Apple Original Films is producing Bono: Stories of Surrender, a documentary based on Bono’s one-man show, an adaptation of his memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, the company announced in a news release.
The U2 frontman’s memoir, published in 2022 by Knopf, tells the story of his life and career through 40 of the band’s songs. A critic for Kirkus called the book “chatty and self-regarding but pleasantly free of outright narcissism. A no-brainer for U2’s legions of fans.” Bono won the Audie Award for audiobook of the year for his narration of the memoir.
Bono toured behind the book with a one-man show with appearances in New York, Boston, London, Dublin, and other cities. The documentary, Apple says, is “a vivid reimagining” of those stage performances.
“As he pulls back the curtain on a remarkable life and the family, friends and faith that have challenged and sustained him, he also reveals personal stories about his journey as a son, father, husband, activist and rock star,” Apple says. “Along with never-before-seen, exclusive footage from the Beacon Theatre shows [in New York], the film features Bono performing many of the iconic U2 songs that have shaped his life and legacy.”
Bono: Stories of Surrender, directed by Andrew Dominik and featuring Bono as an executive producer, is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on May 30.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
