Scorsese to Direct George Harrison Retrospective

Authored by Scott Goldberg on September 27, 2007 - 11:58am.

Martin Scorsese will explore the life of Beatle George Harrison in a new film

With Martin Scorsese’s well-documented interest in music history, it should come as little surprise the director will make a film about the Beatles, specifically George Harrison, who died of lung cancer in 2001. Production will begin this year, and the Daily Variety reports the film will take several years to complete. "It would have given George great joy to know that Martin Scorsese has agreed to tell his story," Harrison's widow, Olivia, was quoted as saying. She will also serve as a producer on the project.

Scorsese will have the backing of surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the band’s Apple Records label, in the film’s creation.

No stranger to music documentaries, Scorsese will release his concert project about The Rolling Stones next April. In 2005 he focused on Bob Dylan in No Direction Home.

The Harrison film will cover all aspects of his career, from his days as a Beatle, to his solo career, filmmaking forays, and religious explorations.

"George Harrison's music and his search for spiritual meaning is a story that still resonates today and I'm looking forward to delving deeper," said Scorsese.