Country legend, Willie Nelson is opening his archives for a new docuseries chronicling his life titled Willie Nelson and Family.
According to Variety, production is said to be “well underway” for the project co-directed by Thom Zimny – whose credits include Springsteen on Broadway, The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley: The Searcher – and Oren Moverman – who co-wrote the surrealist Bob Dylan feature I’m Not There.
Nelson’s manager, Mark Rothbaum is developing the project in collaboration with Blackbird Presents, which specialize in music-based film and television production. Previous projects have focused on legendary artists like Merle Haggard, Gregg Allman, Kris Kristofferson, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris and more.
The country icon himself is described as an “enthusiastic participant in the project”, rallying friends and family to take part in the series that is being filmed across Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and Maui, as well as providing exclusive access to his archives.
“We are celebrating the music, the career, the long road, the family, friends and history,” co-directors Zimny and Moverman said in a joint statement. “But, more than anything, we are piecing together a narrative — one never before seen in its entirety — about an extraordinary man with a unique ability to bring people together; folks of all races, orientations, genders, political ideologies and musical leanings. These days, we sure could use the healing powers of Willie Nelson.”
Willie Nelson | “Always On My Mind”
Willie Nelson was a trailblazer of the outlaw country outlaw genre in the late 70s, pushing back against the conversation bounds of the traditional Nashville sound with albums like Shotgun Willie (1973), Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978) that made Nelson one of the most recognized artists of his time. Over the decades, Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism.
A release date for Willie Nelson and Family is yet to be announced – we will keep you posted!
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