Kanye West Is Releasing an IMAX Documentary Filmed in James Turrell’s Roden Crater

Kanye West’s futuristic dome homes for L.A.’s low-income and homeless population might have been demolished, but he’s on to the next project with an IMAX movie filmed inside James Turrell’s Roden Crater—which, some say, inspired the structures in Calabasas (in addition to Star Wars). 

Named after his forthcoming ninth studio album, Jesus Is King—which just passed its presumed drop date last Friday—the documentary will be screened in IMAX theaters around the country beginning October 25. Footage of West performing in the Roden Crater will allow viewers a rare glimpse into Turrell’s masterpiece, as it’s currently only been seen by a select handful of people.

Nestled in Arizona’s Painted Desert, the ongoing installation sits within a hollowed-out volcano, and is the light and space artist’s most well-known work. Last year, when West saw Roden Crater for the first time, he not only described it as "life changing," but also donated $10 million to the project. 

West’s interaction with the crater led to his weekly "Sunday Services," an invite-only spiritual gathering that typically requires guests to sign non-disclosure agreements prior to attending. The series hosted at the crater had a rotating choir of gospel singers adorned in Yeezy outfits performing a set list of classics and covers. This, too, will appear in the documentary. 

"Filmed in the summer of 2019, Jesus Is King brings Kanye West’s famed Sunday Service to life in the Roden Crater, visionary artist James Turrell’s never-before-seen installation in Arizona’s Painted Desert," states an IMAX press release. "This one-of-a-kind experience features songs arranged by West in the gospel tradition along with music from his new album Jesus Is King—all presented in the immersive sound and stunning clarity of IMAX." 

Turrel purchased Roden Crater in 1979 upon spotting the dormant volcano from an airplane. It has been under construction for approximately 45 years, during which the artist has developed the crater into a massive, multifaceted labyrinth of tunnels and chambers arranged in astrological alignments in a sculptural observatory of the sky. 

The project has evolved into an interdisciplinary group effort supported by Arizona State University with help from Michael Govan, director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and president of Turrell’s Skystone Foundation in an ambitious effort to raise $200 million to open the installation to the public in a projected five years. So far, they’ve raised $40 million. Upon completion, the expansive underground site will hold six tunnels and 21 viewing spaces for visitors to take in the sky at all hours.

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