The Beatles Reportedly Cast For Biopic Saga: Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan & More

Earlier this year, Sony Pictures announced an ambitious biopic saga based on the lives and stories of The Beatles – and although the official cast is still yet to be confirmed, a prominent Hollywood leaker has revealed the stars we could see bring the Fab Four to the screen.

The as-yet-untitled series of films were announced together back in April, alongside the news that Oscar-sweeping icon Sam Mendes (best known for epics like American Beauty, 1917 and the James Bond entries Skyfall and Spectre) would direct all four. The entire quadrilogy is set for release in 2027, with production kicking off early next year.

Similar to the way other shared universes (like the Marvel Cinematic Universe) work, each instalment of the quadrilogy will have its own story and leading character – in this case, one film will centre on Paul McCartney, one on John Lennon, one on Ringo Starr and one on George Harrison – but each film will intertwine and form part of a broader narrative.

Notably, this marks the first time The Beatles and their enterprise, Apple Corps, have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted production. McCartney and Starr personally gave their own blessings to the project, as did the estates of the late Lennon and Harrison.

According to reputable leaker and film journalist Jeff Sneider, all four Beatles have now been cast: if the rumour he shared yesterday (June 5) is true, Harris Dickinson will play Lennon, Paul Mescal will (fittingly) play McCartney, Barry Keoghan will play Starr, and Charlie Rowe will play Harrison.

The 27-year-old Dickinson is best known for his breakout role in the 2017 drama Beach Rats – for which he won the 2018 London Film Critics Circle Award for Young British/Irish Performer Of The Year – as well as the FX series Trust.

Mescal and Keoghan, too, are presently enjoying some career highs. Last year, for example, Mescal’s turn as the cast lead in Aftersun netted him five award wins and another 32 nominations (including a nod for Best Actor at last year's Oscars). Keoghan’s fame exploded after he starred in last year’s critic-lauded Saltburn, but he’s also made waves for his recent roles in Calm With Horses, Eternals, The Batman and The Banshees Of Inisherin.

Biopic fans will know Rowe best for his portrayal as Ray Williams in the Elton John love-letter Rocketman, which also swept up a solid handful accolades (like two Golden Globes, an Oscar, a Critics’ Choice Movie Award and two Satellite Awards).

Meanwhile, 2023 saw The Beatles release their final song, Now And Then, with an accompanying music video helmed by The Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson. Jackson had previously directed the three-part Disney+ documentary The Beatles: Get Back, and aided in the recent release of the restored 1970 documentary Let It Be.