The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event

The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event
Created by
Original workThe Beatles: The Biography
by Bob Spitz
Owners
Years2028
Films and television
Film(s)
  • John Lennon film (2028)
  • Paul McCartney film (2028)
  • George Harrison film (2028)
  • Ringo Starr film (2028)
Miscellaneous
Characters
Official website

The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event[1] is an upcoming series of four biographical films based on the lives and career of the Beatles. Each film is being directed by Sam Mendes and written by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan and Jack Thorne. Produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment, Neal Street Productions, and Apple Corps, all four films are to be released simultaneously on April 7, 2028.[2][3][4] Each one is set to be told from the perspective of one band member: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, who will be played by Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan, respectively.[1][5][6]

Mendes discussed plans to make films about the Beatles with Sony Pictures since late 2023. He had conceived of the idea in 2022 and convinced each of the band members and the estates. By February 2024, Sony Pictures and Mendes's production company Neal Street Productions finished a deal to produce four distinct films. That June, Dickinson, Mescal, Keoghan, and Rowe were in contention to play the band members; they were confirmed between the following November and March 2025. Further casting began that October with filming beginning the following month. Casting ended in February 2026.

Cast

Production

Development

By late 2023, director Sam Mendes began discussing plans to make films regarding the English rock band, the Beatles, with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). He had met with SPE's Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, and stated that he had chosen SPE due to "Tom and Elizabeth's passion for the idea and commitment to propelling these films theatrically in an innovative and exciting way." Mendes had conceived of the idea in 2022 and convinced the estates of each of the band members. By February 2024, SPE and Mendes's production company Neal Street Productions finished a deal to produce four distinct films, or one for each band member: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.[7] Mendes was set to direct each film alongside Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor, while Jeff Jones will executive produce for Apple Corps Limited.[8] The estates and families of each band member also granted full life story and musical rights for the films, while Mendes was granted creative freedom.[7][9]

Bob Spitz, who wrote The Beatles: The Biography (2005), was collaborating with the filmmaker, and expected his book and interviews to help influence the script.[10] In March 2025, at an industry convention CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Rothman described the quadruple premiere as "the first bingeable theatrical experience."[5] The official tagline for the films is: "Each man has his own story, but together they are legendary."[1] In May 2025, it was announced that Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan, and Jack Thorne would co-write the screenplays for all four movies.[11]

Casting

Main cast of the series
Harris Dickinson (Lennon)
Paul Mescal (McCartney)
Joseph Quinn (Harrison)
Barry Keoghan (Starr)
Anna Sawai (Yoko Ono)
Saoirse Ronan (Linda McCartney)
Aimee Lou Wood (Pattie Boyd)
Mia McKenna-Bruce (Maureen Starkey)
The actors playing the title roles, along with their respective partners

In June 2024, Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Charlie Rowe were in contention to play the members.[12] Keoghan as Starr was confirmed in November 2024.[13] Mescal was confirmed as McCartney in December with Joseph Quinn cast as Harrison.[14][15] Anna Sawai was rumored to have been cast as Yoko Ono, but Sawai would dispute this in February 2025.[16] At CinemaCon in March 2025, Dickinson as Lennon and Quinn as Harrison were confirmed, with the pair appearing on stage alongside Mendes, Mescal as McCartney, and Keoghan as Ringo Starr.[17]

In October 2025, it was announced that Saoirse Ronan would play Linda McCartney,[18] while Mia McKenna-Bruce was cast as Maureen Starkey.[19] Sawai would additionally be officially confirmed as being in discussions the role of Ono, with Aimee Lou Wood in negotiations to portray Pattie Boyd.[20] Meanwhile, James Norton was cast as Brian Epstein.[21] The castings of McKenna-Bruce, Ronan, Sawai and Wood would be officially confirmed at the end of October.[22] In November 2025, Harry Lloyd joined the cast.[23] In December, David Morrissey, Leanne Best, Bobby Schofield, Daniel Hoffman-Gill, Arthur Darvill and Adam Pally were added to the cast.[24] Lucy Boynton, Farhan Akhtar, Morfydd Clark, and Harry Lawtey would be cast in February 2026.[25]

