U2 originally planned to release their forthcoming album at the end of last year, but their involvement with the Mandela film delayed the process a bit.

"We were on a roll—it was clear where we were going," drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. told The Hollywood Reporter in a new interview. "And a decision was made to abandon ship, more or less, to focus on this." Guitarist the Edge added: "But we just had to do it, with the history that we have with the man and the cause."

The band has since been nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Ordinary Love," their contribution to the project. They'll perform the song at the Academy Awards on March 2.

As for the record, Bono said "there's a couple of songs that are part of the story we haven't quite finished." They are eyeing a summer release.