This time, it won’t be “not really a documentary” warns the filmmaker.
Peter Jackson was acclaimed for Get Back, his long documentary on the Beatles broadcast at the end of 2021 on Disney +. The director of Lord of the Rings delved into the archives of the album’s creation “Let it Be”, recorded in 1970, and delivered an exceptional work to the streaming platform. Interviewed by Deadline about it, he now reveals to be discussing a new project with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the two members of the group still alive. But this time, it will not be to make a documentary out of it, specifies the director.
“I’m talking to the Beatles about another project, replies Peter Jackson. It will be something very, very different from Get Back. We are currently looking into the possibilities, but yes, I have another project with them. It won’t really be a documentary…and that’s all I can tell you.”
Note that the two musicians had collaborated with Peter Jackson on Get Back, validating its selection of archives and editing. They did not ask the director to edit his work, and even supported him when Disney wanted swear words cut. Jackson explained at the end of last year: “Paul described the documentary as very raw. Ringo said: ‘He respects the truth.’ It is very important for them that the film is faithful to what happened. They don’t want us to soften anything. They don’t want to look like monsters either. Disney, for example, wanted to erase all swear words, but Ringo, Paul and Olivia (Harrison, the wife of the musician who died in 2001, editor’s note) all said: ‘That’s how we talked. It was our language. And we want the world to see us that way.’“
Get Back: 10 things to remember about the Beatles after Peter Jackson’s doc