The newly refurbished version of *The Beatles Anthology* has been rolling out on Disney+ over several days this week, culminating with a newly commissioned Episode 9 premiering Friday night. This updated edition offers more than just a fresh edit and polish—it delivers an all-new finale that feels sweeter and more uplifting than the original series’ gradual fade-out, which ended with the break-up of the most popular band of all time.
Fans are unlikely to mind the extra hour of added context and sentiment. As the new episode premiered, its director, Oliver Murray, shared with *Variety* the intentions behind this fresh finale. Murray is the same filmmaker whom Apple Corps enlisted two years ago to direct a short film about the “final Beatles single,” *Now and Then*. Although he wasn’t yet a teenager when the original *Beatles Anthology* first aired in prime time 30 years ago, Murray was chosen to weave together archival footage alongside Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Back in the ’90s, the three surviving Beatles reactivated as a group, working on old John Lennon home demos to create new songs such as “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.” These tracks were added to the *Anthology* albums released in 1995. They also briefly attempted “Now and Then,” which wasn’t completed until 2023 and is foreshadowed in the new Episode 9.
The British filmmaker says he set out to humanize the trio as they reassessed their legacy in the ’90s, while also acknowledging that their story is “modern, 20th century folklore that doesn’t age,” much like *The Lord of the Rings*.
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**The Interview**
*The Apple team clearly appreciated your work on the “Now and Then” short film, leading to this new *Anthology* episode. Did the commission come after finishing that project?*
“I was in L.A. doing press for the *Now and Then* short with Jonathan Clyde, Apple Corps’ director of production. On the last day, I was called into an office in Santa Monica and asked if I’d consider developing an extra episode for the *Anthology* re-release, with time over Christmas to review materials, talk to archivists, watch footage, and come back with a treatment.”
“Between Christmas dinners and family visits, I jotted down ideas. The brief was loose but emphasized including more from the ’90s sessions featured in *Now and Then*. We had only scratched the surface of the ‘Free as a Bird’ and ‘Real Love’ material, so I knew that could be a focus.”
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*How did you approach Episode 9 compared to the previous eight episodes?*
“Episode 9 was a gift—it allowed us to step outside the strict chronology of Episodes 1-8, which are a faithful reconstruction of the original series. I wanted to bring a contemporary sensibility and focus on *how* the band felt to be Beatles—the ‘north star’ of this episode.”
“I also liked making the *Anthology* feel cyclical. Themes of brotherhood from Episode 1, where they find each other, echo in Episode 9 as they rebuild their friendship. Instead of ending with their breakup in 1970, the finale lifts the heavy fog of their final years and finishes on a more positive note.”
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*Episode 9 ends in the mid-’90s with footage of the band making “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” and promotional interviews. There are no contemporary interviews or references after that. It stops in time much like the original series stopped in 1970. Was that a deliberate choice?*
“Absolutely. Every time I finished editing, I imagined saying, ‘Right, it’s 1995.’ I could have interviewed Ringo or Paul today, but I didn’t want to juxtapose 2025 perspectives talking about 1965 events. It felt nebulous.”
“Given the *Anthology* is a revered artifact you have to treat carefully, I wanted to take the gloves off and create something with modern rhythms while still tethered to a 30-year-old foundation. Thematically, we could wander through memories, brotherhood, and the unique existence the Beatles lived.”
“I also aimed to follow the old filmmaking mantra: ‘arrive late, leave early’—to focus on the essential, poignant moments. Interestingly, *Now and Then* as a short film could almost serve as an ‘Episode 9.5’ since all of this material ties together.”
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*You included rare footage of McCartney, Harrison, and Starr interviewed together in Studio Two at Abbey Road, which fans have never seen before. How rare was that?*
“I couldn’t believe that joint interview was unseen until now. While Episodes 1-8 show them mostly individually, Episode 9 reveals them engaging together, having seen each other’s interviews, realizing they each see the story differently.”
“Ringo comments, ‘This isn’t my *Anthology,* it’s our *Anthology.*’ Even the Beatles themselves can’t fully grasp their own legacy—it’s sprawling, evolving modern folklore.”
