A four-part biopic about The Beatles is officially in production. The premiere of the large-scale film project is scheduled for April 2028. The project is called The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event. The director is Oscar winner Sam Mendes. And although viewers will see the biopic about the iconic British band in two years, it is already being called one of the most anticipated film events of the decade.
Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn
Format and concept: what makes a biopic about The Beatles special
The four-part biopic about The Beatles will consist of four separate films. Each film will tell the story of the band from the perspective of one of its members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. This approach allows you to show the same events from different perspectives and more deeply reveal the internal conflicts and creative disputes of the legendary quartet. Sam Mendes explained that the story of The Beatles is too large for one film. That is why the format of a four-part biopic was chosen. All parts will be released in April 2028. The project is being implemented by Sony Pictures.
Cast
The lead roles in the Beatles biopic have gone to Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn and Barry Keoghan. The first images from the filming have already shown the physical transformations of each of them. Many other famous actors will play supporting roles and portray personalities who play key roles in the history of The Beatles. Saoirse Ronan plays Linda Eastman, Paul McCartney's first wife and his creative partner. Mia McKenna-Bruce plays Maureen Cox, Ringo Starr's first wife. Anna Sawai plays Yoko Ono, who became an important part of John Lennon's life. Amy Lou Wood plays Patti Boyd, a model and wife of George Harrison, who inspired a number of his iconic songs.
James Norton will appear as Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager who helped the band form and become famous worldwide. Harry Lowthie will play Stuart Sutcliffe, the Beatles' first bass player. Farhan Akhtar will play Indian musician Ravi Shankar, who influenced George Harrison. Lucy Boynton will play Jane Asher, Paul McCartney's fiancée during his early years. Morved Clarke will appear as Cynthia Lennon, John Lennon's first wife.
Shooting and first images
Filming for the biopic began in November 2025. The film will be shot in the UK, specifically in Liverpool, the city where The Beatles began. It is here that the team is recreating the band's early years and the period of their debut performances. The first images of the actors in their costumes for the presentation were placed at the Liverpool Art College. This step emphasized the connection of the film about The Beatles with the city that became the starting point of their career.
Hairstyles and style: an important part of The Beatles' history
The Beatles' style has become an integral part of the cultural history of the 20th century. Their image influenced not only music, but also fashion, hairdressing and popular culture. That is why in the four-part biopic about The Beatles, the appearance of the musicians is given special attention. In the first frames, the actors appear in images from the 1960s. Fitted suits with a clear shoulder line, classic jackets, shirts with neat collars are visible. Hairstyles are recreated with maximum accuracy. Every bang, every parting line corresponds to archival photographs.
In the early years, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wore their hair swept forward. This look quickly became a symbol of the Beatlemania period. Over time, the style changed. After the mid-1960s, longer hair, sideburns, and moustaches appeared. The look became less formal and more relaxed. George Harrison grew out his thick hair and wore it with a center parting. His style reflected his interest in spirituality and Eastern culture. Ringo Starr was associated with the distinctive “mop-top” haircut, which became one of the most recognizable hairstyles of the decade.
The team of the biopic about The Beatles is working with archival materials to accurately convey all the stages of the evolution of each of the members and the band as a whole. Costume designers and makeup artists are studying photographs, concert recordings and television appearances of the band. Not only stage costumes are reproduced, but also the everyday clothes of the musicians. This approach allows us to show how The Beatles' style changed along with their music and worldview. The first images have already caused active discussion. Viewers are paying attention to how convincingly the actors recreate the appearance of The Beatles members. This increases interest in the biopic and emphasizes the scale of preparations for the premiere in 2028.
The plot and periods that will be shown
The Beatles biopic will cover key stages in the band's history – from their first performances in Liverpool to the moment when The Beatles became wildly famous. The films will show the early years, when John Lennon and Paul McCartney were just forming their creative tandem, the first concerts, the search for a sound and the path to their first big success. The project will present the band's history not only as a musical success, but as a complex cultural process. The Beatles will appear as a phenomenon that influenced music, fashion, social mood and the worldview of a generation.
