Image: from NEWHD Radio X @newhdradio
By Open Chronicle Staff
LONDON — Before he was a global icon of pop resilience, George Michael was a 24-year-old force of nature rewriting the rules of the music industry. Now, a definitive era of that journey is being unearthed. Mercury Studios has announced George Michael: The Faith Tour, a major cinematic event featuring “once-lost” footage from the singer’s legendary 1988 Paris residency.
The film, directed by Andy Morahan and David Austin, centers on the high-octane performances at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy on May 30–31, 1988. Captured by 14 cameras, the footage showcases Michael at the absolute zenith of his Faith superstardom, a period where he became the only British male solo artist to secure four No. 1 hits from a single album on the Billboard Hot 100.
Beyond the “Pop” Label
The theatrical release is set to be a deep dive into Michael’s artistic transition from the bubblegum charm of Wham! to the gritty, “earthier” soul of his solo debut. In a 1987 interview with SPIN resurfaced for the announcement, Michael reflected on the album’s black-music influences and its departure from contemporary trends.
“The stuff I’m most proud of are the ones based around my song-making as opposed to my record-making,” Michael stated. “I feel this is not a pop album. It has a far more earthier feel to it… simpler and more aggressive than anything I’ve done before.”
The film will also include an original short by Mary McCartney, narration by Michael himself, and previously unseen photography by the legendary Herb Ritts. Fans can also expect a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the “Faith” music video, providing context to the man behind the leather jacket and Ray-Bans.
We’re excited to announce that ‘George Michael: The Faith Tour’ is coming to the big screen later this year! 👀 Shot in Paris in 1988, the never-before-seen, long lost film has been restored & remastered. It will be introduced by an original short film from Mary McCartney. pic.twitter.com/SKWIurRR0O
— George Michael Official (@GeorgeMOfficial) March 10, 2026
The Full Setlist: 18 Tracks of History
The cinematic experience will be bolstered by the release of The Faith Tour live album. While a truncated 11-song version existed previously, this new 18-track edition will feature a comprehensive setlist including both solo hits like “Father Figure” and “One More Try,” alongside reimagined Wham! classics.
The announcement comes three years after Michael’s posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, reaffirming his status as a songwriter whose work, as he hoped, “transcends a contemporary sound.”
Born Georgios Panayiotou, the son of a Greek-Cypriot restaurateur, Michael’s meteoric rise was often shadowed by his personal struggles with fame and identity. This film aims to strip back those layers, returning the focus to the raw talent that defined 1988.