HBO to Air Scorsese's George Harrison Documentary

After acquiring the North American television rights to Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison: Living in the Material World, HBO will air the documentary in October.

The film will give viewers a rare glimpse to the world of this much-beloved musician. The Oscar-winning director traces Harrison’s life from his Liverpool origins and through his journey as one of the world’s most influential musicians. The documentary combines never-before-seen footage with interviews with the former Beatle, performances, home movies and photographs.

The film also includes interviews with some of Harrison’s closest friends and colleagues, including Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector and Jackie Stewart.

“When Martin Scorsese brings a project to HBO, we all know it is going to be very special, and he has added to that body of work with this monumental film on George Harrison,” said Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming, in a statement. “From rock‘n’roll icon to moviemaker, to spiritual seeker and humanitarian, George Harrison was a true renaissance man. This amazing film will illuminate every aspect of Harrison’s remarkable, multifaceted life."

Scorsese commented: “Like so many millions of people, I first came to know George through the music, which was the soundtrack of our world. The Beatles’ music, those beautifully lyrical guitar breaks and solos, those unforgettable songs of George’s like ‘I Me Mine’ or ‘If I Needed Someone,’ and the images, in magazines, on album covers, the TV appearances, the newsreel footage, the Richard Lester movies; and then there was the world after the Beatles, when George and his music seemed to open up and flower. I will never forget the first time I heard ‘All Things Must Pass,’ the overwhelming feeling of taking in that all glorious music for the first time. It was like walking into a cathedral. George was making spiritually awake music—we all heard and felt it—and I think that was the reason that he came to occupy a very special place in our lives. So when I was offered the chance to make this picture, I jumped at it. Spending time with Olivia [Harrison], interviewing so many of George’s closest friends, reviewing all that footage, some of it never seen before, and listening to all of that magnificent music—it was a joy, and an experience I’ll always treasure.”

George Harrison: Living in the Material World will debut in two parts on Oct. 5 and 6, exclusively on HBO.

The release date will come on the heels of the release of Olivia Harrison’s book of the same name, which is a personal archive of photos, letters, diaries and other memorabilia. George Harrison: Living in the Material World, published by Abrams Books, is set to hit shelves in late September.

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