Paul McCartney didn’t want “to be an old person in a young person’s story” in ‘Man on the Run’, director reveals
Director Morgan Neville has lifted the lid on his new Paul McCartney documentary, Man on the Run.
The film had its premiere in London on February 18th, which included an in-person Q&A between McCartney and Neville.
Those who walked the red carpet included Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, Sharon Osbourne, Gracie Abrams, and Paul Mescal, who is set to play McCartney in Sam Mendes’ upcoming set of biopics on The Beatles.
Now, in a new interview on Radio X, Neville has delved into more detail about the film, which focuses on McCartney’s life and career as he built himself up once again throughout the 1970s, following the demise of The Beatles, as well as charting the rise of Wings.
The documentary uses archival footage, including never-before-seen photos taken by Linda McCartney, as well as new interviews with the McCartney family.
However, they made a deliberate choice for present-day McCartney to be only heard in Man on the Run rather than seen, which was a conscious decision that had the full support of The Beatles legend.
Neville explained to host Chris Molyles, “I mean, from the beginning I thought first of all it is way more intimate to have just two of you sitting there talking than having cameras in his face. And I knew I needed to get him to a certain place.”
He added of his artistic choice, “But also, when you don’t have 80-year-old people talking about 50years ago, it becomes a present-tense story. You’re just kind of in it and you’re not looking back on it.”
Neville will also never forget McCartney’s warm words of acknowledgement, recalling, “And Paul said at one point, ‘Thank God we are doing it this way because I don’t want to be an old person in a young person’s story.’ And I thought that was so spot on.”
Man on the Run is set for a limited cinematic release on February 19th and February 22nd before arriving on Prime Video on February 25th. Additionally, a companion soundtrack album will be made available on February 27th.
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