Martin Scorsese might have just turned 70 (here's our tribute piece in case you missed it) but he's showing no signs of letting up. The director recently wrapped on "The Wolf Of Wall Street," his reteam with Leonardo DiCaprio that's due next year, and he's got plenty of other projects lined up too, including producing a documentary on Roger Ebert, directing a Garth Brooks concert movie, reuniting with Robert De Niro on "I Heard You Paint Houses," possibly helming Scandinavian thriller "The Snowman," and his long-gestating Sinatra biopic.
But it looks like we've got another one to add to the slate, with Scorsese taking a leaf from Jonathan Demme's book, and making a film about a recent former president. But rather than Jimmy Carter, it's Bill Clinton, as a press release has revealed that Scorsese will produce and direct a documentary about the 42nd president. The press release reads, in full :
NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2012 – HBO and Martin Scorsese will partner for a documentary spotlighting William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, it was announced today by Richard Plepler, recently named CEO, HBO and Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Made with Clinton’s full cooperation, the film will explore his perspectives on history, politics, culture and the world, with Scorsese producing and directing, and Steve Bing producing.
“President Clinton is one of the most compelling figures of our time, whose world view and perspective, combined with his uncommon intelligence, make him a singular voice on the world stage,” said Plepler and Lombardo. “This documentary, under Marty’s gifted direction, creates a unique opportunity for the President to reflect on myriad issues that have consumed his attention and passion throughout both his Presidency and post-Presidency.”
“A towering figure who remains a major voice in world issues, President Clinton continues to shape the political dialogue both here and around the world,” observed Scorsese. “Through intimate conversations, I hope to provide greater insight into this transcendent figure.”
“I am pleased that legendary director Martin Scorsese and HBO have agreed to do this film,” said President Clinton. “I look forward to sharing my perspective on my years as President, and my work in the years since, with HBO's audience.”
William Jefferson Clinton, the first Democratic president in six decades to be elected twice, served as 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001, leading the U.S. to one of the longest economic expansions in American history. After leaving the White House, he established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote healthier childhoods and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and private citizens to turn good intentions into measurable results. To date, more than 2,100 Clinton Global Initiative commitments have improved the lives of 400 million people in 180 nations.
President Clinton was born Aug. 19, 1946, in Hope, Ark. He and his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, have a daughter, Chelsea, and live in Chappaqua, NY.
The Clinton documentary marks Martin Scorsese’s fourth collaboration with HBO, following the documentaries “Public Speaking” (2010) and the Emmy®-winning “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” (2011), and the hit series “Boardwalk Empire,” for which he serves as an executive producer, as well as winning an Emmy® for directing last year.
There's no exact word on when filming will take place, but we imagine it'll be fairly soon, whenever Scorsese wraps up post on "The Wolf Of Wall Street." It's certainly an interesting subject matter for the director, quite different from anything he's tackled before, and we look forward to seeing how it turns out.