Peter Jackson saw big success with his World War I documentary They Shall Not Grow Old and he's been at work with another well-known subject. His next doc, The Beatles: Get Back is due later this year.
Disney executive chairman Bob Iger announced that the film will arrive – in the States, at least – on 4 September. Get Back features never-before-seen footage of the band shot in 1969 for 1970's Let It Be, with added material from their final live performance on top of the Apple Corps label office in Savile Row, Londona London rooftop. Jackson's team has been busy restoring it all.
"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 says. "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."
According to Jackson, "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."
And there's also word from two of the band: "I am really happy that Peter has delved into our archives to make a film that shows the truth about The Beatles recording together," says Paul McCartney. "The friendship and love between us comes over and reminds me of what a crazily beautiful time we had."
The final word goes to Ringo Starr: "I’m really looking forward to this film. Peter is great and it was so cool looking at all this footage. 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."