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*How much of Episode 9’s material had been seen before?*
“It’s roughly a 50/50 split between unseen and previously released material. What can’t be overstated is the restoration work done by Park Road Post, Peter Jackson’s company. While DVD rips and leaks exist, this new version has been meticulously scrubbed up—viewers are seeing the footage as it was meant to be seen.”
“Moments like the three Beatles casually singing ‘Thinking of Linking,’ one of their earliest original songs, first appeared in DVD extras but never curated into a linear story. Now it’s properly presented on a premium streamer like Disney+, allowing deeper appreciation.”
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*You mentioned aiming to appeal both to lifelong Beatles fans and younger audiences new to the band. How did you balance that?*
“I wanted Episode 9 to be accessible for newcomers who might use it as an entry point, outside the strict chronology. There are stories about the band’s haircuts, boots, and inventive studio work that capture their essence.”
“At the same time, it’s rich with meaningful details for hardcore fans. The trick was avoiding the middle ground where it wouldn’t fully satisfy either group.”
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*Throughout the episode, how do the Beatles express their feelings about their legacy?*
“The episode’s core is about how they felt being Beatles. There are proud, joyful moments, alongside melancholy—especially for George, who wrestled with being forever labeled ‘George Harrison: Beatle,’ a badge he couldn’t remove.”
“We see different facets of their personalities and how they experienced that legacy. Without John—who’d passed in 1980—George comes across as the most skeptical, sometimes an outsider, but still a willing participant. Watching this reconciliation is satisfying, especially for fans familiar with documentaries like *Get Back* or *Let It Be,* which painted a more complicated picture of their final years.”
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*It’s remarkable that decades after years apart, the relational dynamics among Paul, George, and Ringo still surface when they reunited in the ’90s. What did you notice about their chemistry?*
“It’s amazing. After decades of little contact, when they gathered in Abbey Road’s Studio Two, the old dynamics were still there, dormant but alive.”
“Paul was energetic, racing ahead with ideas, full of exuberance. George somewhat filled the Lennon role, bringing thoughtful input. Ringo was quiet, weighing in sparingly but delivering poignant or humorous ‘cherries on the cake.’ Their interplay, forged in their youth, came full circle.”
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*That final scene of them sitting on the grass at George’s estate playing a tune—how fitting is that as an ending to their story?*
“It’s a lovely, intimate way to close this definitive Beatles saga, much truer to their legacy than simply fading out at 1970. That footage now feels timeless; we’re 30 years on from when it was shot—further than the 25 years from 1970 to 1995.”
“For many, it’s a time warp. In 1995, the Beatles seemed distant and aged, but the footage reveals comparatively youthful men—not just middle-aged icons reminiscing but creators reconnecting.”
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*What was your personal experience with *The Beatles Anthology* growing up?*
“I was 10 when the original *Anthology* aired. My family had just moved, surrounded by boxes, and the TV was on a makeshift stand of stacked boxes. My parents declared, ‘This is what we’re watching,’ and, although I was skeptical, the story of four working-class kids with a dream mesmerized me.”
“For me, and globally, the Beatles’ story is modern 20th-century folklore. It doesn’t age like filmmaking techniques might, similar to how *The Lord of the Rings* holds up. I wanted to humanize them—as young men having fun making music together again, not as curmudgeons reflecting on the past.”
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*Any final thoughts on the Beatles’ enduring legacy?*
“They remain astounding—George was 24 when he made *Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.* At that age, I was doing silly things like making bongos out of potatoes! The Beatles’ music and story have become a cultural language passed down through generations. For those who weren’t there the first time, it never gets old—like classic literature or Shakespeare.”
“It’s an honor to help bring their story to new audiences, ensuring it continues to resonate and inspire.”
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*The Beatles Anthology*, now streaming on Disney+, with Episode 9 offering a fresh, heartfelt close to an iconic chapter in music history.
https://variety.com/2025/music/news/beatles-anthology-episode-9-director-oliver-murray-interview-1236595076/
