Disney+ to stream original Beatles’ 1970 ‘Let It Be’ film restored by Peter Jackson

Disney+ announced they will release a restored version of the Beatles film Let It Be, announcing in a press release that the film will premiere May 8

Per Billboard, the film chronicling the final days of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr will be available for the first time in more than 50 years when it airs exclusively on Disney+ on May 8. Let It Be, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, was originally released in May 1970. The film follows Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr as they rehearse and record songs in January 1969 for their 1970 album, Let It Be; the album was the group’s final before their split.

Director Peter Jackson and his Park Road Post Production, with the support of original director Lindsay-Hogg, restored the Let It Be film from the original 16mm negative. Jackson previously worked on 2021’s The Beatles: Get Back docuseries that explored the making of the Let It Be album, which featured unused footage and audio from the original Let It Be film.

Jackson said in a statement: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Michael’s movie, ‘Let It Be’, has been restored and is finally being re-released after being unavailable for decades. I was so lucky to have access to Michael’s outtakes for ‘Get Back’, and I’ve always thought that ‘Let It Be’ is needed to complete the ‘Get Back’ story. Over three parts, we showed Michael and The Beatles filming a groundbreaking new documentary, and ‘Let It Be’ is that documentary — the movie they released in 1970. I now think of it all as one epic story, finally completed after five decades. The two projects support and enhance each other: ‘Let It Be’ is the climax of ‘Get Back’, while ‘Get Back’ provides a vital missing context for ‘Let It Be’.”

Editorial credit: Blueee77 / Shutterstock.com