The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes.

Harris Dickinson (John Lennon)
Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney)
Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr)
Joseph Quinn (George Harrison)

In theatres April 2028. #TheBeatlesFourFilmCinematicEvent pic.twitter.com/mREL0nPcfC

— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) April 1, 2025

The ensemble cast was presented on stage by Mendes, with a projection of who would be playing who on a screen behind them. Paul Mescal, who recently starred in Gladiator II, will play Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison, as previously reported earlier this year. Barry Keoghan, who shot to fame in 2023’s Saltburn, and later as the partner of Sabrina Carpenter, will play Ringo Starr, and Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon in what is likely to be his biggest role to date.   

These castings won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has taken an interest in the rumours and clues that have come out since the four films were announced in February 2024. DEADLINE reported the lineup back in December, drawing from details and gossip around the four actors. Ridley Scott, Mescal’s director on Gladiator II, accidentally revealed the 29-year old’s involvement in a Q&A, Ringo Starr shared that Keoghan had taken drumming lessons, Dickinson refused to rule out playing Lennon, and Quinn dropped out of Bret Easton Ellis’ Relapse citing scheduling conflicts.

As part of the 2024 announcement, Mendes said he was “excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” and his exciting approach to the challenge has received the blessing of McCartney and Starr, as well as the families of Lennon and Harrison.  

The announcement was made at 8pm Las Vegas time, or 4am in the UK, leading some to question whether it was an April Fool’s Day joke. The disbelief surrounds the appearance of the four actors, with critics questioning if they look enough like their real-life counterparts to be convincing. Others noticed the resemblance between the promotional shot of the newly-announced cast, and an image of The Beatles taken at one of their final photoshoots.

First look at ‘THE BEATLES’ cast together.

Liam Gallagher as John Lennon
Paul McCartney (Old) as Paul McCartney
Squeaky as Ringo Starr
Yellow Yoshi as George Harrison pic.twitter.com/7fUA4LIgDR

— marybeth (@60minonacid) April 1, 2025

Discussing the ambitious nature of the project, Mendes said: “Frankly, we need big cinematic events to get people out of the house. There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation, and I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore and I think we found a way to do that.” Mendes also used his CinemaCon appearance to elaborate on the release schedule, saying that all four films would be released “in proximity” of each other. 

Often cited as the most influential band of all time, any previous biopics on the group have felt half baked. Mendes’ approach will allow room for each Beatle to be explored, both as musicians and people, and the resulting films will be a treat for audiophiles and cinephiles alike.

According to a statement obtained by Deadline, the Oscar-winning filmmaker, known for Skyfall and 1917, said he is “honoured to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time“, and that he is “excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.”

“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sam Mendes, and Neal Street Productions announced a groundbreaking creative endeavor to tell the story of #TheBeatles with four distinct theatrical feature films.

The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles… pic.twitter.com/b7uqEv1zig

— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) February 20, 2024

Harris added: “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.”

Apple Corps Ltd. CEO Jeff Jones shared: “Apple Corps is delighted to collaborate with Sam, Pippa and Julie to explore each Beatle’s unique story and to bring them together in a suitably captivating and innovative way. Sony Pictures’ enthusiastic support, championing the project’s scope and creative vision from the start, has been invaluable for all of us.”

“Theatrical movie events today must be culturally seismic. Sam’s daring, large-scale idea is that and then some. Pairing his premiere filmmaking team, with the music and the stories of four young men who changed the world, will rock audiences all over the globe. We are deeply grateful to all parties and look forward ourselves to breaking some rules with Sam’s uniquely artistic vision.” said Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group.

The iconic Liverpudlian band have been at the centre of a multitude of documentaries and films over the past six decades, but this project marks the first that has acquired full music rights, including scripted storytelling freedoms surrounding the musicians’ lives. 2021’s The Beatles: Get Back showcased a more intimate glimpse into the band’s relationship and songwriting process, allowing audiences to view never-before-seen footage and private conversations between the quartet, a far cry from the camp musical comedy that was 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night.

Meanwhile, the band have already been making headlines the past few months after releasing their emotional final single ‘Now And Then‘ in November 2023, a demo that had once been left in the musical abyss, now brought to the surface after the rediscovery of a lost 1970 John Lennon recording. 

