FEATURE:
The Legacy Spreads
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1989/PHOTO CREDIT: Guido Harari
Could Recent Love Shown for Kate Bush Lead to a Documentary?
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THIS might also be a pitch…
IN THIS PHOTO: Margot Robbie for British Vogue, December 2025/PHOTO CREDIT: Mikael Jansson
for LuckyChap Entertainment (a production company based in Los Angeles and Bromsgrove, founded in 2014 by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr. The company describes their focal point as female-focused film and television productions), as Margot Robbie recently showed some appreciation for Kate Bush. The Emerald Fennell film, Wuthering Heights, was released on 13th February. It definitely gained a lot of reactions and divided critics. Although the film does not feature the Kate Bush debut single of the same name, inevitably, people did ask about Kate Bush when speaking of its stars, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. There is a new interview from Attitude where Wuthering Heights’ leads spoke about the film. They also mentioned Kate Bush. This is what Margot Robbie said: “Of course. You can’t make Wuthering Heights without listening to that,” adding: “Kate Bush is just the soundtrack to my life”. Jacob Elordi noted this: “Kate Bush was constant [on-set]. I think that’s just being alive! There may have been a Charli XCX song or two”. Although Robbie seems more into Kate Bush than Elordi, these are huge names that listen to and admire her music. When I shared the article online, it did split opinions. Many liked the fact that someone like Margot Robbie listens to Kate Bush and is a fan. Those recognising that her influence has spread. Also, there were those who doubted Robbie’s credentials in that regard. Could she name deep cuts and does she know albums like The Dreaming?! Many feeling this was a major artist jumping on a bandwagon or mentioning an artist without knowing anything about them. I actually think that Margot Robbie is a bigger fan than many give her credit for.
In any case, it has got me thinking about whether a Kate Bush documentary made in association with LuckyChap Entertainment could happen. I shall come to that. There has been other praise for Kate Bush. Recognition of her music. Peaches shouted out Wuthering Heights in an NME interview. I have said numerous times how ROSALÍA is a big Kate Bush fan. I can hear that influence in her music. Last year’s Lux – which was hugely acclaimed and was perhaps the best album of the year – has elements of Kate Bush’s influence throughout. When speaking with Vogue about Lux and what comes next, ROSALÍA talked about Kate Bush: “My mom, she showed me Kate Bush since I was very young,” she said. “I didn’t appreciate it, but with years, it grew on me. I really like that song where she explains this possibility of exchanging places with God. A deal with God. It would always make me cry”. I know that ROSALÍA’s knowledge and appreciation of Kate Bush goes beyond Hounds of Love’s Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God). You can feel and hear it through her music. It is another important endorsement of an artist whose influence is everywhere. One that continues to grow. You could say that Kate Bush’s music has reached more artists and big names in the past decade than the forty years or so before. In terms of legacy artists, those who have been around for years and those who are new. Going beyond music to all corners of the cultural map. I keep writing about this topic. Though, now that Margot Robbie has spoken about Kate Bush and her attachment, it makes me think about a documentary.
IN THIS PHOTO: ROSALÍA for Vogue, February 2026/PHOTO CREDIT: Alasdair McLellan
There is snobbery and dismissal when a major star says they are a fan of an artist. Like they are not at all genuine. I think Margot Robbie’s kudos is pure. In terms of what LuckyChap Entertainment does, their work is mainly in film. They have produced for television. However, given that they are about female-driven projects and this is a documentary about a music queen that could be directed by an amazing woman, you do feel there is this opportunity. I am sure Kate Bush finds its touching and flattering that her music is being praised and noted by actors and artists. Bush is a major film fan, so she will know about Margot Robbie. The drawbacks are that Bush has not really given a green light to a major documentary. There have been a few smaller ones through the years – including a BBC one for 2014 -, but I am sure she has been approached by all kinds of people to allow her music to be used for a documentary. I am sure she is happy for there to be these smaller documentaries, as they are more underground and not too exposing. However, something huge that appears in cinemas, on Netflix, Amazon or Apple TV+ would be a different scenario. I know that nobody from LuckyChap Entertainment will ever read this. Margot Robbie will never see it. However, there is the temptation to make a pitch, as I feel Kate Bush would be open to Margot Robbie. You feel like she is a fan of her work and no doubt would have heard about the new Wuthering Heights film. Another potential stumbling block is the use of Kate Bush herself. Whilst Bush would never be filmed for a documentary, could she ever be persuaded to provide some words and do some voiceover? It would be a tall order, as she would probably not want to be involved in that way. I do think that a stunning documentary that looks at her brilliance and influence and speaks to fans across culture that includes actors like Margot Robbie and incredible artists would be a success. It is always hard getting the balance right and ensuring that a documentary is engrossing, watchable, informative, balanced. One that also appeals to long-terms fans and can speak to new fans.
Every time I see someone in the public eye talk about Kate Bush, it makes it abundantly clear that she is one of the most important, enduring and wide-reaching artists ever. I know she would not want to be too much in focus with a documentary. However, a mix of styles and filming techniques, coupled with a blends of artists discussing her music and clips of her videos and interviews, could well be something that appeals to her. Making it more inventive, stylistic, broad and striking than many of the dry and formulaic music documentaries would be something LuckyChap Entertainment could be involved with. Discuss it with Kate Bush and do something loving and respectful. Photographers and musicians who have worked with Kate Bush. People talking about her as a producer. Maybe something where her family – including her brothers, John and Paddy, and her husband, Dan -, could share their memories. Bush providing the occasionally audio interjection about working at various studios and performing live. Or just talking in the introduction and at the very end. Nothing like this been done with her music. One might say she does not have the same legacy as a David Bowie, The Beatles or Madonna. I would disagree. Kate Bush is more than worthy of the diamond treatment. A medium-budget documentary that is authoritative and deep that runs to about ninety minutes. Rather than exploiting the Stranger Things/Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) impact and how her music has reached a whole new generation, it would be a long-overdue. Whilst there is limited footage of Kate Bush on the stage – in terms of beyond T.V. shows – and none of her recording in the studio (as far as I know), we can see her impact through her videos and hear that genius and originality through her recordings. That Margot Robbie quote about Kate Bush, “Kate Bush is just the soundtrack to my life”, got me thinking about a documentary. It depends on whether Kate Bush would be willing or feel that it would be too personal. Given the fact her legacy and influence is as important as it has ever been, I would like to think that she would be…
OPEN to the right idea.