A separate block of history is dedicated to the Beatlemania period. Viewers will see how the rapid popularity changed the lives of musicians. It shows tours, studio work and the recording of albums that have become classics – from early releases to late experimental records. The four-part biopic about The Beatles also pays attention to creative disputes within the band and different visions of the future of the collective.
Personal relationships will be an important part of the plot. The film will reveal the influence of Yoko Ono on John Lennon's life and the tensions that arose during this period. George Harrison's spiritual quest and his interest in Indian culture will be shown. Special attention will be paid to Paul McCartney's ambitions, his desire to maintain control over the creative process and develop solo ideas.
Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney
Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney
Paul Mescal gained international recognition after his role in the TV series “Normal People”, and later consolidated his status as one of the strongest young actors thanks to his work in the films “After the Sun”, “We Are All Strangers”, “Gladiator II” and “Hamnet”. His dramatic style and inner restraint make him a convincing choice for the role of Paul McCartney – a musician with great ambitions and a complex character. Paul McCartney changed his style over the years. He wore longer hair, experimented with a mustache, and sometimes used false eyelashes. However, in cultural memory he is primarily associated with the early image of the Beatles member with a neat “pot” haircut and a strict suit.
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Harris Dickinson as John Lennon
Harris Dickinson as John Lennon
Harris Dickinson, known for the films “Good Bad Girl”, “Beach Rats” and “Triangle of Sorrows”, plays the role of John Lennon. In the first images, the actor appears with long hair in the “step” style. This hairstyle became Lennon's signature in the late 1960s. The beard is still missing, which may indicate the period of recording the Abbey Road album and the beginning of his relationship with Yoko Ono. In 1970, John Lennon completely shaved his head. It is not yet known how much detail the film will show all the changes in his appearance. However, the first shots demonstrate an attentive attitude to the details of the image.
Joseph Quinn as George Harrison
Joseph Quinn as George Harrison
Joseph Quinn, known for his role in the TV series “Strange Wonders” and the films “Fantastic Four: First Steps” and “Combat”, plays George Harrison. In the frame, the actor appears with thick, shoulder-length hair. The image is complemented by a central parting and natural wavy texture. This look corresponds to the period when Harrison was actively interested in spirituality and Indian culture. By the way, George's hair has always been noticeably more voluminous than that of his bandmates, so the image looks as close as possible to historical photographs.
Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr
Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr
Barry Keoghan is one of the most recognizable Irish actors of his generation. He rose to fame after starring in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dunkirk, Saltburne and The Banshee of Inisheer, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. His ability to combine vulnerability and inner tension makes him a compelling choice for the role of Ringo Starr. Keoghan first showed off his new look at the London premiere of Crime 101. His hairstyle recreates Starr's early style from the formative years of The Beatles. The hair is tousled, with natural waves that are as close as possible to the musician's own hair texture in the 1960s.
Why a Beatles biopic will be the biggest release of 2028
The Beatles’ influence shaped the aesthetics of an entire era, changed the recording industry, and influenced fashion, visual culture, and the mindset of the 1960s generation. Therefore, this biopic is not just another musical biography, but an attempt to rethink the very format of telling a story about the iconic band. Sam Mendes has chosen a large-scale structure that allows us to show the history of The Beatles as a multifaceted process, rather than a linear chronology of events. Four separate films allow us to delve deeper into the motivations of each participant, the differences in their characters, and their visions of the future.
The premiere in April 2028 is of strategic importance. The format of the simultaneous release of four feature films creates a precedent that goes beyond the boundaries of traditional serial releases. This is a large-scale film project with a high production level, an international cast and an obvious focus on historical accuracy. The biopic has the potential to become not just a commercial success, but a landmark project for modern cinema.