'Pee-wee as Himself': HBO unveils trailer for Paul Reubens documentary featuring rare footage and personal interviews

HBO has released the official trailer for Pee-wee as Himself, a two-part documentary offering an intimate and comprehensive look into the life of Paul Reubens, the creative force behind Pee-wee Herman.

Directed by Matt Wolf, the documentary compiles over 40 hours of personal interviews with Reubens, recorded before his death in 2023. It also incorporates more than 1,000 hours of archival material and tens of thousands of never-before-seen photographs, giving viewers a unique perspective on Reubens’ journey and career.

According to HBO, Reubens aimed “to correct the record and tell the factual story of his life.” The documentary explores his early years in Florida, his formative education at the California Institute of the Arts, and his work with The Groundlings where he developed the Pee-wee Herman character that would become a cultural phenomenon.

The film also features commentary from a wide array of collaborators and friends, including Tim Burton, Judd Apatow, Natasha Lyonne, Laurence Fishburne, and Cassandra Peterson. 

Pee-wee as Himself also includes behind-the-scenes footage that captures Reubens questioning and shaping the very documentary being made about him.The documentary examines the success and setbacks of Pee-wee’s Playhouse including the public scrutiny Reubens endured to define his career on his own terms.

Pee-wee as Himself is produced by Elara & First Love Films, with executive producers including Wolf, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Benny and Josh Safdie, and representatives from HBO.

The posthumous film premieres on Friday, 23 May, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will also be available to stream on Max.