Beatles Biopic Controversy

Nora Geoghegan

Staff Writer

On Monday, March 31^st, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, it was announced that there will be four films about each member of The Beatles. They are set to hit theaters in April of 2028.

Sam Mendes, who is the director for each film and is known for American Beauty and Skyfall, stated that he felt the story of The Beatles was far too expansive to explore in one film, so it was decided that four films will be made for each Beatle.

The Beatles were an English rock and roll band originating from Liverpool, England. They created music from 1960 to 1970. Some of their most well-known songs are ‘Here Comes the Sun,’ ‘Come Together,’ ‘Hey Jude,’ and ‘Yesterday.’ They also boast 8 Grammy’s and an Academy Award. The members included John Lennon, who was the lead vocalist, Paul McCartney, who played bass, George Harrison, who played guitar, and Ringo Starr, who played the drums.

The Beatles were able to change the way rock music sounded and was produced, as well as address and challenge many political and social issues of the time, such as war and civil rights, which helped to solidify them as one of the most culturally impactful bands of all time.

At CinemaCon, it was revealed that Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr.

This casting decision has spurred a lot of discourse online. One major point of criticism is the cast’s high level of fame. Many people online feel that the roles should’ve gone to lesser-known actors, who don’t have many feature film credits to their name, as it would create a more even playing field in Hollywood, as well as provide a fresher and more nuanced perspective on The Beatles. Critics have also noted the cast doesn’t resemble the Fab Four at all, creating more inaccuracies for the films. Furthermore, critics online feel that having such a high-profile cast was a way to generate more excitement and buzz around the biopic, as opposed to accurately telling the story of The Beatles.

Another qualm people have with the casting is the fact that none of the actors are Scousers. Dickinson and Quinn are from London, and Mescal and Keoghan are from Ireland. Many have felt that casting actors from Liverpool would add more authenticity and better representation of the band’s cultural background.

At this time, it is unclear whether Sam Mendes will take any of the feedback directed toward the casting decision.