Mubi frames this as a triumphant act of cinematic preservation—sharing hidden history with audiences worldwide. Their VP of publishing calls it 'a beautiful opportunity to share this glorious classic' and emphasizes how the Bible reveals Murnau's 'meticulous artistry.' The centenary timing makes this a prestige play, positioning Mubi as a guardian of film culture.
Here's what they're not advertising: Murnau was notoriously paranoid about his process. Sources note he was 'reluctant to welcome visitors' and 'even less inclined to reveal his creative process.' This Bible wasn't just documentation—it was a clandestine gift from loyal crew members (Herlth, Hoffmann, Röhrig) who snuck it into a prop Bible as a surprise goodbye present before Murnau bolted for Hollywood. Now that's devotion.
The book drops globally on October 17, 2026—marking exactly 100 years since the film's original release. La Cinémathèque française acquired this artifact in 2017 and spent years restoring approximately 400 photographs and illustrations before handing it to Mubi Editions for publication. The public launch happens at la Cinémathèque française in Paris on that same October date.
While this isn't the typical scandal territory I cover, there's something delicious about a secret diary hidden inside a prop Bible finally seeing daylight after nearly a century of being presumed destroyed. Murnau would probably hate that we're all ogling his creative process—but too bad. Some receipts are meant to be spilled.
Lost for decades in the wreckage of history, one of cinema's most closely guarded secrets has resurfaced—and it's being published by Mubi for the first time ever. "The Faust Bible: The Making of F.W. Murnau's Masterpiece" drops globally on October 17, 2026, marking exactly 100 years since Murnau's German Expressionist fantasy epic first terrified and delighted audiences.
But here's where it gets juicy: this isn't just any making-of book. It's a visual diary containing approximately 400 photographs and original illustrations compiled by three crew members—Robert Herlth, Carl Hoffmann, and Walter Röhrig—who stitched it together as a parting gift for Murnau upon completing the film in 1926. The kicker?
They hid the entire thing inside a prop Bible before presenting it to their director. The treasure was presumed destroyed during World War II—another casualty of conflict—until la Cinémathèque française rediscovered and painstakingly restored it, acquiring the artifact for their collection back in 2017. Now, guided by Laurent Mannoni (the institution's scientific director of heritage), this unprecedented glimpse into Murnau's famously secretive process finally reaches the public.
And make no mistake: that secrecy was legendary. "One of the most influential and pioneering filmmakers of the silent era, F.W. Murnau was known for the privacy of his film sets," Mannoni noted in a statement.
"Reluctant to welcome visitors, he was even less inclined to reveal his creative process." This Bible—essentially a love letter from his crew documenting every lavish costume, elaborate set design, and detailed storyboard—was never meant to be seen by outsiders. It was personal. Intimate.
A backstage pass to the mind of cinema's great auteur, tucked inside fake scripture like contraband. Mubi's publication will include stills and sketches showcasing the film's legendary production design, plus contributions from Stefan Drössler (director of Filmmuseum München) on the production history and K.J. Relth-Miller (director of film programs at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures) on its contemporary legacy. Daniel Kasman, Mubi VP of publishing, called it "an astonishing" discovery that offers "profound new insight into the mind of one of cinema's greatest auteurs." To celebrate both the centenary and this unprecedented release, Mubi will host international events and screenings throughout autumn 2026, with a public launch at la Cinémathèque française in Paris on October 17.
