THE BEATLES unseen Let It Be recording sessions documentary from Peter Jackson now has a title, release date and endorsements from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
By GEORGE SIMPSON
The Walt Disney Studios Company have announced Jackson’s film is called The Beatles: Get Back and it will also include the band’s entire 42-minute final live performance on the roof of Apple’s Savile Row London office, completely restored.
The documentary movie will be released in US and Canadian cinemas on September 4, 2020, while a UK release is yet to be announced.
Disney boss Bob Iger made the announcement today at Disney’s annual meeting of shareholders.
The outgoing Executive Chairman said: “No band has had the kind of impact on the world that The Beatles have had, and The Beatles: Get Back is a front-row seat to the inner workings of these genius creators at a seminal moment in music history, with spectacularly restored footage that looks like it was shot yesterday.”
Iger continued: “I’m a huge fan myself, so I could not be happier that Disney is able to share Peter Jackson’s stunning documentary with global audiences in September.”
Jackson previously directed They Shall Not Grow Old, in which he and his team restored, colourised and added sound to original First World War footage.
On working on The Beatles: Get Back, the director said: “Working on this project has been a joyous discovery. I’ve been privileged to be a fly on the wall while the greatest band of all time works, plays and creates masterpieces.
“I’m thrilled that Disney have stepped up as our distributor. There’s no one better to have our movie seen by the greatest number of people.”
Surviving Beatles Sir Paul and Sir Ringo gave their enthusiastic support, as did Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison.
McCartney said: “I am really happy that Peter has delved into our archives to make a film that shows the truth about The Beatles recording together.
“The friendship and love between us comes over and reminds me of what a crazily beautiful time we had.”
While Starr said: “I’m really looking forward to this film. Peter is great and it was so cool looking at all this footage.”
Ringo added: “There was hours and hours of us just laughing and playing music, not at all like the version that came out.
“There was a lot of joy and I think Peter will show that.
“I think this version will be a lot more peace and loving, like we really were.”
Jackson had access to around 55 hours of material from January 1969 and a few minutes screened at the Universal Music showcase at Grammy Weekend in January, where the first reactions were shared.
Apple Records chief Jeff Jones spoke of how the original Let It Be documentary that tied-in with the album was considered to be a “depressing look” at the end of The Beatles.
But having hired Jackson to make a new movie, the executive said: “We have created a brand-new film that will attempt to bust the myth that the ‘Let It Be’ sessions were the final nail in the Beatles’ coffin.”
The lucky few in the audience were then treated to several minutes of the upcoming documentary film. Variety reported that Beatles fans will “lose their minds over this film”.
The Beatles: Get Back is released in US cinemas on September 4, 2020 with a UK release date to be announced.
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