The thing about The Beatles is, they weren’t just the best band in the world. (Mileage may vary, but come on now.) It’s that they were several different types of best-band-ever over the course of seven short years – first jangly mop-top chart-toppers, then harder-edged rock ’n’ rollers, then psychedelic superstars, with additional detours into folk-rock and more along the way. So the question is this: how do make a biopic movie about The Beatles? The answer is, that you make several Beatles biopics at once. That’s exactly the approach set to be taken by Sam Mendes – the Skyfall director is planning to make not one but four intersecting Beatles biopics, one following the perspective of each member, and all due in cinemas in 2027. We expect he’ll be working eight days a week to make it all happen.
The news was confirmed in a press release from Sony Pictures, who’ll be producing the films alongside Mendes’ Neal Street Productions banner. The project has received the blessing of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – while Apple Corps Ltd. have agreed to full life story and music rights. It couldn’t be more official. The four films will roll out across cinemas throughout 2027 – the official release dates for each are yet to be confirmed, though the release (in a slightly strange turn of phrase) promises an “innovative and groundbreaking” nature for the “dating cadence of the films”. Maybe watching them will feel like hearing ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ for the first time, or something.
“I’m honoured 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,” said Mendes in a statement. Neal Street’s Pippa Harris said: “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 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.”
Now, expect a hotly-contested casting round to bring together the Fab Four – all just after the long-rumoured Fantastic Four were finally cast at Marvel. Perhaps, in an unprecedented move, the same cast will straddle both projects – in which case we absolutely need to see Pedro Pascal’s best attempt at Ringo Starr. Stay tuned for more news in the coming years – and good luck to Mendes, as he embarks on such a long and winding road.