Writers for Sam Mendes’ Ambitious Beatles Biopic Series Revealed
The trio of screenwriters behind Sam Mendes’ upcoming four-part Beatles biopic series has been revealed, with three of the UK’s most acclaimed storytellers attached to the landmark project. Titled The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, the film series will chronicle the lives of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—each told through the perspective of a different band member.
The films, set for release in April 2028, mark the first time an officially authorized biopic of The Beatles is being made. While documentary filmmakers such as Peter Jackson (Get Back) and Martin Scorsese (Beatles ’64) have previously explored the band’s legacy with the involvement of surviving members, this will be the first dramatized portrayal backed by the Beatles estate.
At CinemaCon in Las Vegas earlier this year, Sony Pictures announced the actors who will portray the legendary musicians: Harris Dickinson will take on the role of John Lennon, Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr, Paul Mescal will appear as Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn has been cast as George Harrison.
British writers Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan, and Jack Thorne will pen the scripts for the four films. However, it remains unclear whether the trio will be collaborating across all the films or writing individually for each Beatle’s story.
Butterworth brings with him a wealth of experience in both action and biographical storytelling. His credits include Edge of Tomorrow, Ford v Ferrari, and Spectre, which he worked on alongside Mendes. He also previously tackled the world of music with the James Brown biopic Get On Up.
Straughan, another seasoned writer, recently earned an Academy Award for his work on Conclave, a religious thriller. His past successes include the BAFTA-winning Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and the full 12-episode adaptation of Wolf Hall.
Jack Thorne is perhaps best known for co-creating the hit Netflix series Adolescence with Stephen Graham. He also penned the TV adaptations of This Is England and His Dark Materials, and served as screenwriter for the Enola Holmes films. Thorne is also behind the upcoming science fiction feature Tron: Ares.
Despite the buzz around the casting and creative team, not everyone is entirely satisfied. In April, John Lennon’s sister expressed disappointment over the choice of actor to portray her brother. She stated in an interview that she hadn’t been contacted about the project and felt strongly that Lennon should be played by someone from Liverpool. According to her, no one outside the region could truly capture the authenticity of the local accent.
As anticipation builds for this unprecedented cinematic event, fans will be watching closely to see how each film captures the essence of one of the most influential bands in history.
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—Silviya.Y
