Brace yourself for an avalanche of mop-tops as director Sam Mendes unveils an ambitious project: four Beatles films destined for the silver screen, all premiering theatrically in April 2028. At CinemaCon, Mendes broke the news and confirmed casting rumors that had been swirling for months. Paul Mescal will embody Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn will channel George Harrison, Barry Keoghan will don the hat of Ringo Starr, and Harris Dickinson will lend his talents to portraying John Lennon. The quartet took the stage at the Las Vegas trade show, bowing in the iconic style that catapulted the Beatles to fame in their glory days.
Here's the official synopsis that captures the essence of the films: "Each man holds his own narrative, yet together, they forge legend." Mendes vowed that this multipart biopic, officially titled "The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event," will usher in the "first binge-worthy theatrical experience." It remains to be seen whether moviegoers will be treated to all four films simultaneously or if they will unfold weekly over the course of a month.
"We yearn for cinematic spectacles that entice people to venture out of their homes," Mendes told a room brimming with theater owners at Sony's presentation on Monday.
The director, whose resume boasts hits like "American Beauty" and "Skyfall," has harbored dreams of bringing the Fab Four to the big screen for years. Yet, he balked at the idea of crafting a miniseries, fearing that "their saga was too colossal to contain within a single film." Instead, he devised a plan to narrate the tale of "history's greatest band" from each member's unique perspective, aiming to encapsulate their improbable journey from Liverpool to the global cultural spotlight. This visionary approach necessitated four standalone features, marking one of the boldest gambles in cinematic history.
"It's an opportunity to delve deeper into their souls," Mendes pledged.
Furthermore, this film marks the first narrative feature granted unprecedented access to the Beatles' extensive catalog of timeless hits, including "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Let It Be," "I Am the Walrus," "Yellow Submarine," among countless others too numerous to mention.
Mendes revealed that principal photography for the quartet of films will span a year, underscoring the monumental endeavor he has undertaken. Tom Rothman, the Sony Pictures chief who once oversaw the production of a certain James Cameron sci-fi epic during his tenure at Fox, quipped that Mendes' four-part epic was evoking "'Avatar' flashbacks" for him. We all recall how that daring wager paid off.
