New Beatles film directed by Sir Peter Jackson will draw on 55 hours of unseen footage for ‘ultimate fly on the wall experience’

A NEW film about The Beatles is to be directed by Lord of the Rings filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson.

The flick will draw on 55 hours of unseen studio footage shot in 1969 and follow the recording sessions for the Fab Four's final album, Let It Be.

Announcing the news on the band's official Twitter account, New Zealand director Peter described the project as "the ultimate 'fly on the wall' experience".

The Oscar-winning director said of the film: "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.

"It’s like a time machine transports us back to 1969, and we get to sit in the studio watching these four friends make great music together."

He added: "Sure, there’s moments of drama - but none of the discord this project has long been associated with.

"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."

He concluded: "I'm thrilled and honoured to have been entrusted with this remarkable footage - making the movie will be a sheer joy."

The social media post revealed that the footage was originally billed as a TV special but eventually formed the basis of a feature film, also titled Let It Be.

The Kiwi filmmaker has previously discussed his love for the band and said at the 2016 premiere of Ron Howard's Eight Days a Week documentary.

He said at the time: "I'm not a musical expert - and The Beatles are just about the only music I like."

The news comes months after the release of Jackson's acclaimed World War One documentary They Shall Not Grow Old.

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220.

We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.