In preparation for her role as Yoko Ono, Anna Sawai has been consuming media related to and produced by the artist. She hoped that the films will help clear up public misconceptions and share Yoko’s perspective. Sawai enthused about Mescal, Dickinson, Keoghan, and Quinn’s “surreal” musical harmony during their rehearsals.[26]

Filming

Production was set to begin by mid-2025, with the intention of shooting all the films back-to-back. In March 2025, Mendes said that it would take him more than a year to shoot all four movies.[1]

Filming had begun by November 2025. It was reported that filming was banned from occurring at the Abbey Road location over concerns regarding closing the road.[27] In January 2026, Mescal stated production was still "a while away from finishing", with filming to be "my job for all of 2026".[28] Scenes recreating the band arriving in New York City for The Ed Sullivan Show were filmed in London in February.[29]

The crews for the films will consist of cinematographer Greig Fraser, editor Lee Smith, production designers Stefania Cella, Mark Tildesley and Neal Callow, and costume designer Sinéad Kidao.[30]

Marketing

In January 2026, Sony Pictures released first images of each main actor in character, on postcards distributed at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts,[31][32][33] as well as other iconic Beatles locations including Lennon's childhood home; The Beatles Statue, and The Cavern Club in Liverpool; the Kaiserkeller, and the Star-Club in Hamburg; Strawberry Fields in Central Park; and at various record stores, shops, cafes and bars in Tokyo.[34] The following day, Sony Pictures released the same pictures digitally.[34]

Release

The films, an untitled Paul McCartney film, an untitled John Lennon film, an untitled George Harrison film, and an untitled Ringo Starr film, were initially expected to be released in 2027,[35] but were later confirmed to be scheduled for simultaneous release on April 7, 2028, described as the "first bingeable theatrical experience."[2][3][5]

