Beatles film to be remade

Disney will update the animated classic ‘Yellow Submarine’...

13:31 21 August 2009

A 21st century revision of The BeatlesÂ’ animated adventure ‘Yellow SubmarineÂ’ is to be made by Disney.  

The update will be directed by Robert Zemeckis, whose past films include ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Forrest Gump’ and the live action/cartoon crossover ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’

Disney hopes to have the film released to coincide with the 2012 London Olympics, but studio talks are still focussing on the rights to use 16 of the Fab Four’s hits, including ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ and ‘All You Need Is Love’.

As in the original film, actors will take on the roles of John, Paul, George and Ringo. The plot will also be similar as the musicians attempt to save the undersea paradise of Pepperland from music-loathing Blue Meanies.

The band made a live-action cameo appearance in the final scene of the hit 1968 film.

The new version of ‘Yellow Submarine’ will be filmed using performance-capture 3DD, a medium which has previously been explored by Zemeckis in ‘The Polar Express’, ‘Beowulf’ and the forthcoming Jim Carrey vehicle ‘A Christmas Carol’.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney originally wrote the song ‘Yellow Submarine’ of which the film was inspired.

The Beatles themselves had previously starred in iconic live action films ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and ‘Help!’ – two films which are credited with being precursors to the modern music video.

All of the bandÂ’s albums have been extensively remastered for a September release to coincide with the release of the ‘Beatles Rock BandÂ’ games.