A feature-length documentary chronicling heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne‘s six-year struggle to recuperate from a devastating 2019 fall, Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now, will debut on Paramount+ later this year. The movie, currently in production, is described as an intimate look into the 76-year-old rock legend’s personal life since the injury that has colored much of his life in the years since.
“This is Ozzy Osbourne like you’ve never seen before: an honest, warm and deeply personal portrait of one of the greatest rock stars of all-time, detailing how the singer’s world shuddered to a halt six years ago, forcing him to contemplate who he really is, confront his own mortality and question whether or not he can ever perform on stage for one last time,” reads a release announcing the project that is being directed by BAFTA-winner Tania Alexander (Celebrity Googlebox). “Addressing his health issues and impact of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, the film showcases the central role music continues to play in Ozzy’s life – also proving his mischievous sense of humor remains resolutely intact despite it all.”
In a statement, Osbourne added, “The last six years have been full of some of the worst times I’ve been through. There’s been times when I thought my number was up. But making music and making two albums saved me. I’d have gone nuts without music.”
Osbourne released the albums Ordinary Man (2020) and Patient Number 9 (2022) before announcing in 2023 that he had been forced to permanently cancel the European leg of his No More Tours II outing and retire from touring after a cascading series of health problems following a 2019 fall at home in which he damaged his spine. That incident was followed by diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease — which has rendered him unable to talk — and emphysema.
According to the release, Alexander began filming the doc in 2022, during recording sessions for the double-Grammy-winning Patient Number 9 album, and the cameras will continue to roll into this summer as Osbourne prepares to take the stage for what he says will be his final performance with Black Sabbath on July 5.
“My fans have supported me for so many years, and I really want to thank them and say a proper goodbye to them. That is what the Villa Park show is about,” Osbourne said of the sold-out, all-star gig in his hometown of Birmingham that will feature support from Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Rival Sons, Pantera, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Gojira and a supergroup featuring Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, David Ellefson, Fred Durst, Jonathan Davis, Wolfgang Van Halen and more; actor Jason Momoa will host the event.
Ozzy recently revealed that due to his physical limitations and an inability to walk anymore he will not play a full Black Sabbath set at the final show. Profits from the mega-gig will go towards organizations including Cure Parkinson’s, a U.K. charity working to end the disease.
The documentary will feature Ozzy and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne and the couple’s children, as well as many of the singer’s musical compatriots, friends and bandmates, including: Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Billy Idol, Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), guitarist Zakk Wylde, producer Andrew Watt and friend/musician Billy Morrison.
“This film is an honest account of what has happened to Ozzy during the last few years. It shows how hard things have been for him and the courage he has shown while dealing with a number of serious health issues, including Parkinson’s,” said Sharon Osbourne in a statement. “It’s about the reality of his life now. We have worked with a production team we trust and have allowed them the freedom to tell the story openly. We hope that story will inspire people that are facing similar issues to Ozzy.”