Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn Reportedly Aboard Beatles Biopics

Sam Mendes’ new movies are seemingly coming together, with Barry Keoghan linked to the role of Ringo Starr and Harris Dickson been talked about as John Lennon.

(Left) Paul Mescal plays Lucius in 'Gladiator II' from Paramount Pictures. (Right) Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in 'Gladiator II' from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:

‘Gladiator II’s Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn are reportedly playing Paul McCartney and George Harrison in new Beatles biopics.
Sam Mendes is putting the films together.
Barry Keoghan and Harris Dickinson are also linked to the movies.

Ever since we first learned months ago that ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Empire of Light’ director Sam Mendes had come up with an ambitious plan to craft not one, but four interlinked music biopics about possibly the most famous group in the world –– that would be The Beatles –– everyone has been wondering who would land the coveted, challenging roles of main members Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

That is now really coming into focus as, while nothing has been confirmed by either Mendes or the studio, the latest word from Deadline is that ‘Gladiator II’s Joseph Quinn is aboard to play George Harrison.

That follows the report, from Ringo Starr himself, that ‘Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan will play Starr in the film.

(Left) Barry Keoghan in 'Masters of the Air,' premiering January 26, 2024 on Apple TV+. (Right) Ringo Starr in 'A Hard Day's Night'. Photo: United Artists.

And talking of other people letting slip about potential casting, we also recently had Ridley Scott jokingly complaining that his ‘Gladiator II’ star Paul Mescal may not be able to reunite with him for the director’s next movie ‘The Dog Stars’ because of a clash with the Beatles movies.

Here’s what Scott said about Mescal acting in his next project when asked by Christopher Nolan in a conversational Q&A held this week at the Director’s Guild of America:

“Yes. Maybe. Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go.”

It’s an odd coincidence that two ‘Gladiator II’ stars are both now linked to the Beatles movies, but we shouldn’t really be surprised –– both are in-demand talents, with Quinn also having just worked on Marvel’s new ‘Fantastic Four’ movie (and according to Deadline’s sources toting a guitar around set as he practices guitar for the McCartney role.)

Read on for more details on the Beatles film and the other current rumored casting…

What’s the plan for Sam Mendes’ Beatles films?

(L to R) George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon in 'The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years.'

With the backing of Sony Pictures Classics –– not to mention being granted full life story and music rights by Beatles holding company Apple Corps Ltd. (no, not the company behind the iPhone), surviving members McCartney and Starr and the families of deceased colleagues Lennon and Harrison –– Mendes will make four different biopics, covering each Beatles’ experiences during the band’s rise to massive popularity.

A strict time period for what the movies will cover has yet to be announced.

Here’s what Mendes had to say about the project:

“I’m honored 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.”

And this is the statement from Mendes’ Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris:

“We intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time. To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege. From our first meeting with [Sony execs] Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, it was clear that they shared both our passion and ambition for this project, and we can’t think of a more perfect home than Sony Pictures.”

Who else has been rumored for Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics?

(Left) Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich in 'The Iron Claw.' Photo: A24.

Alongside Mescal, Quinn and Keoghan (who we’ve heard was originally hired to play Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II,’ only to be replaced by Quinn when scheduling issues reared their heads), the buzz for John Lennon has been around Harris Dickinson.

The British actor, who has appeared in movies including ‘The Iron Claw, ‘Where the Crawdads Sing,’ ‘The King’s Man’ has a couple of films on the way, including ‘Babygirl,’ an erotic thriller co-starring Nicole Kidman and Steve McQueen’s World War II drama ‘Blitz.’

Blitz

"A boy's journey. A mother's love. Miles of burning city between them."

PG-132 hrNov 21st, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Blitz Online

Is it wrong that there’s a tiny part of us hoping for Mendes to shock the world by announcing that he’s instead chosen the actors who played the Fab Four in 2007’s ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’? Yes, the world demands that Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Justin Long and Jason Schwartzman return as John, Paul George and Ringo!

When will Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics hit theaters?

(L to R) Olivia Colman and Sam Mendes on set of the film 'Empire of the Light.' Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

Given the scope of the movies, the current aim is to have the movies in theaters by 2027, with the plan for their release dates still to be announced. Will we see them release a month apart? Spread out across the years? It’s too early to tell.

But here’s what Sony chief Tom Rothman told The Hollywood Reporter about his plans:

“You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy. There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and you can’t think about it in traditional releasing terms