A quarter-century since the passing of Bob Marley, the reggae legend's family has maintained a strict policy on licensing his music. Although his songs have been freely licensed to many commercials, TV shows and movies, none of his work has appeared in documentaries or biopics with an actor portraying the icon. But alas, Martin Scorsese was recently granted the exclusive rights to use Marley's music in an upcoming doc to be released in February 2010.

"It is coming," Coyne promises. "In fact, it's better than ever. Because it's taken so long, we've become better filmmakers. There's better computer effects. I think it will be much better."

Coyne says the Lips are currently working on final editing and transferring the film into a High Definition format, adding "some in-depth special effects" in the process. Once it's premiered, he envisions taking "Christmas on Mars" on a kind of "tour;" rather than simply showing it in theaters, Coyne wants to hold special screenings to give fans "a Flaming Lips experience of another kind." [Read More]

"I have ideas I think could spur a great new Flaming Lips concept and a new sound and things like that," Coyne, says. "But I feel like we have to finish 'Christmas on Mars' before we jump into anything else. Hopefully we'll be able to do that next year, though."

"Harrison's music and his search for spiritual meaning is a story that still resonates today and I'm looking forward to delving deeper," Scorsese said in a statement. "It would have given George great joy to know that Martin Scorsese has agreed to tell his story," added Harrison's widow, Olivia.

Work is already underway assembling archival material for the film, which will also feature extensive interviews.

"We decided the film was really about the journey to the top," producer Nigel Sinclair tells Billboard.com. "You really see these four young people putting it together. Then, the band becomes successful and many things happen: some good and some bad. We discerned from it that the most interesting thing was the evolution of Pete and Roger's relationship. The fact that these two are able to continue as the Who, it is almost like it was meant to be that way. Discovering, as we did from interviewing them, what the magic or their working partnership was, that was very exciting." [Read More]

The film is not a documentary about Nirvana, the band Kurt fronted, nor is it even a documentary in the traditional sense, but a profound, almost dream-like account of Cobain's own successes and failures, thoughts and experiences, allowing the audience unprecedented intimacy with a legendary figure in popular culture.

"With a movie like this you have to build it," said Mr. Weinstein, who founded the company with his brother, Bob, two years ago after an acrimonious split from the Walt Disney Company saw them relinquish control of Miramax. "I don't think you can go out on 500 screens. The reason for Film Forum is you go where the best word of mouth is on the movie. I like the movie; I think it's adventurous. The audience is going to have to work — work in a good way."