By Todd Spangler
NY Digital Editor
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)” is coming exclusively to Disney+ — and the concert film will include five songs that were not available in the theatrical or digital versions.
The newly expanded version of “The Eras Tour” will hit Disney+ worldwide on March 15, 2024. Among the bonus songs included on the streamer will be “Cardigan,” from Swift’s 2020 album “Folklore.” The release date of the film on Disney+ was announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger on the company’s earnings call — but he didn’t say what the additional songs are. “‘The Eras Tour’ has been a true phenomenon that has and continues to thrill fans around the world, and we are very excited to bring this electrifying concert to audiences whenever they want, exclusively on Disney+,” Iger said.
Disney+ in a post on X said the “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)” will feature “Cardigan” and four additional acoustic songs… but that didn’t reveal what the songs are either.
So what are those four new songs from Eras that will be on Disney+? Based on Variety’s analysis of Swift’s three shows at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium that were shot for the concert film but not included in the original cut, those are likely the four acoustic “surprise songs” she performed: “Death by a Thousand Cuts,” “Maroon,” “You Are in Love” and “I Can See You.” (“No Body, No Crime” featuring Haim also has not been in either the theatrical or digital release of the film, but that wasn’t an acoustic version.)
“This week is truly the best kind of chaos,” Swift posted on Instagram. “I’m thrilled to let you know I’ve found a streaming home for The Eras Tour Concert Film, and that home will be @disneyplus. For the first time we’ll be showing the entire concert (including ‘cardigan,’ plus 4 additional songs from the acoustic section!!) and I’m calling it, huge shock, ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version).’ Available starting March 15 which is actually very 🔜😆🫶”
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)
News of the Disney+ deal for the film comes after Swift made Grammys history Sunday when “Midnights” won album of the year — her record-setting fourth win in the category. She also announced her next studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” pulled in $261.7 million at the global box office after its Oct. 13 wide theatrical debut — making it the highest-grossing concert film to date. The film was shot at the first three L.A. shows of the superstar’s Eras tour from Aug. 3-5, 2023, and clocked in with a 2-hour-and-45-minute runtime, which meant five songs from the regular setlist were omitted.
The digital release of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” was released on Dec. 13, Swift’s birthday. That version, distributed by Universal Pictures, included three bonus songs that were not seen in theaters: “Wildest Dreams,” “The Archer” and “Long Live.” That pushed its official total runtime to 3 hours and 1 minute.
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” was produced by Swift and directed by Sam Wrench. The original film included 44 songs. Swift’s production company, Taylor Swift Productions, produced the film in collaboration with Silent House Productions.
In 2023, Swift’s Eras Tour — spanning music from her 17-year career — pulled in an estimated $1 billion in gross ticket sales. As the tour continues through 2024, it’s expected to exceed $2 billion in total sales, per projections by live-music trade publication Pollstar.
Disney+ currently is streaming Swift’s documentary performance film “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions,” which was first released in 2020.
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