It’s been a long time coming since it was first announced way back in 2007 but it now looks like Martin Scorsese‘s documentary on famed Beatles guitarist George Harrison is set to premiere later this year — or so says Harrison’s widow, Olivia.
“I assume we’re going to announce it sometime soon, the actual [premiere] date, but it will be this year,” Harrison revealed at the 5th anniversary of the Beatles-inspired Cirque du Soleil show “Love” [via LAT]. “I just came from New York and Monday I’m going to see it again. We’re real excited about it. Marty is such a great storyteller, and of course he always finds the story that you don’t expect.”
Much of the story will presumably stem from Scorsese’s access to the Harrison estate which opened up its archives to the filmmaker and his crew, with Olivia Harrison having reportedly “spent countless hours poring through her husband’s notes, cassette tapes and photos.” Interviews with musical figures such as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Eric Idle, Tom Petty, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector are all expected to be included.
“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,” Scorsese proclaimed at the announcement of the project, which’ll span from the guitarist’s time with the Beatles to his death in 2001. The doc’s reported focus on Harrison’s spiritual side, meanwhile, was further affirmed by the unveiling of a title: “Living in the Material World: George Harrison.” This is also the title of Harrison’s 1973 album, a record which was noted for its philosophical and religious bent, and one that at the the time was considered a bit of disappointment following All Things Must Pass, though it has since risen in stature.
But as usual, Scorsese never stops, and this is just one of a handful of projects he’s got going. The director is busy getting his next feature film, the 3D “Hugo Cabret” finished up and is also working with Kenneth Lonergan on an edit of his long-gestating “Margaret” that will hopefully see some kind of theatrical release by the end of the year.