If you had told me this after the Hobbit films, I'd have been worried, but I just saw "They Shall Not Grow Old" which is an amazing documentary, so I'm very excited that he's tackling this project.
This is pretty much what I asked for in another thread. I know Peter Jackson recently did an archive film about WWI but I wonder why a more experienced documentary maker wasn't chosen. But that's churlish of me to say before the ink is dry on this announcement. You could turn 5 film makers loose on this material and end up with 5 very different films so there's a lot of responsibility to get it right. Some might argue the first guy didn't.
Just read bout this. Wow! Apparently the original film will get a new digital release to be announced with this project. Peter Jackson Signs On to Make New Beatles Film Out of Unseen ‘Let It Be’ Footage
"London – January 30, 2019 - Apple Corps Ltd. and WingNut Films Ltd. are proud to announce an exciting new collaboration between The Beatles and the acclaimed Academy Award winning director Sir Peter Jackson. The new film will be based around 55 hours of never-released footage of The Beatles in the studio, shot between January 2nd and January 31st, 1969. These studio sessions produced The Beatles’ Grammy Award winning album Let It Be, with its Academy Award winning title song. The album was eventually released 18 months later in May 1970, several months after the band had broken up. The filming was originally intended for a planned TV special, but organically turned into something completely different, climaxing with The Beatles’ legendary performance on the roof of Apple's Savile Row London office — which took place exactly 50 years ago today. Peter 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.” Although The Beatles were filmed extensively during the 1960s - in concerts, interviews and movies - this is the only footage of any note that documents them at work in the studio. The Let It Be album and movie, having been released in the months following The Beatles’ breakup, have often been viewed in the context of the struggle the band was going through at that time. “I was relieved to discover the reality is very different to the myth,” continues 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”. "I’m thrilled and honoured to have been entrusted with this remarkable footage - making the movie will be a sheer joy.” Jackson will be working with his They Shall Not Grow Old partners, Producer Clare Olssen and Editor Jabez Olssen. The footage will be restored by Park Road Post of Wellington, New Zealand, to a pristine standard, using techniques developed for the WW1 documentary film which has been nominated for a BAFTA for best documentary. The untitled film is currently in production and the release date will be announced in due course. This film is being made with the full co-operation of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon, and Olivia Harrison. The Executive Producers are Ken Kamins for WingNut Films and Jeff Jones and Jonathan Clyde for Apple Corps. Following the release of this new film, a restored version of the original Let It Be movie directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg will also be made available."
It's from The Beatles own web site... So very very real NEW FILM PROJECT: Announcing an exciting new collaboration between The Beatles and the acclaimed Academy Award winning director Sir Peter Jackson
I feel this should be made bold: Following the release of this new film, a restored version of the original Let It Be movie directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg will also be made available
I reckon as part of an extensive box set.... Vinyl album, CD's and DVD & Blu-Ray. With a reprint of the original book, plus extras....
Damn right he didn't. The editing is inexcusably awful (the jump in Besamé Mucho anyone?). If he had to edit around gaps in the footage, i'd rather have a completely unrelated shot to cover the gap while the sound continues (in music films at least). Maxwell was also poorly edited. One thing about this new version: I hope they don't crop the footage to 16:9.
The original was shot on 16 mm film, so blowing it up for 16:9 fullscreen would not be a wise move, I think.
This is huge. I'm really impressed that a director of Jackson's stature is going to do a project this important. Also covered at these links: Peter Jackson to Direct Documentary About The Beatles' 'Let It Be' Recording Sessions Peter Jackson Signs On to Make New Beatles Film Out of Unseen ‘Let It Be’ Footage Peter Jackson To Direct Documentary Film On The Beatles ‘Let It Be’ Recording Sessions Although... Jackson blew up the WWI footage in the documentary released a few weeks ago. My bet is that there'll be multiple versions, like a 2.5-hour theatrical version, then a longer version for home video, and then a ridiculously-long deluxe boxed set. But at least it finally answers the question: when will Let It Be be released again on home video?
Wow, I had no idea it was a Grammy Award winner! I hope they don't include actors like Whoopi Goldberg like they did with the Ron Howard Movie.
