Steven Spielberg directed the first music video of his long and storied career, a move that CNN later highlighted as a notable departure from his acclaimed feature work. The project centered on Cannibal, the new single by Marcus Mumford, the frontman of Mumford & Sons, and it marked a surprising pivot into visual storytelling for the legendary filmmaker. The production itself drew attention for its ambitious scope and its ability to fuse cinematic craft with a contemporary music release, signaling a moment where classic Hollywood sensibilities met modern pop and indie rock aesthetics.
The shoot, conducted on a July day in the gym of a New York City school, unfolded with a single uninterrupted take, a technique chosen to preserve intensity and unity of vision. The decision to film in one continuous frame underscored a commitment to raw, live immediacy, a quality that mirrors Mumford’s own artistic approach and the raw emotion embedded in Cannibal.
Carey Mulligan, the singer’s wife and a noted actress, contributed to the project as the costume designer, shaping the visual identity of the performer through wardrobe choices and on-screen presence. Kate Capshaw, Spielberg’s wife, took on multiple leadership roles as producer, artistic director, and assistant director, guiding the creative direction and logistical execution of the video. Their collaborative involvement reflected a unified artistic effort that blended performance, fashion, and direction into a cohesive music video experience.
Cannibal serves as the lead single from Mumford’s forthcoming solo album, with plans for its release on September 16. Mumford explained that the song was written in January 2021, a reflective piece inspired by personal struggles and a sense of grappling with inner demons that the singer described as something he danced with alone for a long period. The lyric and mood of Cannibal align with a candid, intimate style that fans have come to expect from Mumford’s evolving solo work.
Earlier reporting placed Spielberg’s next project, The Fablemans, on the cinematic horizon with a fall release pattern. The film arrived in theaters in New York and Los Angeles, followed by a wider United States rollout during the Thanksgiving window, highlighting a strategic release that balanced prestige awards-season visibility with broad audience access. This context situates Cannibal and the music video within a wider period of Spielberg’s career where experimentation and storytelling continue to cross traditional boundaries, offering audiences a glimpse of how iconic directing sensibilities can intersect with contemporary music production.