The official cast for Sam Mendes' upcoming biopics inspired by the lives of British rock group The Beatles has been confirmed.
Normal People (2020) star Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, while Babygirl (2024) actor Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon. Stranger Things (2016 – present) cast member Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison, and Saltburn (2023) lead Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr.
The announcement was made at CinemaCon this week, with the four actors appearing on stage to introduce the projects.
Director Sam Mendes also revealed that four movies will be made in total, with each one telling the story from the perspective of one band member. The films will all be released in April 2028, with the filmmaker describing them as “the first bingeable theatrical experience.”
The Beatles biopics will star Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn. pic.twitter.com/7SuWRmiYDE
— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 1, 2025
Speaking at CinemaCon, Mendes claimed that “The Beatles changed my understanding of music […] I've been trying to make a movie about them for years.” The Academy Award winner also admitted that his vision was “too big for one film, [so] we're making four.”
The Beatles were formed in Liverpool in 1960 and released twelve studio albums across nine years. They were the most successful band of their generation, and five of their albums currently sit on Rolling Stone‘s list of the top 50 albums of all time. They are also reported to be the most commercially successful musical act in history.
Rumours about Sam Mendes' anticipated cast have been circulating for several months. Director Ridley Scott also seemed to confirm Mescal's involvement during the press tour for Gladiator II (2024), in which Mescal played the lead of Lucius.
The announcement has been met with mixed reception online. Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian expressed concern at the lack of Liverpool representation, writing that the decision “could be an issue” for the project.
Podcast
