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Paramount+ on Tuesday announced Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now, a new documentary that will peer behind the Black Sabbath frontman’s public persona to reveal the devastating setbacks he has faced in recent years amid a number of health issues.
Currently in production, the project is slated to premiere on Paramount+ later this year. It’s said to spotlight Ozzy Osbourne like you’ve never seen before, detailing how the singer’s world shuddered to a halt six years ago, forcing him to contemplate who he really is, confront his own mortality and question whether or not he can ever perform on stage for one last time. Addressing his health issues and impact of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, the film showcases the central role music continues to play in Ozzy’s life, also proving his mischievous sense of humor remains resolutely intact, despite it all.
Directed by BAFTA winner Tania Alexander, the doc began filming in early 2022, during the recording sessions for Osbourne’s 13th studio album, the two-time Grammy-winning Patient Number 9. Production will continue through the summer, as Ozzy attempts to take the stage for one final performance with his Black Sabbath bandmates as part of a sold-out, all-star celebration at Villa Park in his hometown of Birmingham on July 5.
Said Osbourne, “The last six years have been full of some of the worst times I’ve been through. There’s been times when I thought my number was up. But making music and making two albums saved me. I’d have gone nuts without music. My fans have supported me for so many years, and I really want to thank them and say a proper goodbye to them. That is what the Villa Park show is about.”
Featuring full access to Ozzy, wife Sharon Osbourne and their children, the doc will also include Osbourne’s Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi, as well as Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Billy Idol, Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), guitarist Zakk Wylde, producer Andrew Watt and his musician friend Billy Morrison.
Nicknamed the Prince of Darkness, Osbourne is best known as the lead vocalist of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, which helped define the genre in the 1970s with albums like Paranoid and Master of Reality. After leaving the band in 1979, he launched a successful solo career, producing iconic albums such as Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, featuring hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” Beyond music, he gained mainstream fame through the reality TV show The Osbournes, which showcased his eccentric family life and introduced him to a new generation of fans.
In 2019, Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition that has impacted his mobility and overall well-being. Additionally, he has suffered from spinal issues stemming from a fall that aggravated old injuries from a 2003 ATV accident, leading to multiple surgeries. While Osbourne has made an effort to continue his work in music and his public appearances amid his personal challenges, he’s had to cancel several tours due to health concerns.
In his own statement on the doc, Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount, said: “Ozzy is forever woven into Paramount’s brand DNA, especially his history with MTV – Headbanger’s Ball in the ’80s, Battle for Ozzfest and of course The Osbournes. Given our storied past with Ozzy, Sharon and the whole family, we were determined to land this project and look forward to sharing it with his legions of fans and global audiences on Paramount+ later this year.”
Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now is produced by UK production house Echo Velvet (It’s Showtime, Kids Like Us), in partnership with the Osbournes & MTV Entertainment Studios. The documentary is executive produced by Gillmer and Amanda Culkowski (MTV Entertainment Studios), Phil Alexander (Echo Velvet) and Sharon Osbourne (Sharon Osbourne Management).
