Sam Mendes is directing four feature films about the Beatles, with each installment focusing on a different member of the British band. Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn and Barry Keoghan will portray Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The project is planned as a shared theatrical release in April 2028.
Key Takeaways
- Each film will center on one of the Beatles, giving the four members separate biographical narratives.
- Paul Mescal has been cast as Paul McCartney, while Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon.
- Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will portray Ringo Starr.
- Sam Mendes is directing all four feature films.
- The planned theatrical release period for the project is April 2028.
Sam Mendes Develops Four Films About the Beatles
Director Sam Mendes is developing a four-film project about the Beatles, with each feature following a different member of the British band. The production brings together four actors to portray Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in separate but interconnected biographical stories.
The project departs from the conventional format of a single feature film covering a musical group’s history. Instead, the four productions will give each member an individual film, allowing the band’s story to be presented through separate perspectives.
Mendes is directing all four features. His involvement connects the project under one director rather than dividing the films among separate filmmaking teams.
The films are planned for a shared theatrical release in April 2028. That schedule places the four features within the same release period, although the individual screening dates and distribution arrangements may be announced separately.
The central premise links the members’ individual stories within a single film project. The Beatles’ four members occupied different roles in the group, and the separate-film format gives the production a structure built around those individual identities.
Paul Mescal and Harris Dickinson Take on McCartney and Lennon
Paul Mescal will portray Paul McCartney, while Harris Dickinson has been cast as John Lennon. The two actors will lead the films centered on the Beatles’ principal songwriting partnership.
McCartney and Lennon were central members of the group, contributing vocals, songwriting and instrumental performances to its recorded music. Their work together formed a major part of the band’s catalog, making their individual stories relevant to understanding the group’s creative history.
Mescal is taking on the role of McCartney, a musician whose career extends beyond the Beatles into solo recordings and other musical projects. The biopic will place his portrayal within the four-film structure rather than a single production covering every member.
Dickinson will play Lennon, whose work with McCartney helped define the band’s songwriting identity. Lennon’s individual story also forms one of the four perspectives through which the project will present the group’s history.
The casting establishes two of the project’s central roles and identifies the actors responsible for portraying the band’s best-known songwriting partners. Their films will sit alongside the installments focused on Harrison and Starr. Readers can also explore the Beatles biopic cast recreating the Abbey Road cover for related coverage of the film’s casting.
Joseph Quinn and Barry Keoghan Portray Harrison and Starr
Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison, while Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr. Their casting completes the four principal roles in Mendes’ Beatles film project.
Harrison served as the Beatles’ lead guitarist and contributed songwriting to the band’s catalog. His work included compositions that became associated with the group, as well as music released during his subsequent solo career.
Starr was the band’s drummer and also performed lead vocals on selected Beatles recordings. His role in the group extended beyond drumming to include appearances in film and other entertainment projects.
Quinn’s portrayal of Harrison will form the basis of one feature, while Keoghan’s portrayal of Starr will anchor another. Each actor will represent a different member’s place within the group and its history.
The four-film arrangement places the two musicians’ stories alongside those of McCartney and Lennon. Rather than treating Harrison and Starr only as supporting figures in a narrative centered on the songwriting partnership, the project assigns each a separate feature.
That structure establishes four principal character perspectives for the overall production. It also means that the cast is organized around the individual Beatles rather than a single ensemble-led film.
Four Separate Films Follow the Band Members’ Perspectives
The project uses four feature films to tell a connected story about the Beatles. Each installment focuses on one member, with the four portrayals collectively covering the group’s central lineup.
The format creates a distinction between the individual films and the project as a whole. Each feature has a designated central figure, while the shared subject connects the stories to the same band.
The separate narratives provide a framework for examining the members individually. McCartney and Lennon are associated with the band’s songwriting partnership, while Harrison and Starr contributed guitar and drums, respectively, alongside their other work within the group.
The films’ interconnected structure also separates the project from a conventional music biopic that follows one principal character from beginning to end. Instead, the four installments divide the subject across four lead roles. Related coverage includes the Oasis documentary about the Gallagher reunion, which focuses on another major British band’s story.
Mendes’ direction connects those individual features within the same overall project. The approach gives each film a defined central subject while keeping all four productions focused on the Beatles.
The confirmed casting provides the foundation for that structure. Mescal, Dickinson, Quinn and Keoghan have each been assigned one of the band’s four members, establishing the principal roles around which the films will be organized.
The Beatles Biopics Target an April 2028 Theatrical Release
The four films are planned for a shared theatrical release in April 2028. The schedule places the productions within one release period rather than distributing the installments across several years.
A shared theatrical window connects the films as a collective project. Audiences will be able to approach the Beatles’ story through four separate features built around the band’s individual members.
The planned release period is the key date attached to the project. It provides a target for the four productions, while the individual release dates and other distribution details remain separate scheduling matters.
The cast and director establish the project’s central creative team: Mendes will direct, with Mescal, Dickinson, Quinn and Keoghan portraying the four Beatles. Their roles align with the films’ member-by-member structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is directing the four Beatles biopics?
Sam Mendes is directing all four films. The project uses a shared director across the individual features.
Which actors will portray the Beatles?
Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon, Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will portray Ringo Starr.
How many films are planned for the Beatles project?
Four feature films are planned. Each installment will focus on one of the band’s four members.
When are the Beatles biopics scheduled for release?
The films are planned for a shared theatrical release in April 2028. The individual release dates are separate from that overall target.
Will each Beatles biopic focus on a different band member?
Yes. The project assigns a separate feature to McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starr, connecting the four films through their shared focus on the Beatles.
