Sam Mendes reportedly considers Paul Mescal to play one of the Beatles in his upcoming biopic series about the legendary band.
Paul Mescal first grabbed everyone’s attention with his award-winning performance as Connell Waldron in the 2020 drama miniseries ‘Normal People.’ His talent didn’t go unnoticed, earning him a nomination for ‘Best Actor’ at the 95th Academy Awards for his role as Calum in the 2022 film ‘Aftersun.’
Mescal is also set to appear as Lucius Verus in Ridley Scott’s anticipated ‘Gladiator II,’ where he plays the nephew of Commodus (originally played by Joaquin Phoenix) and a fan of the late gladiator Maximus (Russell Crowe).
Also Read: Jon Bon Jovi on Being Friends With Paul McCartney: “I’m Sitting Here With a F—ing Beatle”
Recently, The Hollywood Reporter spotlighted ten rising movie stars shaking up Hollywood and Mescal made the list. They revealed that Mendes is interested in casting the Irish actor in his Beatles biopic, potentially as one of the iconic Liverpudlians. Announced in February, Mendes’s ambitious project will comprise four films, each focusing on one Beatles member.
These biopics will weave together to tell the band’s story from each member’s unique perspective. It’s a groundbreaking project, marking the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and the Beatles—Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison—have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
Sony Pictures Entertainment is on board to finance and distribute the films, which are slated for a global release in 2027. The release strategy, still under wraps, promises to be innovative and groundbreaking, according to a statement from the band.
The films will be produced in collaboration with Mendes’s Neal Street Productions partners Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor, with Jeff Jones serving as executive producer for Apple Corps Ltd. “I’m honoured to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” shared Mendes.