Peter Jackson Directs New Beatles Series

New Beatles doc is steeped in joy

When The Beatles entered the studio to record the album ultimately titled Let It Be, the initial goal was to create a piece that got back to their rock roots, with plans (eventually scuttled) to return to the stage for their first live performances in years. Michael Lindsay-Hogg was brought in to film the sessions, with the resulting documentary—released after the band’s breakup—focusing on the tensions between The Beatles leading to the split.

Fifty years later, director Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings) was given access to more than 55 hours of never-before-seen footage from that project, resulting in a three-part documentary that paints a very different picture of the relationship between John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr during that time.

“I was relieved to discover the reality is very different to the myth,” said Jackson. “After reviewing all the footage and audio that Michael Lindsay-Hogg shot 18 months before they broke up, it’s simply an amazing historical treasure-trove. Sure, there’s moments of drama—but none of the discord this project has long been associated with. Watching John, Paul, George and Ringo work together, creating now-classic songs from scratch, is not only fascinating—it’s funny, uplifting and surprisingly intimate.”

Jackson’s Get Back (the title originally planned for that album) focuses not on the friction that ultimately broke up the band, but on the creativity and camaraderie that led the world to embrace them in the first place.

“I am really happy that Peter has delved into our archives to make a film that shows the truth about The Beatles recording together,” said McCartney in a statement, while Starr added: “There was hours and hours of us just laughing and playing music, not at all like the Let It Be film that came out [in 1970]. There was a lot of joy and I think Peter will show that.”

The Beatles: Get Back streams Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays on Disney+