Ladies and gentlemen, āThe Beatles!ā After months of speculation and fan-casting, the official cast of the highly-anticipated Beatles biopic was confirmed at CinemaCon 2025. Directed by American Beauty‘s Sam Mendes, the āfour-film cinematic eventā will star Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.Ā As expected, the internet hadĀ many thoughts about this announcement ā with reactions ranging from optimismĀ to disappointment.
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The Beatles (āInternet Boyfriendsā Version)
From the moment award-winning British filmmaker Sam Mendes announced his plan for interconnected biographical films about The Beatles, everyone and their mother seemed to have an opinionĀ on who should nab these coveted roles. The names of almost every 20 to 30-something actor working today were thrown around, with Irish actors Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan popping up the most. But now that the official cast has been announced at Sony Picturesā presentationĀ during CinemaCon 2025, many are skeptical about the need for already-known faces as well as the accuracy (or lack thereof) of the choices. Another surprising detail from the presentation was Mendes’ intention to release all four films during the month of April in 2028 ā although it’s still unclear if the releases will be staggered or all set for one day.
All four young actors have been on a bit of a hot streak recently, with Mescal (āGladiator IIā), Keoghan (āSaltburnā), Dickinson (āBabygirlā), and Quinn (āStranger Thingsā) all being involved in buzzy pop culture moments. In fact, this is theĀ second āFab Fourā that Quinn will be involved with ā in addition to his hotly-anticipated role as Johnny Storm in the upcoming āFantastic Fourā movie.Ā Many have bemoaned that these could have been plum roles for unknown actors from Liverpool (where all the band members are from), especially since the subjects are already globally-recognised. On the other hand, others have questioned how much of a box-office draw The Beatlesā name alone actually carries in this day and age ā even with their indisputable legendary-status.
A āBingeableā Cinematic Event?
The reasoning behind making four individual films about each Beatle has been that the collective story of The Beatles is simply too vastĀ for one movie. These biopics will also mark the first time that The Beatlesā record company and surviving members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, have granted full life and music rights for a film(s) project. During the CinemaCon presentation, the plan was ambitiously described as āthe first binge-able theatrical experience.ā This claim somewhat makes sense in theory, as the movies will be interconnected and released together. Yet, a key aspect of ābingeabilityā is the fact that viewers don’t have to pay (or wait) for each instalment.
Given the fact that many films have struggled to bring viewers into cinemas, Sony Picturesā choice to make not just four Beatles biopics, but to also release them practically on top of each other is aĀ massive gamble. There’s still a long and winding road to 2028, and pivotal details that could sway opinions are still to be announced. What time period the films will cover? Who will be cast in important roles like Yoko Ono or Brian Epstein? However, considering that the majority of casual movie-goers don’t want to pay for four individual tickets ā regardless of the subject or the cast ā this experiment could simply turn into a āWhich Beatle Is Your Favourite?ā poll set on the grandest scale.
Born in Korea and raised in Hong Kong, Min Ji has combined her degree in anthropology and creative writing with her passion for going on unsolicited tangents as an editor at Friday Club. In between watching an endless amount of movies, she enjoys trying new cocktails and pastas while occasionally snapping a few pictures.