More recently, a member of the public has come forward in a wholesome turn of events to reunite McCartney with his most beloved bass guitar, one that was deemed to be of huge importance in The Beatles’ history, having been used to record major moments in their discography, and famously pictured during the group’s rehearsals for their legendary debut performance on CBS’ The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. The woman who claimed to have found the £10million Hofner 500/1 ‘violin’ bass, which was stolen in 1972, returned it to the musician last week more than 50 years later, and is hoping for some form of reward.

Tuesday’s film series announcement has generated an immense amount of online buzz, with Beatles fans now speculating as to who should be cast, throwing Hollywood stars like Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal and Aaron Taylor-Johnson into the ring of discussion. Drummer Ringo Starr broke his silence on the news, taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to comment:

Have you heard the news? Oh boy. We all support the Sam Mendes movie project. Yes, indeed. peace and love. pic.twitter.com/byhnmVqsHY — #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) February 20, 2024

Original members Steve Scipio (bass) and Patrick Patterson (guitar) had previously jammed together in the jazz fusion group Metre. The love affair with music began when Scipio had followed his family as a young boy from Guyana to Balham in South London in 1963, soon befriending Patterson who at the time was developing a real passion for rock music. Scipio, however, was a jazz lover, and took up bass. Before they knew it, they were enlisting other members to join them on their quest to tackle the British jazz circuit.

After a series of gigs at universities and working man’s clubs in the north, the dream had seemingly been snuffed out after drummer Phil Gibbs upped sticks and moved to Australia, pushing the duo to find a more permanent home – this time, at the prestigious Ronnie Scott’s in Soho. The pair were discovered by British R&B singer John Schroeder after he had stumbled upon them upstairs during rehearsals. Schroeder decided to take them under his wing, recording some of their demos and convincing Janus Records to sign them.

Cymande’s name derives from the calypso word for ‘dove’, which also shares the same name and lies in duality with one of their more known tracks, which followed their first single ‘The Message’. Once released into the ether, the group quickly began to make a name for themselves across the pond, with the song charting in the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B charts in the United States – a quasi-jazz-funk groove with hints of reggae that captured their essence perfectly. This quickly extended into invitations to tour with iconic American acts such as Al Green, funk-rock band Mandrill and jazz musician Ramsey Lewis.

Despite all of the buzz surrounding them, disagreements on style began to creep to the surface. Original lead singer Ray King’s departure pushed him to guide other artists on their journeys to success, including the formation of The Specials, and inevitably led him to be replaced by Joey Dee.

With a mixed Afro-Caribbean heritage, there was a real sense of community, with sometimes up to eight or nine members of the group interchangeably. Boasting a rich cultural identity and symbiotic relationship, the group were able to explore their sound a little deeper. ‘Brothers On The Slide’ was then born, and the group began to take over. Unbeknownst to them, Cymande had become the soundtrack to summer outings in the park, sticky basement jams and nightclubs throughout New York. By the turn of the 90s, their sound had grown particularly popular during the dawn of the hip-hop and house scene and had spread across numerous genres, with musicians like the Fugees and Wu-Tang Clan scrambling to sample them. Flattered by the recognition from different artists, the group have been promoting a specially curated Spotify playlist that includes all of the songs that have sampled their music.

Fast-forward to 2024, Cymande have embraced the digital age with open arms, taking to Instagram to announce their 2024 European and Australian tour, as well as a performance at O2 Shepherd’s Bush in London on April 20. The group said: “Our April show at @abconcerts in Brussels is now SOLD OUT. Thank you all very much. It’s been thrilling to see the excitement from all of you around this tour. Tickets are moving very quickly for Amsterdam and London so don’t miss out!”

The first page in a remarkable new chapter, the band have also unveiled the upcoming release of their own documentary Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande which was first launched at film festivals in 2022. Directed by Tim Mackenzie-Smith, the documentary is said to tell the ultimate musical survival story, transporting you from 70s Brixton to 90s New York to a present revival decades later.

Showcasing their legacy, influence and cult following throughout the ages, it will also feature interviews with Mark Ronson, Laura Lee and Mark Speer (Khruangbin), DJ Maseo (De La Soul), Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), Cut Chemist, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Louie Vega and Kool DJ Red Alert.

