Get Back in theatres

Sir Paul on stage at the cinema before the film started.

A 100 minute version of the new Peter Jackson documentary series “The Beatles – Get Back” has been secretly prepared for cinematic release, and premiered yesterday at Cineworld Empire cinema, Leicester Square, London for an invited audience.

Among the luminaries there were Sir Paul with daughter Mary, Dhani Harrison, Zak Starkey, Pattie Boyd, Giles Martin etc. Sir Paul was on stage, welcoming the audience before the film commenced.

Aside from this gala premiere, the 100 min film is being screened for a specially invited audience in many cities around the world next week. So what is this? Is it the film as it was back when it was really intended for theatrical release? As you may recall, that was the plan at first, only a lot later it was expanded into a six hours (some say close to eight hours) long documentary series in three parts to be streamed on Disney+. That may be overkill for your casual audience, and this 100 minute version may be all they are willing to sit through. Or is this simply the first 100 minutes of the documentary series? We’ll know for sure next week, as we are attending one of the screenings.

The questions everyone seems to keep asking these days are: So will it be released in home video formats? What about the “Let It Be” film?

As you may or may not know, nothing has been said officially about this. But here’s a rumour we heard: According to a trustworthy source who helped with the film, the original “Let It Be” film will be separately released on DVD/Blu-ray (probably in 2022). As for “Get Back”, the physical releases on DVD/Blu-ray/UHD Blu-Ray will include extra 6 hours of footage (making it 12 hours of content). I guess you’ll need as much to convince the naysayers that the “Let It Be” sessions really weren’t so bad after all.

Here are some film clips from the gala premiere, courtesy of ITV News:

21 Responses

  1. Sam G says:

    Well, I’m sure I’m one of many here hoping this gets a full cinema release!

  2. Rick says:

    I know I was. How come in Europe they can see it on the big screen but here in the US we have to watch it on the TV? And hopefully in the near future it will come out on DVD but knowing Disney they’re charge a arm and probably a leg for it

    • admin says:

      As these theatrical screenings are available by invitation only, and for free, they are not announced publicly. It’s likely to be screened in USA also, most likely New York and/or Los Angeles. As far as we know, Tokyo is also on the list.

  3. Rick says:

    New York and LA always get the good stuff. There are other places here as well

  4. Peter C says:

    Neither of John’s kids attend?

  5. MiKE D says:

    WOW thanks for the info! You made my day/ week/ month!

    Let It Be on Blu-ray AT LAST in 2022 (fingers crossed)
    and an extra SIX hours of Get Back on Blu-ray??
    Incredible!
    Would this be like each of the 3 episodes would then run 4 hrs approx, instead of 2?
    Or would be it be 6 hrs of “deleted scenes” on another Disc perhaps? Not incorporated
    into the series proper?

    Looking fwd to your report on the 100 min version screening – let`s hope for a wide cinema release!
    (eventually)

  6. emigar2 says:

    Roger, any chances for screening in other European countries? E.g. Spain?

    • admin says:

      I really can’t say. I know of about four different screenings: London, Tokyo and a couple of other capitals – because I know some of the people who have been invited. I guess only the invitees will know, since the screenings aren’t advertised to the public.

  7. Shelley says:

    Your reliable sources make me happy! Fingers crossed for a DVD release of both films!

  8. Stuart says:

    Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy .. This could be AWESOME news! Very good indeed! I’m not sure Disney will instantly scalp us for money but if Apple get involved, they sure will.

  9. Tim K says:

    The fact that we are definitely getting over 6 hours in the docuseries if far more than I expected; should we also get a further 6 hours in the DVD/Blu Ray/4K release far exceeds my wildest dreams when you look at previous releases by Apple who are not known for their generosity! I would love all of the film footage to be released as, after all, this is the nearest to a Beatles reality show we have ! In any event, I also hope the DVD/Blu Ray/4K releases may also include extras such as interviews, documentaries on film and sound restoration (the audio restoration technology Jackson talks about in recent Get Back promo clips sounds amazing !!), and maybe the infamous “lunchtime John & Paul discussion” following George’s departure ! Also, I do hope they screen some of these on the cinema for the paying public so we can enjoy a truly immersive experience. Second mortgage arranged in readiness !!

    • Edward Rhodes says:

      12 hours is amazing! Over a quarter of the footage that Jackson has been working with, will be available to us! Who’d have thought it, eh?!

      • admin says:

        That’s only a rumour. According to a recent podcast, Mr Jackson has only prepared the documentary as it will be screened on Disney+. Should there be a demand for a physical release in extended form (which there are no plans for at the moment), Jackson will have to prepare bonus material. As it is, Disney is saying that there’s no demand in the market for extended cuts of films, so they have generally stopped making them. However, it’s Apple Corps Ltd calling the shots.

  10. Tim K says:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_TDyPlLbbM in which Peter Jackson says there is an 18 hour
    version !!

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