HBO has released a trailer and poster art for its upcoming documentary on skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off will premiere April 5 on HBO and stream on HBO Max. Directed by Sam Jones (who made the 2002 Wilco documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart) and produced by Mark and Jay Duplass, the film chronicles Hawk’s life and career as he became one of skateboarding’s most influential and impactful figures and a name known throughout pop culture.
The documentary will feature unseen archival footage from Hawk’s early days in skateboarding, following his ascension from a teenager to a competitor who pulled off one of the sport’s most difficult tricks — the “900,” a vertical jump with an aerial spin of 2 1/3 revolutions — at the age of 31. The film also chronicles Hawk’s struggles with fame and the constant risk he puts his body through, in addition to the the effects those have on his family.
Check out the trailer:
Anyone familiar with Hawk knows that this documentary isn’t him taking a victory lap or settling down to look back on his life. The 53-year-old continues to skate and take risks. Earlier this week, he told fans on Instagram that he broke his femur in a skating accident and shared photos of the x-rays, along with him standing and walking on the injured leg.
Hawk acknowledged the timing of suffering the injury just before HBO released the trailer for Until the Wheels Fall Off.
“There is a strange irony that this happened on the even of HBO releasing a trailer for Until the Wheels Fall Off, Sam Jones’ documentary about my life & career, which has a strong focus on the philosophy of how I/we do this at our age,” Hawk wrote.
“The answer is complicated, but ultimately it’s because I have found my sense of purpose and shaped my identity through skating, and it nourishes my mental health immensely. I’ve said many times that I won’t stop skating until I am physically unable. A broken leg — with plenty of hardware — will probably be the biggest test of that creed.”
The documentary will also feature a soundtrack sure to appeal to viewers, whether they’re fans of skateboarding or not. Among the artists whose work will be in the film are The Clash, Joy Division, The Sex Pistols, Echo and The Bunnymen, XTC, Oingo Boingo, Pavement, New Order, and The Replacements. That music is sure to reflect the era during which Hawk grew up and reached fame, as well as the culture surrounding his sport.
The poster art for Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off can be seen below:
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off premieres on HBO April 5 and will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
