McCartney 3,2,1 Documentary Coming to Hulu – Announced 17 May 2021

Q: What was Paul McCartney's most recent album when McCartney 3,2,1 was announced?

McCartney III, released December 2020, which reached number one in both the UK and the US.

May 16, 2026

McCartney 3,2,1 Documentary Coming to Hulu – Announced 17 May 2021

Monday 17 May 2021 | Paul McCartney, Press Release, Television

On 17 May 2021, Hulu announced McCartney 3,2,1 — a six-part documentary series featuring Paul McCartney in conversation with legendary music producer Rick Rubin. All six episodes were set to premiere on Friday 16 July 2021. The series covered McCartney's entire career, from the beginnings of The Beatles through Wings and his solo work, with Rubin drawing out reflections on songwriting, influences, and personal relationships.

The Series

McCartney 3,2,1 was a one-on-one conversation series — six episodes of McCartney and Rubin sitting together, talking through the music. The format was deliberately intimate: no archive footage montages, no talking heads, no narration. Just two people at a mixing desk, with Rubin playing back recordings and asking McCartney to reflect on how they were made, what they meant, and where they came from.

The series was directed by Emmy Award-winning Zachary Heinzerling and executive produced by McCartney, Rubin, Scott Rodger, Peter Berg, Matthew Goldberg, Brandon Carroll, Jeff Pollack, Frank Marshall, and Ryan Suffern, with Leila Mattimore as co-executive producer. It was produced by Endeavor Content alongside MPL Communications Inc., Shangri-La, Film 45, Kennedy Marshall, and Diamond Docs.

The Official Press Release

"Today, Hulu announced the Original documentary series McCartney 3,2,1. The six-episode music series event features intimate and revealing examinations of musical history from two living legends, Paul McCartney and super producer Rick Rubin, and hails from Endeavor Content. The series is executive produced by McCartney, Rubin, Scott Rodger, Peter Berg, Matthew Goldberg, Brandon Carroll, Jeff Pollack, Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern with Leila Mattimore serving as co-executive producer. All six episodes of McCartney 3,2,1 premiere Friday, July 16, on Hulu."

Craig Erwich, president of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, said:

"Never before have fans had the opportunity to hear Paul McCartney share, in such expansive, celebratory detail, the experience of creating his life's work – more than 50 years of culture-defining music. To be an observer as Paul and Rick Rubin deconstruct how some of the biggest hits in music history came to be is truly enlightening. It is an honor that Paul chose to return to Hulu to share this one-of-a-kind series."

— Craig Erwich, President, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment

The full series description from the press release:

"In the series, Paul McCartney sits down for a rare in-depth one-on-one with legendary music producer Rick Rubin to discuss his groundbreaking work with The Beatles, the emblematic 1970s arena rock of Wings and his 50-plus years as a solo artist. In this six-episode series that explores music and creativity in a unique and revelatory manner, the documentary gives a front-row seat to Paul and Rick in an intimate conversation about the songwriting, influences, and personal relationships that informed the iconic songs that have served as the soundtracks of our lives."

Paul McCartney

The press release noted that McCartney had written his first song at the age of 14, and that his career had been "impossibly prolific and singularly influential". It cited his 18 Grammy Awards, his knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997, and the success of McCartney III — his most recent album at the time, which had reached number one on the UK Official Charts and the US Billboard Top Album Sales Chart upon its release in December 2020.

Rick Rubin

The press release described Rubin as co-host of the podcast Broken Record with Malcolm Gladwell, and noted his recent production of The New Abnormal with The Strokes — which had won a Grammy Award. Rubin's career as a producer spans hip-hop, heavy metal, country, and rock, and includes work with Johnny Cash, Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, and Adele.

Key Facts: 17 May 2021

Announcement date: 17 May 2021
Premiere date: Friday 16 July 2021
Platform: Hulu
Episodes: Six
Format: One-on-one conversation between McCartney and Rubin
Director: Zachary Heinzerling
Executive producers: McCartney, Rubin, Scott Rodger, Peter Berg, Matthew Goldberg, Brandon Carroll, Jeff Pollack, Frank Marshall, Ryan Suffern
Studio: Endeavor Content / MPL Communications / Shangri-La / Film 45 / Kennedy Marshall / Diamond Docs
McCartney's most recent album at time of announcement: McCartney III (December 2020, UK and US #1)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is McCartney 3,2,1?

A six-part documentary series on Hulu featuring Paul McCartney in conversation with producer Rick Rubin, covering McCartney's entire career from The Beatles through Wings and his solo work. All six episodes premiered on 16 July 2021.

Who directed McCartney 3,2,1?

Emmy Award-winning director Zachary Heinzerling.

What is the format of McCartney 3,2,1?

An intimate one-on-one conversation between McCartney and Rubin, with Rubin playing back recordings and asking McCartney to reflect on how they were made, what they meant, and where they came from. No narration, no talking heads — just the two of them.