Scorsese to direct George Harrison movie

Sep 27, 2007, 23:45 GMT

Martin Scorsese poses during a photocall for the World Cinema Foundation at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, 22 May 2007, in Cannes, France. EPA/DANIEL DEME

Los Angeles - Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese is to direct a movie about the life of former Beatle George Harrison, trade magazine Variety reported Thursday.

Harrison's widow, Olivia, will help produce the documentary, and Variety said his ex-bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr may also take part.

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

The film will cover Harrison's early life, his time with The Beatles, as well as his his solo career and movie projects, such as Monty Python's Life of Brian and Time Bandits.

Scorsese also plans to explore Harrison's faith in the Eastern spiritual pursuits that dominated parts of his life, the report said.

Interviews and early production for the film are expected to begin later this year.

Harrison died in 2001 at the age of 58 after suffering from lung cancer.

The guitarist survived an attack in 1999 when he was stabbed by an intruder in his home.

Scorsese, who recently completed work on a movie about Bob Dylan, won his first Academy Award this year for The Departed. His other movies include Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and Gangs of New York.