Peter Jackson wants the men of the First World War to regain their 'humanity once more' in his film
They Shall Not Grow Old, the "unique" Peter Jackson film aiming to bring to life World War One for a whole new generation, will get its TV debut on BBC2 on Armistice Day, the BBC has revealed.
The Lord of the Rings director has painstakingly restored silent film footage from the 1914-18 conflict, transforming black and white film into colour, for the highly anticipated movie.
They Shall Not Grow Old also uses the voices of veterans combined with the original archival footage to bring to life the reality of what the soldiers experienced on the frontline to a whole new generation.
Created to mark the centenary of the First World War Armistice, it will be shown on BBC2 on Sunday 11th November at 9.30pm.
Peter Jackson, Director and Producer of They Shall Not Grow Old, said: “I wanted to reach through the fog of time and pull these men into the modern world, so they can regain their humanity once more - rather than be seen only as Charlie Chaplin-type figures in the vintage archive film.
“By using our computing power to erase the technical limitations of 100 year-old cinema, we can see and hear the Great War as they experienced it.”
Tom McDonald, BBC Commissioner, added: “It’s a great honour to broadcast Peter Jackson’s extraordinary film, which brings the realities of World War One vividly to life.”
To accompany the premiere of They Shall Not Grow Old, BBC4 will screen a special behind-the-scenes 30-minute Peter Jackson documentary under the What Do Artists Do All Day? strand, on Monday November 12th at 7.30pm on BBC4.
They Shall Not Grow Old will be screened on BBC2 on Sunday 11th November at 9.30pm.
Peter Jackson with Prince William pic: REX/Shutterstock
