Netflix to debut new WHAM! documentary

Film features unprecedented access to both George and Andrew's personal archive, including remarkable and never-before-seen footage

Set to debut on July 5, Netflix is introducing "WHAM!", a music documentary directed by Chris Smith. It's described as "an intimate celebration of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's enduring friendship, from childhood and through their years together as one of the UK's biggest bands."

George Michael, through archival footage included in the documentary, discusses his struggle with his identity. "As a young gay man, I was uncomfortable because I was closeted. I was forging an identity through my success, and by necessity, I went with full gusto into the full progression of WHAM!," he shares.

Before their success as Wham!, George and Andrew initially formed a ska band called The Executive. They then released their first single, "Wham Rap!" in June 1982 under the name Wham! Their ascent to stardom was swift but short-lived, with their final performance held at Wembley Stadium in 1986.

According to a press release from Netflix, the documentary allows audiences to hear, for the first time ever, in their own words, the band's incredible story of how they dominated global music charts with their timeless and classic pop songs in just four years.

"With unprecedented access to both George and Andrew's personal archive, including remarkable and never-before-seen footage, alongside rare, candid, and previously unheard interviews, *WHAM!* charts their incredible journey from school friends to superstars. The result is a nuanced portrait of an enduring friendship and a joyous musical travelogue."

I'm looking forward to seeing a film that delves deeper into the friendship between George and Andrew. Stories about Wham! often rapidly transition into George's solo career, but there's an unexplored spark between the two that fueled their timeless hits, and it's a chemistry that's yet to be fully unraveled.