Restored 'Let It Be' Film Announced as Coming to Disney+
Tuesday 16 April 2024 | Film and video
The Beatles' 1970 film Let It Be will arrive on Disney+ on 8 May 2024, marking its first official availability in over 50 years. The release follows a major restoration overseen by Peter Jackson's Park Road Post Production team.
Originally directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in January 1969, the film documents The Beatles during the sessions for the Let It Be album, including rehearsals at Twickenham Film Studios, Apple Studios, and the famous rooftop concert at Apple Corps in London. The album that emerged from those sessions was controversially handed to producer Phil Spector, whose Wall of Sound treatment β particularly on 'The Long and Winding Road' β sparked a furious response from Paul McCartney and remains one of the most debated decisions in Beatles history.
The restoration used the original 16mm negatives and advanced audio work, including machine-assisted learning (MAL) technology previously used on The Beatles: Get Back and the 'Now And Then' single restoration.
The announcement confirmed that the restored film will debut exclusively on Disney+, with no physical release currently confirmed, though a wider distribution is possible later.
Peter Jackson described the project as completing the story begun in Get Back, while Michael Lindsay-Hogg reflected on the original film's context during The Beatles' breakup and its later re-evaluation through a more positive lens.
Production & Restoration Context
FAQ
When will 'Let It Be' be released on Disney+?
It debuted exclusively on Disney+ on 8 May 2024.
Who restored the film?
The restoration was carried out by Peter Jackson's Park Road Post Production team.
What footage does the film include?
It includes studio sessions from January 1969 and the rooftop performance at Apple Corps in London.
Why is this release significant?
The film has been unavailable since the 1980s and completes the visual narrative expanded by Peter Jackson's Get Back series.
Also on This Day β 16 April in Beatles History
- The Beatles at Top Ten Club, Hamburg (1961)
- The Beatles at Star-Club, Hamburg (1962)
- The Beatles on Scene At 6.30 (1963)
- The Beatles record 'A Hard Day's Night' at Abbey Road (1964)
- Filming A Hard Day's Night: Chase scenes in London (1964)
- The Beatles on Ready Steady Go! (1965)
- The Beatles record 'Rain' at Abbey Road (1966)
- The Beatles record 'Old Brown Shoe' and begin 'Something' (1969)
- Mixing Ram β Paul McCartney (1971)
- Wings Over Europe Tour Mixing Sessions (1973)
- John Lennon & Yoko Ono Interview with Elliot Mintz (1973)
- Paul McCartney Earth Day Concert β Hollywood Bowl (1993)
- Paul McCartney live at Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia (2002)
- McCartney III Imagined release (2021)
π See everything that happened on 16 April in Beatles History
Explore more: The Beatles Knowledge Hub | On This Day in Beatles History
Shop: Let It Be & Get Back Collection | Beatles T-Shirts & Tops
0 comments