At the SXSW London premiere of Stans, director Steven Leckart revealed how the documentary flips the script on traditional music films by focusing on the fans — just like Eminem’s legendary song that inspired it.
“It’s about fandom and fame,” Leckart told The Upcoming channel, summing up the movie’s core in just two words. Though he doesn’t claim to be a lifelong Stan, Leckart grew up on hip hop and MTV, witnessing Eminem’s meteoric rise firsthand. The project came to him through producer Antoine Fuqua, who, having a close relationship with Eminem’s team, introduced Leckart to the opportunity. “Antoine knew I was a huge fan of the genre and thought I’d be right for it. He made the introductions, and here we are.”
Stans deliberately begins with the fans — not Eminem himself. “It really wasn’t that complicated,” Leckart explained. “The song ‘Stan’, which inspired the film, is told from the perspective of a fan. So we thought, why not make a movie that reflects that structure?”
The film dives deep into the dangerous line where admiration becomes obsession. To truly understand this, the team wanted to explore what pulls people so powerfully toward an artist — Eminem’s authenticity and roots. “He’s so real, and if you’re going to talk about the connection people feel, you need to go back to where it all started.”
Leckart believes Stans carries a message beyond just Eminem’s story: that the art we consume can transform lives. “Even people who aren’t fans of Eminem can take something from this movie. That’s what excites me most,” the director shared.
As Stans reveals the haunting reality behind Eminem’s chilling lyrics, it forces viewers to ask: How far can fandom go before it turns dangerous — and what does that say about our culture’s obsession with celebrity?
