Scorsese to direct Beatle documentary film

Sep 27 2007 By Sherna Noah, Daily Post Correspondent

HOLLYWOOD director Martin Scorsese has signed up to direct a documentary film about the life of Beatle George Harrison.

Harrison’s widow Olivia, 59, will take on the role of one of the producers alongside US filmmaker Scorsese.

Surviving ex-Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are expected to participate, according to movie trade magazine Variety.

The film will cover the guitarist, songwriter and singer’s time as one of the Fab Four, his move into the film world and his exploration of Eastern spiritual pursuits.

Scorsese, 64, famous for movies like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas, said: "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."

Harrison’s second wife Olivia said: "It would have given George great joy to know that Martin Scorsese has agreed to tell his story."

The film follows Scorsese’s documentary about another musical legend, Bob Dylan.

After the split of The Beatles when he was just 27 years old, Harrison enjoyed a successful solo music career.

His role as a film producer took off with Monty Python’s Life of Brian in 1979.

He was also responsible for The Long Good Friday, Time Bandits and Mona Lisa.

Harrison died of cancer at the age of 58 in 2001.

He was still married to Pattie Boyd when he met his second wife in 1974 and the pair famously fought off an attacker who broke into their Oxfordshire home and stabbed the guitarist in 1999.

Harrison’s family will be supplying materials for the as yet untitled film from their extensive archive.

Interviews and early production begin later this year, according to Variety, and the film is expected to take several years to complete.

The film will be edited by David Tedeschi, who served the same role on the Rolling Stones film Shine A Light, directed by Scorsese.

Scorsese, whose recent hits have included The Departed and The Aviator, explored issues of faith in movies like Kundun (1997) and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).