The untitled film set to be released in February 2010 had a change in the director’s chair. Martin Scorsese is out, Johnathan Demme is in. Due to scheduling conflicts Scorsese pulled out of the documentary celebrating the life of reggae icon Bob Marley.
Bob Marley’s son Ziggy, who will act as executive producer, said he was “excited” by Demme’s participation.
“His empathy with my father’s body of work and his unique understanding of the musical documentary form makes me confident that this film will be the ultimate celebration of my father’s life,” he said.
Demme has previously directed documentaries with Talking Heads Stop Making Sense in 1984 and Neil Young’s Heart of Gold in 2006.
Scorsese is currently working on the Rolling Stone’s concert film Shine a Light which will be available in IMAX. He is also working on films about former US President Theodore Roosevelt: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt set to release in 2009; and a documentary about Beatles guitarist George Harrison: Untitled George Harrison Documentary slated for 2010.