Sony Pictures recently announced there will be four films about the members of The Beatles, with an April 2028 release date, directed by British filmmaker Sir Sam Mendes
The Beatles fans were less than impressed by the casting directors’ choices after the four A-list cast members were revealed to be playing Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. On Tuesday, it was announced Paul Mescal would take on the role of Sir Paul while John would be played by Harris Dickinson.
A Quiet Place: Day One icon Joseph Quinn will be playing George while Saltburn star Barry Keoghan will take on the role of Ringo Starr. 1917 and Skyfall filmmaker Sam Mendes is making a four-part biopic of the iconic band – one for each member of the Fab Four. The movies are all planned to be released in 2028.
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Speaking at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas on Monday, which the cast also attended, Sir Sam called the films the “first binge-able theatrical experience”.“I’ve been trying to make a story about The Beatles for years,” he added. It was already announced that Sir Sam will produce the films under his Neal Street Productions banner alongside its co-founder Dame Pippa Harris, the former chairwoman of Bafta, and Julie Pastor.
The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd and The Beatles – Sir Paul, Sir Ringo, and the families of Lennon and Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
While the news excited many, some fans were less than impressed as they rushed to the official announcement on Instagram to complain about the casting choice.
“Couldn’t find any actors that at least resemble them slightly?” one annoyed fan commented while another disappointed user added: “Love these actors but they don’t even resemble The Beatles.”
One questioned: “Do the casting directors even know what the beatles look like?” and another commented: “Bruh they look nothing alike, I couldn’t even guess who was who.”
Some tried to remain optimistic and wrote: “Obviously the studio saw something in the casting room we haven’t… I’m excited to see what they bring!!!”
Another wrote: “I’ve been waiting all my life for this,” while many thought it was an April Fool’s prank,
Sir Ringo previously appeared to let slip that Saltburn star Keoghan had taken on the role. He told Entertainment Tonight: “I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.”When Sir Ridley Scott was promoting his second Roman epic Gladiator II last year, he revealed Mescal was joining the Beatles project, telling an industry event that the actor was “actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next” so he may not be able to join him on his next film.
There have been a few films about the Fab Four, including Nowhere Boy, about Lennon growing up in Liverpool, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
BBC drama Lennon Naked starred Doctor Who actor Christopher Eccleston as Lennon, and Chapter 27 depicted the musician’s death in New York in 1980 with Dallas Buyers Club actor Jared Leto playing his killer, Mark David Chapman.
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