Martin Scorsese is working on a career-spanning retrospective documentary of the Grateful Dead. Scorsese is producing the film in celebration of the band's 50th anniversary next year, with Amir Bar-Lev directing.

Martin ScorseseMartin Scorsese is producing a documentary on the Grateful Dead

"Millions of stories have been told about the Grateful Dead over the years. With our 50th Anniversary coming up, we thought it might just be time to tell one ourselves and Amir is the perfect guy to help us do it," said surviving members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in a joint statement.

"We are humbled to be collaborating with Martin Scorsese. From The Last Waltz to George Harrison: Living In The Material World, from Bob Dylan to the Rolling Stones, he has made some of the greatest music documentaries ever with some of our favorite artists and we are honored to have him involved. The 50th will be another monumental milestone to celebrate with our fans and we cannot wait to share this film with them."

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As well as Scorsese, Bar-Lev boasts a hugely accomplished pedigree and is highly regarded for his work covering the Penn State scandal in Happy Valley, and the cover-up of an Army ranger's death in Afghanistan in The Tillman Story. 

"The Grateful Dead were more than just a band. They were their own planet, populated by millions of devoted fans. I'm very happy that this picture is being made and proud to be involved," said Scorsese in a statement.

"It's been ten years since I first set out to make a film about the Grateful Dead and I'm thrilled that it's finally happening," added Bar-Lev.

Meanwhile, Scorsese is planning to direct a biopic of the legendary singer Frank Sinatra, with Leonardo DiCaprio tipped to play the lead. 

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