Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s next project is a Showtime documentary about New York Dolls frontman David Johansen.
The as-yet-untitled doc will cover the many facets of Johansen’s career — from his childhood in Staten Island to fronting the flamboyant ’70s-era New York Dolls to his evolution into Buster Poindexter, to his blues work with the Harry Smiths in the ’90s to the present day.
“I’ve known David Johansen for decades, and his music has been a touchstone ever since I listened to the Dolls when I was making ‘Mean Streets,’ ” Scorsese said in a statement. “Then and now, David’s music captures the energy and excitement of New York City.
“I often see him perform, and over the course of the years, I’ve gotten to know the depth of his musical inspirations.”
Scorsese and his production team filmed Johansen, 70, earlier this year when he performed at the Café Carlyle. The documentary will also include other exclusive performances, archival footage and interviews.
The Dolls were one of the most influential punk/glam bands in the mid-’70s, counting among their famous members guitarists Sylvain Sylvain and Johnny Thunders.
The documentary, which doesn’t yet have a release date, will be co-directed by two-time Emmy nominee David Tedeschi (editor on “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” and “No Direction Home: Bob Dylan”) and produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
“After seeing his show last year at the Café Carlyle, I knew I had to film it because it was so extraordinary to see the evolution of his life and his musical talent in such an intimate setting,” Scorsese said. “For me, the show captured the true emotional potential of a live musical experience.”