The world knows a lot about Pee-wee Herman, the beloved, doltish character Paul Reubens dreamed up almost half a century ago. But, by Reubens’ own design, the world doesn’t know much about the man behind the curtain. That’s about to change with HBO’s two-part documentary Pee-wee As Himself, which provides an unprecedented look at the life of the incredibly private performer.
Before his death in 2023, Reubens gave a 40-hour, “soul-baring” interview to director Matt Wolf, per the documentary’s synopsis. “Determined to correct the record and tell the factual story of his life, Reubens excavates his kaleidoscopic influences, origins in the circus and avant-garde performance theater, and career choices, while reflecting on the reasoning behind, and the consequences of, severing his beloved alter ego from his authentic self,” it continues, in part.
You can see some of that interview—featuring a not-often-seen, bare-faced Reubens—as well as a selection of the “1,000 hours of archival footage” and “tens of thousands of never-before-seen photographs from [Reubens’] personal collections” that make up the film in a new trailer below.
If you’re wondering, the answer is yes; Reubens faces the 1991 incident where he was arrested in an adult movie theater head-on. “I lost control of my anonymity, and it was devastating,” he says in the clip. But, he continues, “I don’t want to come off like a victim in some way. I kept who I was secret for a really long time… I wanted kids to learn not only is being different okay, let’s celebrate it. But I want that not just for you, but for myself.”
While its posthumous status is incredibly sad, this documentary seems like the celebration Reubens sought. Featuring additional interviews with Laurence Fishburne, John Moody, Natasha Lyonne, Debi Mazar, David Arquette, Laraine Newman, Tim Burton, Judd Apatow, and many more, the film promises to honor “the enormous and indelible legacy [Reubens] leaves behind.”
Both parts of the documentary will air back to back on HBO on May 23, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The first half follows Reubens’ childhood and the origins of Pee-wee, while part two delves into Pee-wee’s Playhouse, the scandal, and Reubens’ later work.
