Fans of The Beatles will have extra special to give thanks for this Thanksgiving. Today it was announced that Peter Jackson’s new documentary on the Fab Four will be debuting exclusively on Disney+ for the holiday. The Beatles: Get Back will be presented as three episodes that will be released on Disney+ on November 25, 26 and 27, 2021. Each episode will be around two hours long.
The documentary took three years to restore and editing footage for this documentary. One of the reasons that this took so long was that there was such a large volume of footage that Jackson was able to review.
“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,” said Bob Iger, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, The Walt Disney Company. “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.”
Peter Jackson commented, “In many respects, Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s remarkable footage captured multiple storylines. The story of friends and of individuals. It is the story of human frailties and of a divine partnership. It is a detailed account of the creative process, with the crafting of iconic songs under pressure, set amid the social climate of early 1969. But it’s not nostalgia – it’s raw, honest, and human. Over six hours, you’ll get to know The Beatles with an intimacy that you never thought possible.”
He continued, “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.”
The Beatles: Get Back is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. According to a description released by Disney, it “takes audiences back in time to the band’s intimate recording sessions during a pivotal moment in music history. The documentary showcases the warmth, camaraderie and creative genius that defined the legacy of the iconic foursome, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage shot in January 1969 (by Michael Lindsay-Hogg) and more than 150 hours of unheard audio, all of which has been brilliantly restored.” Peter Jackson is the only person who has been given access to these private film archives in 50 years.
During The Beatles: Get Back, audiences will get to see John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr plan their first live show in over two years. They also capture and rehearse 14 new songs. These were originally planned to have been released with the live album. The documentary also includes The Beatles’ last live performance together as a group for their rooftop concert on London’s Savile Row This will be the first time this performance is shown in its entirety. There are also other songs and numbers included on Abbey Road and Let It Be.
To make this documentary come to life, Peter Jackson collaborated with The Beatles and then the film is being presented by The Walt Disney Studios in association with Apple Corps Ltd. and WingNut Films Productions Ltd. It directed by Peter Jackson, produced by Clare Olssen and Jonathan Clyde, with Ken Kamins and Apple Corps’ Jeff Jones serving as executive producers. Jabez Olssen serves as the documentary’s editor, and the music is mixed by Giles Martin and Sam Okell.
Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison are all on board with this project and have enthusiastically supported it.
Along with the documentary, Apple Corps Ltd./Callaway Arts & Entertainment is releasing The Beatles: Get Back book on October 12. This book will include transcriptions of The Beatles’ recorded conversations and hundred of exclusive photos that have never been published before. All of these will be from the three weeks of sessions that are covered in the documentary.
What do you think about The Beatles: Get Back? Are you excited to see it when it arrives on Disney+ in November? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
