Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris wants fans to know exactly what to expect from the upcoming feature film “Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition.” Speaking with radio host Eddie Trunk during an April 13 appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk“, he clarified that while the documentary focuses on the legendary heavy metal group, they did not actually produce or control the project.
Slated for a limited theatrical release starting May 7, 2026, the film utilizes the band’s official artwork and features their direct participation. However, Steve Harris pointed out that the marketing might give fans the wrong impression regarding who is steering the narrative.
“Well, in actual fact, it wasn’t us. It’s about us, but not by us. That’s the difference. So it’s a documentary, which they came to us with an idea that they wanted to do, and it changed a little bit from the original idea. They were gonna do it more about the fans, and it still is, to a certain degree. So, yeah, it’s not by us. They wanted to use our artwork and everything, and it seems like as if it’s our documentary. It’s not. I think they really should have put out that it’s a documentary Iron Maiden, not by Iron Maiden, because it’s not us. We didn’t have that control that we would normally have if we were doing it ourselves, of course,” he explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Despite the lack of creative control, the band fully cooperated with the filmmakers.
“Yeah, we cooperated with it and we did interviews for it and all that stuff — we did what they wanted us to do — but if we’d have done it, I think we’d have done it in a slightly different way, and I’ll say no more. But I still think the end result is… Well, I’ll say no more because it preempts whatever. I think people should just go and see it and see what they think,” he added.
When asked by Eddie Trunk if the film serves as a comprehensive overview of the band’s 50-year career, the bassist confirmed its focus on their origins.
“Yeah, it’s historical stuff. There’s a lot of historical stuff for the first hour, probably, I suppose. So, yeah, I think people have gotta watch it and make their own minds up, really,” he concluded.
“Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition” was directed by Malcolm Venville and produced by Dominic Freeman. The documentary features on-camera interviews with several high-profile admirers discussing the band’s global cultural impact, including actor Javier Bardem, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D. The official key art for the movie was designed by Albert “Akirant” Quirantes.
The film arrives during a monumental period for Iron Maiden. Formed in East London in 1975, the group is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary with the massive two-year “Run For Your Lives” world tour. The global trek will hit over 50 cities in 2026 alone, featuring a massive July 11 hometown celebration dubbed EddFest at England’s historic Knebworth Park.
Over their five-decade career, Iron Maiden has sold over 100 million records across 17 studio albums. The band has played nearly 2,500 concerts in 64 countries, famously touring the globe aboard Ed Force One, a Boeing 757 and later a 747 piloted by frontman Bruce Dickinson. The group recently released their first-ever official hardcover visual history book, “Infinite Dreams,” and continues to expand their massive Trooper Beer brand, which has sold over 40 million pints worldwide.
Iron Maiden have finally been confirmed as inductees into the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band will be honored alongside an eclectic group of artists in the Performer category, including Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Joy Division / New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
