May 17, 2025 — Music and film lovers around the globe were sent into a frenzy today with the unexpected announcement that iconic electronic band Depeche Mode is teaming up with Netflix for a new film project set to release between late 2025 and early 2026. Touted as a deeply personal and artistically ambitious endeavor, this upcoming documentary-drama hybrid promises to offer an unprecedented look into the band’s legendary career, their evolving legacy, and the personal journeys of its remaining members.
A Groundbreaking Collaboration
In a surprise livestream broadcast from Berlin, Depeche Mode’s frontman Dave Gahan and keyboardist Martin Gore confirmed their partnership with Netflix, describing the upcoming project as “a love letter to the music, the fans, and the ghosts we’ve carried along the way.”
Titled “Ghosts Again: The Depeche Mode Chronicles”, the film is a reference to their 2023 song “Ghosts Again,” which resonated with fans as a reflection on mortality, memory, and resilience in the wake of longtime bandmate Andy Fletcher’s passing in 2022. According to Netflix’s initial press release, the film will blend archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and newly shot documentary material to paint a rich, layered portrait of the band’s nearly 45-year evolution.
Directed by a Visionary Filmmaker
Adding fuel to the anticipation, Netflix confirmed that Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes (American Beauty, 1917) is attached as director. Mendes, known for his emotionally resonant storytelling and visual artistry, reportedly spent over a year in pre-production with Gahan and Gore, shaping the film’s unique narrative structure.
According to Mendes:
“This is not a typical music documentary. It’s an introspective odyssey — a journey through time, grief, rebellion, and sonic revolution. Depeche Mode didn’t just shape modern music — they shaped modern emotion.”
The film will span the group’s formation in 1980 in Basildon, England, their rise through the synth-pop explosion of the 1980s, the gritty experimentation of the 1990s, their battles with addiction and loss, and their triumphant return to form in the 2020s.
Never-Before-Seen Footage and Exclusive Access
What sets Ghosts Again apart from previous documentaries like 101 or Spirits in the Forest is its scope and access. Netflix has reportedly been granted access to thousands of hours of unseen tour footage, private home videos, handwritten lyrics, studio sessions, and candid audio diaries recorded by the band members over the decades.
According to insiders, the film will also feature personal interviews with artists influenced by Depeche Mode, including Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Shirley Manson (Garbage), and even younger pop icons like The Weeknd and Billie Eilish, all of whom cite the band as a seminal influence.
Themes: Loss, Legacy, and Reinvention
A central narrative thread of the film is expected to be the emotional toll and transformation following the death of Andy Fletcher, the band’s founding member and quiet stabilizer. His absence reportedly cast a long shadow over the creation of their 2023 album Memento Mori, and this film will explore how Fletcher’s legacy continues to shape their music and bond.
Dave Gahan, who has faced his own personal battles with substance abuse and near-death experiences, described the process of making the film as “therapeutic and brutally honest.”
“We never thought we’d still be doing this into our 60s, and we never imagined what we’d lose along the way. This film is a goodbye to some things and a hello to others,” Gahan shared during the Berlin announcement.
Netflix’s 2025–2026 Flagship Music Film
Netflix is clearly positioning Ghosts Again as one of its marquee cultural events for the 2025–2026 season. The platform has seen massive success with music documentaries in recent years — such as Miss Americana (Taylor Swift), Homecoming (Beyoncé), and The Beatles: Get Back (licensed in partnership) — and the addition of Depeche Mode to that lineup signals both artistic ambition and a nod to generational music heritage.
The film will reportedly be split into two parts:
- Part I: Faith & Fire (Winter 2025) – focusing on the band’s early years, rise to stardom, and emotional highs and lows during the 1980s and 1990s.
- Part II: Ghosts Again (Spring 2026) – exploring the band’s modern legacy, their influence on contemporary artists, and their reflections on time, mortality, and music.
A limited theatrical release for select IMAX theaters is also being discussed, accompanied by a deluxe vinyl soundtrack featuring remastered classics and several unreleased tracks.
Fan Reaction and Early Buzz
Since the announcement, #GhostsAgainFilm has trended worldwide on social media. Fan reactions have ranged from nostalgic to tearfully emotional. For many, Depeche Mode has been a lifelong soundtrack — a band that provided solace, energy, and reflection in equal measure.
Music critic Helen Porter of Pitchfork said,
“This film has the potential to be one of the most emotionally resonant explorations of musical legacy ever made — especially because it’s not just about fame, but about memory, grief, and resilience.”
What’s Next?
While no specific release date has been set, Netflix confirmed that Part I of Ghosts Again will debut globally in late November 2025, likely coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the band’s first single, Dreaming of Me. A teaser trailer is expected this summer, with a companion book and soundtrack album to follow.
As the curtain slowly rises on this unexpected but deeply anticipated cinematic tribute, one thing is clear: Depeche Mode remains not only a band that shaped generations — they are a band still daring to evolve, explore, and echo through the corridors of time.
Stay tuned for more updates, including the official trailer, soundtrack previews, and exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews.
