Linkin Park had to “repair and not be afraid to show” their “scars” while making their new documentary Unshatter, according to band member and director Joe Hahn.
The musician and filmmaker has opened up about the emotional approach behind the upcoming film, which documents Linkin Park’s journey back to music following the death of frontman Chester Bennington in 2017.
Speaking to BBC News, Hahn explained how the idea of showing the band’s imperfections became central to both the documentary and the music they were creating.
“The important part of it all is to not completely fix it, but have some kind of repair and not be afraid to show your scars … I think that’s just something that we thought of along the way and then the title of the film, Unshatter, which was one of our songs. I think that was just part of our ethos while making the music. So, it just seemed very appropriate to name the film that.”
Unshatter will arrive in cinemas worldwide on September 30, documenting the period from Linkin Park’s early 2022 sessions through the making of their From Zero era and their return to the stage in São Paulo, Brazil.
Joe Hahn on Linkin Park’s return
Hahn also discussed the arrival of vocalist Emily Armstrong, whose addition to Linkin Park became a key part of the band’s return.
The group, which also features Mike Shinoda, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and Brad Delson, found a renewed creative energy with Armstrong, according to Hahn.
“There’s like a certain energy that we have and hers [Emily] is like more dynamic in a way that’s very similar to Chester. They’re two different people. And then once we saw that spark, we just gravitated towards it… And then we’re like, okay, this is a real missing ingredient in what we’re doing.”
Armstrong joined Linkin Park as the band began a new chapter that would eventually become the From Zero era.
The group also welcomed Colin Brittain on drums after original drummer Rob Bourdon stepped away from the band following Bennington’s death and Linkin Park’s subsequent hiatus.
Linkin Park faced criticism over their evolution
Hahn also addressed the criticism Linkin Park have faced as they have evolved beyond the band’s original lineup and sound.
The musician suggested that some fans develop their own expectations about what Linkin Park should represent based on the group’s history.
“I think the criticisms come from different places … So based on the history and the great things that we’ve done, people take that as their own. So it’s easy for people to formulate this idea of what the band is, what it should be and what it’s allowed to do. But when it comes down to it, you have to let things be and then something great will come out of it.”
The comments reflect the wider challenge facing a band returning after a long period away and attempting to establish a new identity while retaining connections to its past.
For Hahn, Unshatter is not about presenting Linkin Park’s return as something that was perfectly rebuilt. Instead, the film explores the process of moving forward while acknowledging what the band had been through.
What is Linkin Park’s Unshatter documentary about?
Unshatter follows Linkin Park from their early 2022 studio sessions through the creation of From Zero and the band’s return to live performance in São Paulo.
The documentary combines rare archive footage, studio recordings, behind-the-scenes material and live performances, giving fans an inside look at the group’s rebuilding process.
The film will be shown in standard cinemas as well as SCREENX, 4DX and Ultra4DX formats.
Hahn hopes the finished documentary captures a specific period in Linkin Park’s history rather than attempting to tell the entire story of the band.
He described the film as capturing “a very particular moment in Linkin Park’s history”, with themes including friendship, resilience and moving forward.
Linkin Park announce Unshatter live album
A companion live album, Unshatter (Live in São Paulo), will be released on September 25, five days before the documentary reaches cinemas.
The album captures Linkin Park’s live performance in São Paulo, while Somewhere I Belong (Live in São Paulo) is already available.
Together, the documentary and live release offer fans two different perspectives on Linkin Park’s return, with Unshatter focusing on the journey behind the comeback and the live album documenting the band back on stage.