Getting It Back will touch down in UK and Irish cinemas on February 16 2024, with tickets available to pre-book now. The film will be screened in select theatres, including BFI (Southbank), Bertha DocHouse, Ritzy, Ealing Picturehouse, Picturehouse FACT, Hackney Picturehouse, Picturehouse Central, West Norwood Picturehouse, and many more to come.

Sharing their excitement surrounding the film’s premiere, the band commented: “We are thrilled to announce that Getting It Back: The Story Of Cymande will premiere at @britishfilminstitute Southbank in London on February 13th! That event will feature a Q&A and an after party as well...Come celebrate with us!”

An inspiration to musicians around the globe, Cymande’s discography has clearly stood the test of time, and with bands like Ezra Collective being crowned Mercury Prize winners, it appears there is a welcomed return of jazz and funk to the UK soundscape. Voiced in a statement posted on their official website, the band are said to be “currently working on new music to be released later in 2024.” You can listen to and browse through Cymande’s musical history here.

The film was written and is being directed by Bernard Rose, who directed the band’s Relax music video back in 1984. “Relax,” the band’s debut single, was famously banned by the BBC due to the sexual nature of the lyrics, causing Frankie Goes to Hollywood to gain notoriety and helping to keep the single in the No.1 spot of the UK Singles Chart for 5 weeks.

Following the band’s rise to fame in the 1980s, the biopic will largely be based on what was shared in lead singer Holly Johnson’s memoir, A Bone in My Flute.

Director and screenwriter Bernard Rose described the band as going from “unemployed Liverpudlians to kings of pop on the back of their epic banned record ‘Relax.'”

Rose continued, “It took them from the underground S&M and LGBTQ club scene into mainstream pop culture. I was very much a part of the hoopla, having directed the original ‘banned’ ‘Relax’ video and I want to bring that innocent and daring world of 1984 back to life for a new audience today.”

Callum Scott Howells is set to star as Holly Johnson, following his acclaimed performance in Russell T. Davies’s drama It’s a Sin, which delved into the 1980s and 90s AIDS epidemic.

Speaking on the BBC ban in 1984, Holly Johnson shared on the BBC Breakfast Show that fans said it made them seem “cool, edgy and rebellious,” effectively doing “them a favour.”

However, Johnson said, “But I wanted to sing our number one debut single on Top of the Pops, so that moment was denied us.”

Frankie Goes to Hollywood recently reunited for the first time in 36 years for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, held in their hometown of Liverpool.

Lead singer Holly Johnson commented on the experience, saying, “It was a real pleasure. I’d forgotten how much I really liked those people, and why I liked them. It was great. It couldn’t have been a better outcome. We seemed to have the same chemistry we had back in the day. They dynamic was the same, the energy was the same. It was great, it was a really perfect pop moment.“

Guitarist Brian Nash also shared his thoughts on the band’s reunion via Facebook, writing, “I am SO happy right now, and this weekend made me happier, and I will take that and hold it in my heart alongside my mates, fans, supporters and the people of this wonderful city.“

No further reunion plans have been shared as of yet, with Nash also writing “The future is unwritten but don’t hold your breath.“

Lurhmann tends to attract a fair bit of scrutiny and excitement wherever his talents wander, such is his reputation, but the lengthy lay off period and ambition of his latest proposal seems to have stirred up quite the frenzy of interest even by his standards. The main question on everyone’s lips – who’s got the cojones to play Elvis Presley?

The answer to that question is Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor Austin Butler, a somewhat left field and surprising choice from Luhrmann considering the actor’s fairly unknown profile, however one that is paying off judging by the early reviews and praise his performance is garnering. There were some big names going for the role though, most notably none other than the British mega star Harry Styles.

Recently appearing on the Fitzy and Wippa podcast this week, Baz Luhrmann explained that whilst Styles is a “really talented actor“, he was simply too culturally iconic in his own right to work for the role: “Harry is a really talented actor. I would work on something with him. The real issue with Harry is, he’s Harry Styles. He’s already an icon.“.

Going on to further explain why Austin Butler had the edge he said “The thing about Austin was that he will tell you himself, I didn’t pick him: It’s as if he was drawn, like the role drew him in because he was almost born to play it. You know, we can talk about it now, he loses his mom at the same age that Elvis did. He sends a video to me of this thing and… It just happened like two years of non-stop living and breathing as Elvis. He’s now going through a sort of deprogramming thing because it’s been a long time since he’s known who he was.”

