Sam Mendes to Direct Four Beatles Films Starring Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan
Director Sam Mendes is taking on an ambitious project, bringing The Beatles’ story to the big screen in a way never done before—through four separate films, each told from the perspective of a different band member. The films, set for release in April 2028, will feature Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. Mendes, who announced the cast at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, called it the “first bingeable theatrical experience.”
The films mark the first time The Beatles and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison have granted the full life story and music rights for a scripted feature. Mendes explained that a single movie couldn't capture the band's story, and a TV series didn’t feel right. Instead, he envisioned four standalone films that would “intersect in different ways—sometimes overlapping, sometimes not.” The Sony-backed project is expected to take a year to film, making it one of the biggest cinematic undertakings in recent years.
The four lead actors took the stage at CinemaCon, where they performed a synchronized bow in true Beatles fashion. Each of them brings a rising Hollywood career to the project—Mescal, fresh off Gladiator II and an Oscar nomination for Aftersun; Keoghan, known for Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin; Dickinson, who recently starred in Babygirl; and Quinn, who gained fame as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things before joining the Fantastic Four.
Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman compared the scale of the films to James Cameron’s Avatar, saying, “We are going to dominate the culture that month.” Mendes, confident in the project's impact, added, “It’s a chance to understand them more deeply.” With full access to The Beatles’ iconic catalog, including hits like Let It Be and Yellow Submarine, the films are expected to be a major cinematic event.
The Beatles, despite disbanding in 1970, remain the biggest-selling band in history, and their influence continues today. With Mendes at the helm and an all-star cast bringing their story to life, audiences will get a fresh perspective on the Fab Four’s journey from Liverpool to global stardom.
