Beatles fans are exceedingly happy today.
The long-awaited Peter Jackson-directed re-working of their 1970 documentary film “Let It Be” has a name and a release date.
“The Beatles: Get Back” will be out in the U.S. and Canada September 4, the start of Labor, and Labour, Day weekend. The announcement was made this morning by Disney Chairman Bob Iger, who also revealed at this morning’s company shareholder meeting that Disney Pictures will handle the worldwide distribution of the film.
This version of the January, 1969 sessions at Twickenham Studios and, later, The Beatles basement studio at their Apple office on Savile Row, is going to be a more upbeat story of that turbulent four weeks, which saw George Harrison quit the band for 12 days, and Billy Preston brought in as both a perfect sideman, and conciliator, on keyboards.
In this morning’s announcement, two real gems about the upcoming release were revealed.
First, the legendary rooftop performance on January 30, 1969, will be featured in the film in its entirety. Secondly, those who are still clamoring for a re-release of the original Let It Be film will have their wish granted as a separate release of that version will also come out.
More details are forthcoming and, if this is any indication of the scope of this release, it looks like we are in for a real treat this September!