In a collision of pop culture eras that feels both inevitable and startlingly fresh, Stranger Things alum Finn Wolfhard has stepped behind the camera to direct the first-ever official music video for George Harrison’s 1973 anthem, “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth).” Released more than 50 years after the track first topped the Billboard charts, the video is a whimsical, stop-motion odyssey filmed on location at Harrison’s legendary Friar Park estate. By blending the tactile nostalgia of clay animation with the spiritual legacy of the “Quiet Beatle,” Wolfhard and executive producer Dhani Harrison have crafted a visual artifact that bridges the analog warmth of the 1970s with the curatorial savvy of Gen Z. This is not merely a promotional clip; it is a strategic revitalization of a rock legacy, positioned perfectly for a post-digital audience craving tactile authenticity.
The Curatorial Pivot: From Hawkins to Henley-on-Thames
For industry observers tracking the trajectory of Hollywood’s young elite, Finn Wolfhard’s move into the director’s chair signals a sophisticated maturation. Best known for battling demogorgons in Stranger Things and fronting indie-rock outfits, Wolfhard’s involvement here is a distinct pivot from on-screen talent to auteur. The project, executive produced by George’s son, Dhani Harrison, serves as a high-profile endorsement of Wolfhard’s creative vision, effectively handing the keys to the Harrison kingdom to a representative of the streaming generation.
The choice of “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” is telling. Originally the opening track of Living in the Material World, the song is a plea for spiritual clarity amidst the chaos of fame—a sentiment that resonates profoundly with a modern youth culture grappling with digital burnout and global instability. Wolfhard’s direction does not attempt to modernize the sound; instead, he leans into the track’s bucolic psychedelia, using the medium of animation to translate Harrison’s internal world into external visuals.
“George Harrison has and will continue to be a huge inspiration to me,” Wolfhard stated upon the release, framing the project as an act of reverence rather than reinvention. This humility, paired with the technical ambition of the video, positions Wolfhard as a serious contender in the realm of music visuals, a sector currently undergoing a renaissance as artists seek to reclaim the viral power of the music video format.
Friar Park: The Estate as a Character
To understand the aesthetic weight of this video, one must understand the venue. Friar Park, the flamboyant Victorian neo-Gothic mansion in Henley-on-Thames, was Harrison’s sanctuary from the disintegration of The Beatles. It was here, among the eccentric gardens, caves, and gargoyles, that Harrison cultivated his passion for gardening—a metaphor for his spiritual cultivation.
Wolfhard’s video utilizes the actual grounds of Friar Park, transforming the tangible landscape into a stop-motion wonderland. The narrative follows a Harrison-esque figure, complete with the era-appropriate beard and denim, tending to the flora. The visuals are punctuated by fantastical elements: interacting with sentient garden gnomes, riding a giant goose, and floating through a technicolor ether that recalls the cover art of All Things Must Pass.
By grounding the animation in the physical reality of Friar Park, the video achieves a texture that CGI simply cannot replicate. It feels handmade, earthen, and specific. This is a masterclass in "location scouting" for animation, treating the estate not just as a backdrop, but as a primary character in the narrative—a "secret garden" finally unlocked for the public eye, albeit through a surrealist lens.
The Artisans: A Triumph of Analog Craft
In an era where music videos are increasingly dominated by AI generation and glossy VFX, the production methodology behind this release is a defiant statement of craft. Wolfhard collaborated with a team of 20 young Canadian artisans to bring the stop-motion elements to life. This choice to outsource to a boutique, skilled workforce rather than a major Hollywood effects house speaks to a desire for "slow creation."
Stop-motion is an inherently laborious process, requiring patience and precision that mirrors gardening itself. The texture of the puppets, the lighting of the miniature sets, and the jerky-yet-fluid movement of the characters evoke the golden age of children’s television—think Postman Pat meets Yellow Submarine. This aesthetic choice is strategically brilliant; it taps into the "cottagecore" and "grandmacore" trends that have dominated TikTok and Instagram, where traditional crafts and pastoral living are fetishized by digital natives.
The involvement of Canadian talent also highlights a shift in the production supply chain. High-end creative work is increasingly decentralizing, moving away from Los Angeles and London to hubs where specialized artistry thrives. These 20 artisans have created a visual language that feels bespoke, adding a layer of value to the Harrison estate’s IP that a standard performance video could never achieve.
Strategic Legacy Management
From a business perspective, this release is a textbook example of modern legacy management. The estates of rock icons—from Bowie to Prince—are in a constant battle to remain relevant in the streaming algorithm. The "Kate Bush Effect," where Stranger Things propelled "Running Up That Hill" to global dominance decades after its release, has rewritten the playbook for catalog monetization.
By hiring Wolfhard—the very face of the show that revitalized Bush—the Harrison estate is making a direct play for that same demographic cross-pollination. It is an acknowledgment that for legacy music to survive, it must be visually repackaged for a generation that consumes music with their eyes as much as their ears. Dhani Harrison’s role as executive producer ensures that this repackaging remains authentic, avoiding the "cash-grab" accusations that often plague posthumous releases.
“Finn is one of the sweetest and most talented people I know of his generation,” Dhani Harrison noted, emphasizing the personal connection. This sentiment protects the brand equity of the "Quiet Beatle," framing the collaboration as an artistic exchange rather than a marketing stunt, even as it serves the dual purpose of driving streams and playlist adds.
Timeline of a Resurrection
- 1970: George Harrison purchases Friar Park, a 120-room Victorian mansion, beginning his lifelong dedication to its restoration and gardening.
- 1973: "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" is released as the lead single from Living in the Material World, hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2022: Stranger Things Season 4 creates a massive cultural moment for catalog music, proving the power of Gen Z rediscovery.
- December 2024: The first official music video for "Give Me Love" premieres, directed by Finn Wolfhard and filmed at Friar Park using stop-motion animation.
Future Forecast: The Director-Musician Hybrid
What does this signal for the future? We expect to see a surge in "prestige visualizers" for legacy acts. As the 50th anniversaries of seminal 1970s albums continue to roll out, labels will look to replicate this model: pairing iconic tracks with culturally relevant, young directors who can bridge the generational divide. We may see similar projects emerging for artists like Fleetwood Mac or David Bowie, utilizing distinctive animation styles to circumvent the absence of the original artist.
For Finn Wolfhard, this is a launchpad. Already attached to direct a horror-comedy feature titled Hell of a Summer and rumored to be involved in a project regarding The Replacements, this video solidifies his visual signature. He is moving toward a career trajectory similar to Donald Glover or Greta Gerwig—artists who refuse to be compartmentalized into a single medium. Expect Wolfhard to become a go-to name for artists seeking a visual identity that balances nostalgia with modern edge.
Culturally, this release reinforces the trend of "gentle psychedelia." As the world becomes increasingly volatile, the aggressive aesthetics of the early 2020s (cyberpunk, dystopian) are softening into themes of nature, spirituality, and internal peace. George Harrison’s message, amplified by Wolfhard’s whimsical lens, has arrived exactly on time.
Written by Ara Ohanian for FAZ Fashion — fashion intelligence for the modern reader.
