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'Lord Of The Ringos': The Beatles Announce New Movie With Peter Jackson

Jackson said it will be "the ultimate ‘fly on the wall’ experience that Beatles fans have long dreamt about."

'Lord Of The Ringos': The Beatles Announce New Movie With Peter Jackson

“The Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson is collaborating with The Beatles on a new movie he promises “will be the ultimate ‘fly on the wall’ experience” that fans have longed for.

Jackson will craft the as-yet-untitled film from 55 hours of previously unreleased footage showing the legendary British music group recording what would become its Grammy Award-winning album “Let It Be” in January 1969.

British director Michael Edward Lindsay-Hogg had originally intended to use the footage he filmed half a century ago, alongside 140 hours of audio, for a television special. But as The Beatles Twitter account Wednesday noted, it “organically” morphed into Lindsay-Hogg’s 1970 documentary “Let It Be.”

Jackson said he was “relieved to discover the reality” of the filming of the album 50 years ago was “very different to the myth” of constant conflict between the band’s members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr ― given how the group split up several months later.

“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,” Jackson added. “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.”

Check out the full thread here:

NEW FILM PROJECT - We are proud to announce an exciting new collaboration between The Beatles and the acclaimed Academy Award winning director Sir Peter Jackson. pic.twitter.com/7e0h95FOWV

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

The new film will be based around 55 hours of never-released footage in the studio, shot between January 2nd and January 31st, 1969.

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

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 Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

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.

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

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."

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

“I was relieved to discover the reality is very different to the myth,” continues Jackson, “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.

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

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”.

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

"I’m thrilled and honoured to have been entrusted with this remarkable footage - making the movie will be a sheer joy. pic.twitter.com/aWLWlqHSla

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2019

And fan reactions here:

Is Peter Jackson's new Beatles doc going to be called "Lord Of The Ringos" 🤪#peterjackson #Beatles #letitbe

— Allan Heron (@AllanHeron) January 30, 2019

John, Paul, George and Frodo.

— Barry Rowlingson🐺 (@geospacedman) January 30, 2019

THIS IS AMAZING pic.twitter.com/7HAcrgn3oI

— Nowhere Boy (@AlonsoPelado) January 30, 2019