Last week, just after the Christmas holiday, fans around the world lost two iconic performers, whenCarrie Fisherpassed away at the age of 60, and just one day later, her motherDebbie Reynoldsdied at the age of 84. Long before they both left this world, HBO had filmed a documentary about their relationship titledBright Lights. HBO has released the first trailer for this new film, which will be available much sooner than planned.
HBOhad originally set this documentary for a March release, but shortly after both mother and daughter passed away, the network announced that this film will debut instead on Saturday, January 7 at 8:00 PM.Carrie Fishersuffered a heart attack on an international flight from London to Los Angeles. She then passed away on December 27. Soon after,Debbie Reynoldssuffered a stroke and died exactly a day later on December 28. Her son, andCarrie’s brother,Todd Fisher, explained that his mother had been complaining about breathing problems, and later stated that she, “just wanted to be withCarrie.”
The newHBO documentarytells the story of a family’s complicated love, an intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty in all its eccentricity. Carrie Fisher and her mother,Debbie Reynolds, live in the same Beverly Hills compound. The 83-year-old grand dame still has a Las Vegas act, but performing is taking its toll.Carrie’s response is both hilarious and heart-rending. Featuring vintage family films that bring iconic old-world Hollywood to life, as well as extensive vérité footage, the film is directed byAlexis BloomandFisher Stevens.Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynoldshas already received audience and critical acclaim at many prestigious film festivals, including the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival and the New York Film Festival.
On New Year’s Day, HBO aired anencore presentationofWishful Drinking,Carrie Fisher’s critically-acclaimed 2010 special. This feature-length adaptation of Carrie Fisher’s hit autobiographical stage production tells the intoxicating tale of her life, combining her raucous one-woman stage performance, interviews with family and friends, and archival footage. It isn’t known if there are plans to airWishful Drinkingagain in the weeks ahead as fans continue to mourne the loss ofCarrie Fisherand her motherDebbie Reynolds.
It was recently confirmed that bothCarrie FisherandDebbie Reynoldswill be remembered together during a joint funeral at the famed Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills cemetery, the resting place for a number of iconic Hollywood stars such asLucille Ball,Dick Van Patten,Liberace,Florence Henderson,David CarradineandBette Davis, just to name a few. Unfortunately for fans, the funeral will be a private affair, and while apublic memorialis being considered by the family, nothing is confirmed yet. Take a look at the new trailer for HBO’sBright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
