The long-rumoured Aerosmith 50th-anniversary retrospective documentary has reportedly been cancelled — despite years of development and behind-the-scenes work.
Speculation about the project reignited earlier in 2025 when Argentinian artist @kakush_music shared a reel from April 2024 showing him busking in Central Park with Steven Tyler watching surrounded by a professional film crew. According to Kakush, Steven mentioned to nearby fans that they were filming a documentary, confirming what many in the Aerosmith community had long suspected.
Sources indicate that the production team had already spent two full years crafting the film — likely tracing the band’s story from their final Las Vegas residency leg in 2022, through the early shows of the Peace Out farewell tour, and even Steven’s vocal injury, recovery, and later collaborations with Yungblud. Yet, in early October 2025, Aerosmith’s management reportedly shut down the project.
The news has fuelled growing frustration among fans, many of whom have been eagerly waiting for new archival releases. Unlike peers such as Metallica, The Rolling Stones, or even The Beatles, who actively share vault content and retrospectives, Aerosmith’s vast archive remains largely unseen. It’s unclear whether creative disagreements, timing issues, or other factors led to the project’s demise.
While management transitions and shifting priorities are not uncommon for big acts like Aerosmith, the sudden cancellation feels like a missed opportunity to honour the band’s half-century of history.
Still, there’s reason for optimism. Aerosmith’s archives are enormous, spanning decades of unseen footage — from ’70s recordings, to the making-of Pump documentary material in the ’80s, the unreleased Get a Grip documentary from the ’90s, and rumors of abandoned 2003 documentary footage, and the complete Honkin’ on Bobo sessions in the early 2000s. Add to that everything director Casey Tebo has captured while following the band since at least 2006, producing several official films along the way, and there’s every chance that the cancelled 50th-anniversary retrospective could be reimagined or revived as part of a broader, definitive Aerosmith series. Once Steven’s legal proceedings conclude in May 2026 and the band potentially reunites for a few final performances later in the year, fans could finally see this long-awaited story brought to life.
🎸 An Exclusive Plea from the Aerosmith Back-Burner Community: We call on Aerosmith, their management, and Sony Music to revive and release this long-awaited documentary—the ultimate celebration of the band’s 50-year legacy.
If you’re part of the Aerosmith Nation, make your voice heard. Tag @Aerosmith, @IamStevenT, and @JoePerryOfficial on social media, and share this post using #ReleaseTheAerosmithDoc
Let’s remind the team behind the Bad Boys from Boston that the fans are still here, and we still care.
The Back-Burner: Aerosmith Outtakes & Demos 