Comments on the release

Industry critics analyzed Sony's planned simultaneous release of all four Beatles biopics. In February 2026, Screen Rant noted the challenge of convincing audiences to buy four tickets in one go, especially since the film focused on Starr may draw less interest than those about Lennon or McCartney, potentially feeling like mandatory homework. The website also highlighted easier, cheaper unified marketing, a lower overall break-even point if just one or two of the films succeed, quadrupled chances for word-of-mouth hits, and the excitement of an unprecedented experiment.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (1 April 2025). "'The Beatles' Movies: All Four Of 'Em Are Coming Out In April 2028, Sam Mendes Confirms Cast – CinemaCon". Deadline. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b Green, Walden (29 January 2026). "See Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and More in First Look at Sam Mendes' Beatles Biopics". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Sherlock, Ben (2 February 2026). "The Pros & Cons Of The Beatles Biopics' Risky Release Plan". ScreenRant. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  4. ^ Earl, William (29 January 2026). "'The Beatles' First Look: Paul Mescal Is Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan Is Ringo Starr and More in Four-Movie Event". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c Richwine, Lisa (1 April 2025). "Sony reveals cast for four 'bingeable' movies about The Beatles". Reuters. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  6. ^ Wolfe, Jonathan (1 April 2025). "Beatles Movies Cast Revealed, Including Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr (20 February 2024). "Sam Mendes, Sony & Apple Corps Set Four Beatles Theatrical Movies On Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison & Ringo Starr". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  8. ^ Shoard, Catherine (20 February 2024). "'Nothing off limits': Sam Mendes to direct four Beatles films – one about each member". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Sam Mendes / Neal Street Productions To Make Landmark Beatles Biopic Project For Sony Pictures Entertainment". The Beatles. 20 February 2024. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  10. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (28 February 2024). "Behind Sony's Four-Movie Beatles Bet". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  11. ^ Kroll, Justin (7 May 2025). "Jez Butterworth, Jack Thorne And Peter Straughan To Pen 'The Beatles-A Four Film Cinematic Event' For Sam Mendes And Sony". Deadline Hollywood.
  12. ^ Sneider, Jeff (5 June 2024). "HOT RUMOR: Has Sam Mendes Found the Stars of His Four Movies About The Beatles". The InSneider. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  13. ^ Shreur, Brandon (27 November 2024). "Ringo Starr Seemingly Confirms Who Is Playing Him in Sam Mendes' Beatles Movies". ComingSoon. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Paul Mescal Set to Star in Sony's Beatles Movies, Says Ridley Scott". The Hollywood Reporter.
  15. ^ "'Gladiator II's Joseph Quinn Tuning Up For George Harrison In Sam Mendes Beatles Films: The Dish". Deadline Hollywood.
  16. ^ Grobar, Matt (23 February 2025). "'Shōgun's Anna Sawai Pours Cold Water On Rumored Casting As Yoko Ono In Sam Mendes' Beatles Movies – SAG Awards Backstage". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  17. ^ Cain, Sian (1 April 2025). "The Beatles: actors playing the Fab Four in Sam Mendes' biopics announced". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  18. ^ Grobar, Matt (8 October 2025). "Saoirse Ronan To Play Linda McCartney In 'The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event' – The Dish". Deadline Hollywood.
  19. ^ Ritman, Alex (9 October 2025). "Mia McKenna-Bruce to Play Ringo's First Wife Maureen Starkey in Sam Mendes' Beatles Movies". Variety. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  20. ^ Rubin, Rebecca; Vary, Adam B. (10 October 2025). "'Beatles' Biopic: Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood Circling Yoko Ono, Pattie Boyd Roles". Variety. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  21. ^ Kroll, Justin (14 October 2025). "James Norton Eyed For Beatles Manager Brian Epstein In 'The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event'". Deadline Hollywood.
  22. ^ Grobar, Matt (31 October 2025). "Mia McKenna-Bruce, Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai & Aimee Lou Wood Confirmed For 'The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  23. ^ "The Beatles' Movies Cast 'Game of Thrones' Star Harry Lloyd as Producer George Martin (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  24. ^ Grobar, Matt (4 December 2025). "Sam Mendes' 'The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event' Adds Eight To Cast". Deadline Hollywood.
  25. ^ Vlessing, Etan (12 February 2026). "Sam Mendes' Beatles Biopic Movies Add Lucy Boynton, Farhan Akhtar, Morfydd Clark, Harry Lawtey". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  26. ^ Turkeltaub, Payton (20 February 2026). "Anna Sawai on Playing Yoko Ono in 'The Beatles' Movies: 'There's a Version of Her I Feel People Still Don't Understand'". Variety. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  27. ^ Taysom, Joe (15 November 2025). "Council bans The Beatles films from shooting at Abbey Road crossing". Far Out Magazine. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  28. ^ Skinner, Tom (13 January 2026). "Paul Mescal says fans "will benefit from knowing as little as possible" ahead of new Beatles biopics". NME. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  29. ^ Paton, Ryan (3 February 2026). "Filming for The Beatles movies underway as iconic moment recreated". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  30. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (12 February 2026). "'The Beatles' Movies Expands Cast With Lucy Boynton, Harry Lawtey, Morfydd Clark and Farhan Akhtar". Variety. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  31. ^ "Sam Mendes' Four-Film Beatles Biopic Reveals First Look at the Fab Four". The Credits. Motion Picture Association. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  32. ^ Earl, William (29 January 2026). "Beatles Movies Drop Photos of Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and More in Stunt Marketing". Variety. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  33. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (29 January 2026). "Beatles Movies Reveal First Look at the Fab Four". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  34. ^ a b Earl, William (29 January 2026). "'The Beatles' First Look: Paul Mescal Is Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan Is Ringo Starr and More in Four-Movie Event". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  35. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (20 February 2024). "Sam Mendes to Direct Four Separate Beatles Movies on Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr". Variety. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
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