EXCLUSIVE:Paul McCartneys incredible creative output in the decade after he left The Beatles will come into focus inMan on the Run(working title), a documentary to be directed by Oscar and Grammy winnerMorgan Neville.
MPL andPolygram Entertainment the film and television unit of Universal Music Group announced the project today, a day before the 65thAnnual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
The feature film will explore Paul McCartneys extraordinary life following the breakup of The Beatles and how the love he shared with Linda McCartney influenced a journey that would lead to the formation of Wings and more of the greatest music ever created.
Paul and Linda McCartney in studio(c) Paul McCartney/ Photographer: Linda McCartney
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Neville, whose directing credits include20 Feet From Stardom,Wont You Be My Neighbor, andRoadrunner: An Anthony Bourdain Movie, has been granted access to never-before-seen home videos and photos from the archives of McCartney and his late wife, Linda.
The archival material will be combined with fresh interviews, allowing for a first-of-its-kind exploration of a period in McCartneys life when he came out with a succession of hits, including Maybe Im Amazed, Another Day, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, Hi, Hi, Hi, My Love, Live And Let Die, Band On The Run, Jet, Juniors Farm, Listen To What The Man Said, Silly Love Songs, Let Em In, Mull Of Kintyre, With A Little Luck, Goodnight Tonight among many others.
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As a lifelong obsessive of all things McCartney, Ive always felt that the 1970s were the great under-examined part of his story, Neville said in a statement.
Paul and Linda McCartney, circa 1970.Getty Images/Bettmann
Im thrilled to have the chance to explore and reappraise this crucial moment in a great artists life and work.
According to a release about the project, Man on the Runbegins with Paul McCartney navigating the aftermath of the break-up of The Beatles, facing down myriad challenges while creating new music that would ultimately become the defining soundtrack of a new decade…
The documentary chronicles the arc of Pauls peerless solo career: From the one-man-band lo-fi recording prototype of his self-titled solo debut, to the pastoral bliss ofRAM, to the formation of Wings and its classic albums includingBand On The Run, Venus And Mars, At The Speed Of Sound, Wings Over America, London Townand more.
The result is an intimate and personal behind the scenes account of how Paul progressed from The Beatles 1966 retirement from live concerts to the Wings tours that would set the standard for 1970s arena rock shows.
The release adds, Its a unique and in-depth look into a crucial period in the singular life of one of historys most important recording artists, songwriters and performers.
The documentary is fully financed by MPL & Polygram Entertainment and presented and produced by MPL, Polygram Entertainment and Nevilles Tremolo Productions.
The film is being produced by Michele Anthony, David Blackman, Neville, Caitrin Rogers, and Scott Rodger and Ben Chappell from MPL.
At its heart, this is a story of Linda and Pauls enduring love and an artist finding his own voice after being in the most historic music group ever, Anthony said.
Our film traces one of the most incredibly creative periods of Pauls life which spawned a vital and legendary body of work that continues to impact people and culture in every corner of the globe.
We are honored to present this story with unprecedented access to a treasure trove of material from Paul and Lindas personal archive.
Polygram Entertainment recent projects includeLouis Armstrongs Black & Bluesfrom director Sacha Jenkins; Todd HaynesThe Velvet Underground; Frank MarshallsThe Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart;Beastie Boys Storyfrom director Spike Jonze; Alison EllwoodsThe Go-Gos;Pavarottifrom director Ron Howard; Roger Ross WilliamsThe Apollo; the Emmy Award-winning seriesZoeys Extraordinary Playlistand the subsequent TV filmZoeys Extraordinary Christmas.
Upcoming Polygram projects includeLove to Love You, Donna Summer,a feature documentary about Donna Summer directed by Roger Ross Williams and Summers daughter, Brooklyn Sudano, which is set to premiere at the Berlin Film Festival later this month.
Additional projects include the docuseriesJames Brown: Say It Loud; scripted features about KISS and The Osbournes; a docuseries about the legendary Memphis-based record label STAX; and a new series based on the life of Frank Sinatra.
