Behind the Scenes Buzz

PETER JACKSON TO DIRECT BEATLES DOCUMENTARY: Lord of the Rings helmer Peter Jackson has signed on to direct a documentary about The Beatles’ recording of Let It Be in 1969. Jackson will tap 55 hours of never-released behind-the-scenes footage. The project is said that have co-operation from principles and widows Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison. Let It Be was released in 1970, months after the band broke up. “After reviewing all the footage and audio that Michael Lindsay-Hogg shot 18 months before they broke up, it’s simply an amazing historical treasure-trove,” Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”

HOT WHEELS FILM IN THE WORKS: Mattel and Warner Bros. are teaming up on Hot Wheels, a film about the toyline of small cars. This comes after Mattel’s first, halting attempt to turn a property into a movie. Barbie had casting issues (Amy Schumer and Anne Hathaway dropped out; Margot Robbie is now in), and Sony bowed out of. Do you think there’s an audience for Hot Wheels?

ZACK SNYDER RETURNING TO FILM: Zack Snyder left film after helming 2017’s Justice League to deal with his daughter’s tragic suicide. Now, he is set to return to helm Army of the Dead for Netflix. Zack will direct the zombie horror film, and his wife Deborah Snyder will produce via their newly rebranded company Stone Quarry. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the streaming giant is pulling out all the stops for the film, and providing up to $90 million in funding. “I thought this was a good palate cleanser to really dig in with both hands and make something fun and epic and crazy and bonkers in the best possible way,” he told THR.

AMAZON SNAGS BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON: Amazon nabbed Brittany Runs a Marathon for $14 million at Sundance. Paul Downs Colaizzo directed the dramedy, which features Jillian Bell playing a hard-partying millennial who attempts to change her life by (yep) running a marathon.