Netflix’s Boldest Music Doc Yet? Epica’s Story Is Coming to the Screen

Netflix Greenlights Groundbreaking Docu-Series on Dutch Metal Titans Epica

From Classical Roots to Global Metal Icons: “Symphonic Rebellion” Begins Production

In a move that’s sending ripples across both the metal scene and the entertainment world, Netflix has officially begun production on a docu-series chronicling the rise, resilience, and creative evolution of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. Titled Symphonic Rebellion, the series promises an in-depth, cinematic look at one of the most genre-defying acts to ever emerge from Europe’s heavy music scene.

With filming already underway across the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, and Japan—markets where the band has enjoyed massive success—Symphonic Rebellion is described as a hybrid documentary/concert project blending rare archival footage, intimate new interviews, behind-the-scenes recording sessions, and sweeping live performances.

Founded in 2002 by guitarist and composer Mark Jansen, Epica has carved out a singular space in modern metal by fusing elements of classical music, opera, progressive metal, and philosophical lyricism. Fronted by powerhouse mezzo-soprano Simone Simons, the band has released nine studio albums, performed at some of the world’s biggest metal festivals, and cultivated a fiercely loyal international fan base—all while staying remarkably true to their original artistic vision.

Netflix’s head of music and cultural documentaries, Lena Grohl, described the band as “a masterclass in uncompromising creativity.”

“Epica’s story is larger than life—and yet completely human. This is a band that broke every rule to follow their own path, blending beauty and brutality, intellect and instinct. Symphonic Rebellion will celebrate not only the music but the mindset behind it.”

The series will follow the group’s formation in Limburg, their early struggles breaking into the Dutch and German metal scenes, their critical breakthrough with Consign to Oblivion, and their evolution into one of the defining voices of symphonic metal. Viewers will also get unprecedented access to the band’s personal lives, creative process, and backstage dynamic—particularly during the recording of their most recent album Omega, which debuted in the Top 10 in several countries.

Simone Simons, speaking from a recent show in Mexico City, said the project came at the right time:

“We’ve been doing this for over 20 years. We’ve been through label changes, family milestones, personal highs and lows, and musical evolution. When Netflix approached us with the idea, it felt like the right way to reflect on the journey and maybe inspire others who feel like they don’t quite fit the mold.”

The project is being directed by Arjen Van Der Berg, a Dutch filmmaker best known for the music doc Beyond the Blast Beat, and co-produced by Roadrunner Films, marking one of Netflix’s first high-budget collaborations with a label-affiliated studio in the metal genre.

The docu-series is expected to include appearances and commentary from key figures in the symphonic and progressive metal community, including members of Nightwish, Within Temptation, and Kamelot—bands with whom Epica has toured extensively.

Initial reactions from metal fans have been overwhelmingly positive, with Reddit and Twitter lighting up with calls for live concert features and deep dives into Epica’s lyrical themes—often inspired by science, spirituality, and philosophical paradoxes.

Netflix plans to release Symphonic Rebellion as a four-part series in spring 2026, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the band’s founding—a milestone few in the extreme metal scene ever reach, let alone with their identity intact.