Peter Jackson's Beatles documentary film ‘Get Back’ gets 2020 cinema release date

12 March 2020, 11:05 | Updated: 22 September 2023, 13:19

‘The Beatles: Get Back’ film set for 2020 cinematic release
‘The Beatles: Get Back’ film set for 2020 cinematic release. Picture: PA

By Rory O'Connor

Peter Jackson has announced the release date of his long-awaited Beatles documentary film Get Back, and it promises to be a must-see film for Fab Four fans.

The Walt Disney Studios has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary.

The new film will feature “extensive, never-before-seen footage” of the band’s ‘Let It Be’ recording sessions along with the entire iconic rooftop concert, fully restored.

The Beatles: Get Back will be released in the UK on September 4, 2020, with a global release to follow shortly afterwards.

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The Walt Disney Company’s Executive Chairman Robert A Iger 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.

‘The Beatles: Get Back’ film set for 2020 cinematic release
‘The Beatles: Get Back’ film set for 2020 cinematic release. Picture: Getty

“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.”

The film has been compiled from over 55 hours of unseen footage, filmed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and 140 hours of mostly unheard audio recordings from the ‘Let It Be’ album sessions.

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Producer and director Peter 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.”

Speaking ahead of the release, Paul 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.”

Ringo Starr added: “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.

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“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.”

A fully restored version of the original Let It Be film will also be made available at a later date.