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Lifestyle
Beatles biopics to feature four films for each band member in 2028
By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)
- Director Sam Mendes announced a cinematic event: four interconnected Beatles biopics, each focusing on a different band member. Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn will play John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, respectively.
- Fans have raised concerns over casting choices, noting discrepancies in age, nationality and physical resemblance between the actors and the original Beatles.
- The films, set for simultaneous release in April 2028, have received approval from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison.
Full Story
What’s better than one Beatles biopic? Four.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 35%
Center 49%
Right 16%
Bias Summary
- The actors portraying The Beatles include Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, announced at CinemaCon by Director Sam Mendes.
- Sam Mendes expressed excitement about finally telling The Beatles' story across four films, stating that the films will each focus on different band members' perspectives, providing a deeper understanding of their lives.
- The biopics will be released simultaneously in April 2028, with Sam Mendes mentioning that the story is too big for one movie.
- Initial reactions to the casting announcement were mixed, with some questioning if the actors are a good fit and suggesting alternative options.
- Sony Pictures announced on April 1, 2025, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that Sir Sam Mendes will direct four new biopics about The Beatles, with each film focusing on a different band member.
- The Beatles' story was deemed too vast for a single film or TV mini-series, leading to the decision to create a quadrilogy.
- Paul Mescal will portray Sir Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan will portray Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon and Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison, marking the first time the band and their families have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
- Sir Sam Mendes called the films the "first binge-able theatrical experience," and Sony Pictures anticipates dominating culture upon their release.
- The four films are scheduled for release in April 2028, and some fans have already expressed concerns about the casting choices and the long wait until the release date.
- Sam Mendes will direct four films about The Beatles, releasing in April 2028, with Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
- Mendes announced the films at CinemaCon, stating they will be 'the first bingeable theatrical experience.'
- The movie industry is struggling, with 2025 showing a 7% decline in box office receipts compared to Q1 2024, which faced challenges from Hollywood strikes.
- Warner Bros. Aims to recover from recent flops with a lineup including a major new 'Superman' film to revitalize its DC franchise.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
highlight the actors’ stardom and fan appeal, even using enthusiastic terms like “Fab!”
Media outlets in the center
adopt a more factual approach, detailing the project’s scope and the band’s involvement, but also mentioned some fans were “unconvinced” by the casting.
Media outlets on the right
emphasize a “fiery debate” among fans and celebrated the “Fab Four stars” with nostalgic tones.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
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Left
+0
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Untracked Bias
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204 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
204
Leaning Left
40
Center
55
Leaning Right
18
Last Updated
5 days ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Director Sam Mendes is making four separate Beatles biopics. Each movie will highlight a different member of the iconic band.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
The announcement came at CinemaCon in Las Vegas during Sony Pictures’ presentation. Mendes appeared on stage with the actors who will play the Fab Four.
- Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon.
- Paul Mescal steps into the role of Paul McCartney.
- Barry Keoghan has been cast as Ringo Starr.
- Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison.
The project is billed as the first “bingeable theatrical experience” featuring a multi-perspective biopic series.
Fans raise questions
Despite the star-studded cast, some fans voiced concerns on social media about the casting choices.
Quinn, best known for his role in “Stranger Things,” and Mescal, who appears alongside Dickinson in “Gladiator II,” bring Hollywood credibility. However, one Reddit user noted that The Beatles were in their twenties during their most iconic years, while the actors cast are in their thirties.
Another user pointed out that only two of the actors—Dickinson and Quinn—are British. Fans also questioned the physical resemblance, suggesting the actors don’t closely match the look of the original band members.
Release date set for April 2028
The Associated Press reported that studios will release all four Beatles biopics around each other in April 2028.
“There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation,” Mendes said. “I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore—and I think we found a way to do that.”
Still, not everyone is convinced. One Reddit comment read, “Who of the casual moviegoing audience is gonna watch all four of these films back to back? Are they gonna lower the ticket prices or something?”
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Approval from The Beatles’ inner circle
Despite the online skepticism, the project has received approval from surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison, according to the New York Post.
With four films set to spotlight each member’s individual journey, the Beatles biopics could usher in a new style of music storytelling—one movie at a time.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
What’s better than one Beatles biopic? Four of them. British film director Sam Mendes is behind the ambitious project, dedicating a separate film to each member of the Fab Four.
The announcement came during Sony Pictures’ presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Mendes took the stage to reveal his vision and was joined by the actors set to portray the legendary bandmates.
Paul Mescal will take on the role of Paul McCartney. Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison. Barry Keoghan is stepping into the shoes of Ringo Starr. And Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon.
While the cast brings plenty of star power—with Mescal and Quinn both appearing in Gladiator 2 and Oscar-nominated Keoghan recently seen in Saltburn and The Batman—some fans have raised concerns. One Reddit user pointed out that The Beatles were quite young during their rise to fame, noting the actors chosen are older than the band members were during their peak. Others questioned the casting choices, pointing out that only Dickinson and Quinn are British and some feel the actors don’t closely resemble The Beatles.
Fans will have to wait to see how it all plays out—three years, to be exact. Mendes says all four films will premiere in April 2028, calling it the first bingeable theatrical experience.
One skeptical viewer asked, “Who of the casual moviegoing audience is gonna watch all four of these films back to back? Are they gonna lower the ticket prices or something?”—suggesting some viewers may only commit to one.
But despite the possible criticism, the films have the blessing of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison.
“There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation. I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore, and I think we found a way to do that,” Mendes said.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 35%
Center 49%
Right 16%
Bias Summary
- The actors portraying The Beatles include Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, announced at CinemaCon by Director Sam Mendes.
- Sam Mendes expressed excitement about finally telling The Beatles' story across four films, stating that the films will each focus on different band members' perspectives, providing a deeper understanding of their lives.
- The biopics will be released simultaneously in April 2028, with Sam Mendes mentioning that the story is too big for one movie.
- Initial reactions to the casting announcement were mixed, with some questioning if the actors are a good fit and suggesting alternative options.
- Sony Pictures announced on April 1, 2025, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that Sir Sam Mendes will direct four new biopics about The Beatles, with each film focusing on a different band member.
- The Beatles' story was deemed too vast for a single film or TV mini-series, leading to the decision to create a quadrilogy.
- Paul Mescal will portray Sir Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan will portray Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon and Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison, marking the first time the band and their families have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
- Sir Sam Mendes called the films the "first binge-able theatrical experience," and Sony Pictures anticipates dominating culture upon their release.
- The four films are scheduled for release in April 2028, and some fans have already expressed concerns about the casting choices and the long wait until the release date.
- Sam Mendes will direct four films about The Beatles, releasing in April 2028, with Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
- Mendes announced the films at CinemaCon, stating they will be 'the first bingeable theatrical experience.'
- The movie industry is struggling, with 2025 showing a 7% decline in box office receipts compared to Q1 2024, which faced challenges from Hollywood strikes.
- Warner Bros. Aims to recover from recent flops with a lineup including a major new 'Superman' film to revitalize its DC franchise.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
highlight the actors’ stardom and fan appeal, even using enthusiastic terms like “Fab!”
Media outlets in the center
adopt a more factual approach, detailing the project’s scope and the band’s involvement, but also mentioned some fans were “unconvinced” by the casting.
Media outlets on the right
emphasize a “fiery debate” among fans and celebrated the “Fab Four stars” with nostalgic tones.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Far
Right
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Click to close
204 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
204
Leaning Left
40
Center
55
Leaning Right
18
Last Updated
5 days ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
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