Senior Acquisitions Executive, at Sky.
Billy Idol Should Be Dead will air on Sky and streaming service NOW from 26 March.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
