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Peter Jackson’s Beatles film becomes three-part Disney+ series
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 18 June 2021
Peter Jackson’s long anticipated Beatles documentary film ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ is now Peter Jackson’s long anticipated Beatles documentary series ‘The Beatles: Get Back’.
Why? Well, partly because films are old hat in the post-COVID, stay-home, cinemas are smelly, video-on-demand age. And partly because Jackson had 55 hours of old footage to work with when making ‘Get Back’, and by turning it into a three-part Disney+ series he only has to lose 49 hours of it. Also, Jackson has a history of turning things that would have been fine as one film into an overlong trilogy.
Jackson’s sad old film – sorry, super-duper Disney+ super series – has been edited together from footage of the Fab Four in the studio back in 1969 during recording sessions that culminated in the band’s legendary performance on the roof of Apple Corp’s Savile Row office in London. The album they created – ‘Let It Be’ – was then released eighteen months later, after the band had split up.
When the documentary project was first announced in 2019, Jackson said: “The 55 hours of never-before-seen footage and 140 hours of audio made available to us, ensures this movie will be the ultimate ‘fly on the wall’ experience that Beatles fans have long dreamt about. It’s like a time machine transports us back to 1969, and we get to sit in the studio watching these four friends make great music together”.
The film version of the ‘Get Back’ documentary – which is backed by The Beatles and their company Apple Corps – was meant to open in cinemas in September last year but was pushed back because of COVID nonsense. A 27 Aug 2021 release date was then announced, until yesterday’s news that the movie has become a Disney+ series. It will be available to stream in three instalments on 25, 26 and 27 Nov.
Says Disney boss Bob Iger: “As a huge Beatles fan myself, I am absolutely THRILLED that Disney+ will be the home for this extraordinary documentary series by the legendary filmmaker Peter Jackson. This phenomenal collection of never-before-seen footage offers an unprecedented look at the close camaraderie, genius songwriting, and indelible impact of one of the most iconic and culturally influential bands of all time, and we can’t wait to share ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ with fans around the world”.
Meanwhile Jackson adds: “I’m very grateful to The Beatles, Apple Corps and Disney for allowing me to present this story in exactly the way it should be told. I’ve been immersed in this project for nearly three years, and I’m very excited that audiences around the world will finally be able to see it. Over six hours, you’ll get to know The Beatles with an intimacy that you never thought possible”.
