If your tea has grown lukewarm, and curiosity piques about when Eminem's compelling documentary, "Stans," will hit streaming platforms, you've arrived at the perfect destination. After a brief cinematic stint from August 7th to 10th at AMC Theatres, Steven Leckart's directorial venture, produced by none other than Marshall Mathers himself, is set to make its digital debut on Paramount+ in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Brazil on Tuesday, August 26th. For viewers in the UK, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, patience will be rewarded a day later. And for those in Japan, the wait extends until October 3rd—but hey, it could always be lengthier.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Eminem's megahit "Stan," a tune that cemented his legacy when he was just 28, alongside the release of his album, "The Marshall Mathers LP." The song, narrating the tale of an obsessive (and utterly deranged) fan, has etched itself into pop culture history so profoundly that it led to the inclusion of the term "stan" in the prestigious Oxford English Dictionary in 2017. Yes, you heard it right—the Oxford English Dictionary, not its informal counterpart, the Urban Dictionary.
"Stans" delves into the lives of genuine Eminem superfans, leaving it up to you to decide whether they're eccentric geniuses or plain nuts. This feature-length documentary explores the intricate dynamics between one of the world's most reclusive artists and his colossal public identity. Through stylized reenactments, invaluable archival material, and deeply personal interviews, it takes viewers on a raw, loud, and enlightening journey through Eminem's career and the fervent fandom that has evolved alongside him.
"Stan" stands as one of the most unconventional songs ever penned, with the narrative primarily unfolding from a fan's perspective," said Leckart in a statement. "Thus, this film presented an extraordinary chance to embark on a unique narrative path. We continually reverted to a poignant lyric from the song: 'I'm just like you.' Fans who resonate with this sentiment form the backbone of the film. However, much like the song, Marshall's perspective was indispensable to the movie's tapestry. I'm deeply grateful for his candor, sincerity, and often hilarious contributions."
Produced by Shady Films, "Stans" premiered at the inaugural SXSW London earlier this year. Alongside Slim Shady, his manager Paul Rosenberg served as executive producer, joined by Stuart Parr, Antoine Fuqua, Tony DiSanto, David Schiff, Bruce Gillmer, Amanda Culkowski, and Michael Maniaci. DIGA Studios, Fuqua Films, Interscope Films, and MTV Entertainment Studios collaborated with Eminem's own banner to bring this project to life.
Yours sincerely,
Tony
PS: We, too, should share this moment together.
