The Grateful Dead formed in 1965, which means we are fast approaching the 50th anniversary of the storied jam band.  To celebrate the occasion, Martin Scorsese will executive produce a Grateful Dead documentary directed by Amir Bar-Lev (The Tillman Story).  Scorsese explained the appeal of the project and the unique stature of the band:

“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."

Hit the jump for the press release with all the details.

GRATEFUL DEAD ANNOUNCE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTARY IN CELEBRATION OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Executive Producer Martin Scorsese And Director Amir Bar-Lev To Offer A Never Before Seen Look At One Of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s Most Fascinating And Enduring Bands

LOS ANGELES – The Grateful Dead are proud to announce their first official career-spanning documentary to coincide with the band’s 50th anniversary celebration. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev (“Happy Valley,” “The Tillman Story”) will direct the as yet untitled documentary. Alex Blavatnik is financing through his AOMA Sunshine Films. Eric Eisner (“Hamlet 2”), Nicholas Koskoff, and Justin Kreutzmann will serve as producers.  Executive Producers are Martin Scorsese, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Andrew Heller, Sanford Heller, and Rick Yorn. Longtime Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux will serve as the film’s music supervisor.

This monumental documentary will meld a cornucopia of never before seen performance footage, vintage interviews, and other candid moments unearthed from the Grateful Dead’s vast vaults along with newly captured conversations with surviving members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir, as well as many other characters and pranksters from the Dead universe.

"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. Needless to say, 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,” said surviving members Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh, and Weir in a joint statement.

“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,” says Scorsese.

“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,” says Bar-Lev.

“I am ecstatic that this project was able to come together and look forward to finding the perfect distribution home for the film,” says Eisner.

Production entities partnering on the project are Double E Pictures, Axis Films, and Sikelia Productions, Inc.