- Director Sam Mendes announced a cinematic event: four interconnected Beatles biopics, each focusing on a different band member. Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn will play John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, respectively.
- Fans have raised concerns over casting choices, noting discrepancies in age, nationality and physical resemblance between the actors and the original Beatles.
- The films, set for simultaneous release in April 2028, have received approval from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison.
Full Story
What’s better than one Beatles biopic? Four.
Director Sam Mendes is making four separate Beatles biopics. Each movie will highlight a different member of the iconic band.
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The announcement came at CinemaCon in Las Vegas during Sony Pictures’ presentation. Mendes appeared on stage with the actors who will play the Fab Four.
- Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon.
- Paul Mescal steps into the role of Paul McCartney.
- Barry Keoghan has been cast as Ringo Starr.
- Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison.
The project is billed as the first “bingeable theatrical experience” featuring a multi-perspective biopic series.
Fans raise questions
Despite the star-studded cast, some fans voiced concerns on social media about the casting choices.
Quinn, best known for his role in “Stranger Things,” and Mescal, who appears alongside Dickinson in “Gladiator II,” bring Hollywood credibility. However, one Reddit user noted that The Beatles were in their twenties during their most iconic years, while the actors cast are in their thirties.
Another user pointed out that only two of the actors—Dickinson and Quinn—are British. Fans also questioned the physical resemblance, suggesting the actors don’t closely match the look of the original band members.
Release date set for April 2028
The Associated Press reported that studios will release all four Beatles biopics around each other in April 2028.
“There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation,” Mendes said. “I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore—and I think we found a way to do that.”
Still, not everyone is convinced. One Reddit comment read, “Who of the casual moviegoing audience is gonna watch all four of these films back to back? Are they gonna lower the ticket prices or something?”
Approval from The Beatles’ inner circle
Despite the online skepticism, the project has received approval from surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison, according to the New York Post.
With four films set to spotlight each member’s individual journey, the Beatles biopics could usher in a new style of music storytelling—one movie at a time.
