Director Ron Howard has been tapped to direct an official documentary on The Beatles. The film will focus on the 1960-66 period when the four lads from Liverpool captivated audiences around the world. It has the full cooperation of Apple Corps Ltd, the studio that holds the rights to a large majority of Beatles material. Also surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will be included as well as John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono Lennon and George Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison.
When speaking with Deadline, Ron Howard said,
Not only did I see the Ed Sullivan Show along with everybody else, the only thing I wanted for my tenth birthday was a Beatles wig, which I got. I’d never thought about bands before, only Elvis. These guys looked and sounded different, and were absolutely explosive to watch. The girls were screaming. It was this flash of genius and uniqueness, but they were also relate-able. Seeing them onThe Ed Sullivan Showwas right up there with the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, in terms of images from the television set that I’ll never forget, and that were pivot points of what was possible.
This is certainly not the first documentary of the fab four, but it might just end up being the most complete. Not only does it have a prestigious director behind it in Ron Howard, but the cooperation of the surviving band members gives it another level of distinction. Perhaps fans will see performances and footage that has never been seen until now. With the recent success of the Janus Films run of A Hard Day’s Night, Beatlesmania is still alive and strong. Production has just begun on the documentary and it should be released next year.
Source: Deadline
