As a seasoned cinephile who’s seen more films than I care to count, I must admit that the prospect of Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics has my heart skipping a beat or two. The rumors surrounding the casting, particularly Ridley Scott’s recent revelation about Paul Mescal‘s potential role, have only served to heighten the anticipation.
The interesting thing about the planned Beatles biopics from director Sam Mendes is that that rumored casting has not been officially confirmed by Sony Pictures or Mendes himself. First, Ringo Starr let it slip that Barry Keoghan is involved with the film, which wasn’t officially confirmed, and now director Ridley Scott has entered the chat. The director wants to work with Paul Mescal again following the success of Gladiator II, but those plans may have to wait, according to Scott, because Mescal might be playing one of the Fab Four.
Scott held a discussion with filmmaker Christopher Nolan through The Hollywood Reporter, following their viewings of Gladiator II at the Directors Guild of America in LA. During this chat, Nolan mentioned his possible next venture, The Dog Stars. Upon asking if Mescal was set to star in the thriller, Scott confirmed it, but later clarified that Mescal’s busy schedule might interfere with this plan. In a surprising twist, Scott also hinted at Mescal’s involvement in the Mendes Beatles project, stating, “Yes. Maybe. Paul is currently occupied, working on the Beatles. So I may need to let him go.” (In this context, “Ringo Starr” is used as an example of a famous person who was replaced by another.)
Although casting hasn’t been officially announced, there’s buzz that Mescal might portray Paul McCartney in the upcoming quartet of films centered on the groundbreaking music group. The plan from Mendes is to produce four movies that will hit theaters, each focusing on a distinct band member, including Starr, Lennon, and Harrison. Additionally, Joseph Quinn, who recently worked alongside Mescal in “Gladiator II,” and Harris Dickinson, currently garnering praise opposite Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl,” are also rumored to be part of the film project.
The Same Four Actors Have Been Rumored for the Beatles Biopics
It became clear fairly quickly who the four actors were once the movie was announced. Landing roles in this film would be a significant break for each of them, given that Mendes is an Academy Award-winning director, renowned for his critically acclaimed projects such as “American Beauty”, which earned him the Best Director Oscar, “Road to Perdition”, “Jarhead”, and “Revolutionary Road”. Notably, Mendes has also worked on the Bond films, directing both “Skyfall” in 2012 and “Spectre” in 2015.
Back in February, it was announced that biographical films about The Beatles are in the works, with their director set to produce as well. Sony Pictures aims to release these movies in 2027. Notably, both McCartney and Starr, surviving members of the band, along with Lennon’s and Harrison’s families, have given their full cooperation for this project. Mendes holds the rights to the band’s entire life story and music, allowing him to create an incredibly authentic portrayal of The Beatles.
The way Mendes is tackling the four-film project is undeniably ambitious and offers a refreshing change from the usual musical biopics. Instead of traditional storytelling, he intends to weave interconnected narratives that provide adequate attention to each band member without neglecting any character’s storyline. While it seems likely that at least two cast members (Mescal and Keoghan) might be involved, an official announcement has yet to be made. There are rumors about Quinn and Dickinson being attached as well, but their involvement is unconfirmed, although Dickinson has hinted at it indirectly in some way.
Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics are aiming for a 2027 release.
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2024-12-11 22:01