You can catch Elvis in cinemas across the UK from June 24th.

‘Pistol’ is due to be released on Hulu and Disney + on the 31^st of May 2022 spanning over 6 episodes. The programme was written and created by Craig Pearce (who incidentally is also involved in Baz Luhrmann’s forthcoming biopic which centres around the life and times of Elvis Presley) and is based on the Sex Pistol’s founding member Steve Jones’s memoir ‘Lonely Boy: Tales From A Sex Pistol’. Danny Boyle set to take the reigns as the director having worked closely with Lydon for the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. Take a look at the official teaser down below:

Having since made his opinions on the series abundantly clear; “It’s a disgrace. I fronted this band. I’m the man that wrote the words. I supplied the image and direction, and I think the questions hang on their actions here. If they needed to be this secret squirrel about it then they must have something to hide.”

A statement on Lydon’s official site went on to say; “We were originally led to believe “Pistol” was a Steve Jones story, not a Sex Pistols story. Going by the trailer it doesn’t seem to be the case. John’s “likeness” is clearly being used to sell this series, a series he was not involved in, and was put together behind his back. Putting words in John’s mouth and rewriting history. A middle class fantasy. Disney have stolen the past and created a fairytale, which bears little resemblance to the truth. It would be funny if it wasn’t tragic.”

However, with the release looming large, Lydon has turned his focus to the actions of his bandmates, stating;“Cutting me out is a shockingly stupid move. It’s so ridiculous. It’s so preposterous. They can all f*** off. I supported them for years and years and years, knowing they were dead wood. None of these f***s would have a career but for me. They did nothing before, they’ve done nothing since.”

He went on to say; “I don’t really want to watch it but I will need to fact-check it. I have not seen one single second of it. Not any script, I’ve been completely ostracised. To be misrepresented in such a rude manner is unacceptable. If there was any truth in it, they wouldn’t have kept it from me. They were putting this together for three solid years behind my back without involving me in any way, shape or form.”

Within a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Lydon gave his response to some recent publicity photos which were taken to promote Boyle’s new project. The ‘God Save The Queen’ Singer commented on the new series, stating that he was not part of any decisions within the series.

“Sorry, you think you can do this, like walk all over me — it isn’t going to happen. Not without a huge, enormous f***ing fight. I’m Johnny, you know, and when you interfere with my business you’re going to get the bitter end of my business as a result. It’s a disgrace. I fronted this band. I’m the man that wrote the words. I supplied the image and direction, and I think the questions hang on their actions here. If they needed to be this secret squirrel about it then they must have something to hide.”

Lydon continued with his comments.

“I think that’s the most disrespectful s*** I’ve ever had to endure. I mean they went to the point to hire an actor to play me but what’s that actor working on? Certainly not my character. It can’t go anywhere else [but court], And I’ve met [Boyle] before. It’s not like we’re complete strangers.”

However, comments from a spokesman from the series have stated that there was intent to contact Lydon before production started. And that Boyle had tried to contact Lydon’s management company, but the contact was refused. The two had met prior, for the 2012 Olympics ceremony. The Welsh director famed for his cult classic ‘Trainspotting’, was an artistic director for the event. The pair met when Boyle worked with Lydon on a music project for the ceremony.

The new series entitled ‘Pistol’, will chart the rise of punk’s genre-defining band, Sex Pistols are often regarded as the start of the Punk movement within 1970’s London. The members consisted of Johnny Rotten aka John Lydon, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Paul Cook and the group’s infamous bassist Sid Vicious. The band became synonymous with rebellious ideologies and anti-authoritarianism culture with the release of their 1997 single, ‘God Save The Queen’. The series is based on the book ‘Lonely Boy’, the 2016 autobiography by the Sex Pistol’s guitarist, Steve Jones and will air on the channel FX, the American streaming service, acquired by Disney in 2019.

The film series has recruited actor Anson Boom to play the character of Lydon, staring alongside Boom as the band’s guitarist Steve Jones is actor Toby Wallace. The new series also sees Game of Thrones star, Maisie Williams, staring as Jordan Mooney, a shop assistant at Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s boutique who would later go on to embody the punk aesthetic and attitude and became a model and punk icon herself.

