Peter Jackson’s ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ Documentary to Premiere on Disney+ as Three-Part Series on Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, Peter Jackson’s awaited The Beatles: Get Back documentary will premiere on Disney+ as a three-part series, debuting on Nov. 25, 26, and 27, each episode with an approximate run time of two hours.

The official announcement notes that such a decision was made in hopes of best presenting the “wealth of tremendous footage Peter Jackson has reviewed” for the project, which has been in the works for upwards of three years now. The decision makes sense, considering a six-hour standalone documentary would be a lot to expect anybody to watch, and, of course, cutting material would be a shame for a project of this scope regarding the Fab Four.

Experience The Beatles: Get Back, a three-part @DisneyPlus Original documentary series streaming November 25, 26 and 27. To find out more visit https://t.co/WD7FPPbm1P. pic.twitter.com/5ipcTqv5LB

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) June 17, 2021

“As a huge Beatles fan myself, I am absolutely thrilled that Disney+ will be the home for this extraordinary documentary series by the legendary filmmaker Peter Jackson,” said Bob Iger, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, The Walt Disney Company. “This phenomenal collection of never-before-seen footage offers an unprecedented look at the close camaraderie, genius songwriting, and indelible impact of one of the most iconic and culturally influential bands of all time, and we can’t wait to share ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ with fans around the world.”

Peter Jackson said, “In many respects, Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s remarkable footage captured multiple storylines. The story of friends and of individuals. It is the story of human frailties and of a divine partnership. It is a detailed account of the creative process, with the crafting of iconic songs under pressure, set amid the social climate of early 1969. But it’s not nostalgia – it’s raw, honest, and human. Over six hours, you’ll get to know The Beatles with an intimacy that you never thought possible.”

He added, “I’m very grateful to The Beatles, Apple Corps and Disney for allowing me to present this story in exactly the way it should be told. I’ve been immersed in this project for nearly three years, and I’m very excited that audiences around the world will finally be able to see it.”

Here’s a six-minute preview of The Beatles: Get Back, which Jackson first shared back in December 2020:

The Beatles: Get Back was supposed to be released to the masses in 2020, only to see the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent upheaval of the entertainment industry push its scheduled release to 2021.

More on the documentary series, per the Beatles’ website:

Directed by three-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “They Shall Not Grow Old”), “The Beatles: Get Back” takes audiences back in time to the band’s intimate recording sessions during a pivotal moment in music history. The documentary showcases the warmth, camaraderie and creative genius that defined the legacy of the iconic foursome, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage shot in January 1969 (by Michael Lindsay-Hogg) and more than 150 hours of unheard audio, all of which has been brilliantly restored. Jackson is the only person in 50 years to have been given access to these private film archives. “The Beatles: Get Back” is the story of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as they plan their first live show in over two years, capturing the writing and rehearsing of 14 new songs, originally intended for release on an accompanying live album. The documentary features – for the first time in its entirety – The Beatles’ last live performance as a group, the unforgettable rooftop concert on London’s Savile Row, as well as other songs and classic compositions featured on the band’s final two albums, Abbey Road and Let It Be.