‘Better Man’ production is being headed by Australian director Michael Gracey, famed for his directorial debut 2017 block buster, ‘The Greatest Showman’. Writing the much-anticipated biopic with Gracey are Oliver Cole and Simon Gleeson. The film will take the audience through Williams career, starting at the beginnings of Williams life, through his Take That days and finally showing his solo career. The film promises to show not just the celebrated points of the singer’s life but also the nitty-gritty parts, thus bringing Williams’ canon to a brand-new audience.

Director Gracey had this to say to the Independent about his new project ‘“As for how we represent Robbie in the film, that bit is top secret” he continues “I want to do this in a really original way. I remember going to the cinema as a kid and there were films that blew me away and made me say as I sat there in the cinema, ‘I’ve never seen this before.’

In the not-too-distant past, back when tamagotchis and rehearsed dance routines ruled the world, Robbie Williams was the face on every school folder. Much like the emergence of groups like the Spice Girls, in the early 90’s boy bands had made a massive comeback. Take That were truly 90’s heartthrobs with singles which remain popular today such as, ‘Back for Good‘ released 27th March 1995.  Williams joined Take That at the young age of 16, and remained in the band through 1990-1995, eventually leaving due to conflicts in the band mostly involving Williams’ alcohol and drug use.

Fans will remember the infamous shots of Williams partying with Oasis at Glastonbury, the event would impact his reputation. At the time Williams was hell bent on launching his solo career whilst occurring legal issues involving contract law. Eventually Williams was able to go solo and free to embrace his new bad-boy image, whilst releasing music that truly encapsulated the start of the Millennium. His first solo single was a cover of George Michael’s classic ‘Freedom’, released 1996 reaching no 2 in the singles charts. Other notable songs from his solo career included, ‘Millennium’, ‘Rock DJ’, ‘Let Me Entertain You‘, famed duet with Nicole Kidman seeing the pair cover the Sinatra song ‘Something Stupid and his 2000 hit duet with Kylie Minogue ‘Kids‘ (Williams has hinted earlier this year that ‘Kids‘ may not be their last duet). In more recent times, Williams eventually reconciled with his bandmates and since 2010 has been an unofficial member although has since hinted at other plans.

The film is said to have been made from countless hours of conversation with the star, it seems that the film will have something for every fan of Williams. Whether they are fan from the 90’s, or know the singer from his earlier work. And judging by Williams scandals and achievements in his career, the biopic is sure to be entertaining.

The all star cast speaks volumes too, with Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams playing Pamela Rooke (aka Jordan) and Toby Wallace portraying Steve Jones. Ansoon Boon will portray the bands vocalist John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) with Louis Partridge playing Sid Vicious.

‘Pistol’ will star Maisie Williams, Toby Wallace and Dylan Llewellynhttps://t.co/27S0okuVuu

— NME (@NME) January 11, 2021

Boyle stated, “It is the detonation point for British street culture… where ordinary young people had the stage and vented their fury and their fashion… and everyone had to watch & listen…and everyone feared them or followed them. The Sex Pistols. At its centre was a young charming illiterate kleptomaniac – a hero for the times – Steve Jones, who became in his own words, the 94th greatest guitarist of all time. This is how he got there.”

Jones’ memoir takes you through his upbringing with all the uncensored parts – climbing up a tower in Battersea Power Station and stealing David Bowie’s amps at his ‘Ziggy Stardust’ tour. The stars memoirs include his later life when he went Tee-Total in LA, describing himself as a “a semi-retired sexual deviant who doesn’t really act out so much any more”. Now, the Academy-Award winning director will begin filming these stories from the 7th March 2021, with no dates yet set for premieres.

The series will include the global controversy that occurred with the bands album ‘Never Mind the Bollocks – Here’s the Sex Pistols.’ The album is hailed as the one of the most influential works of all time, where it was ranked number.38 Greatest Album of All Time in 2013 by NME.  The single ‘God Save the Queen’ is an anarchists anthem, being banned by the BBC and many other independent radio stations incase of causing offence to the monarchy. Major retailers such as W.H Smiths and Woolworths also banned selling the single, which has been said to spur people to buy the record even more, due to its ‘naughtiness’. Boyle describes this as “the moment that British society and culture changed forever,” leaving us eagerly awaiting the arrival of, what will undoubtedly be, an epic biopic.