Who will play the Beatles in upcoming biopics? Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn and Harris Dickinson emerge as top contenders.

The Beatles are heading to the big screen, with four biopics set to be released in 2027.

Directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall), the films will chronicle the story of one of music’s most iconic bands, each told from the perspective of a different member — Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is backing the project, said its release strategy will be “innovative and groundbreaking.”

The studio is keeping official casting details under wraps, but rumors have begun circulating that Paul Mescal might step into McCartney’s shoes. Director Ridley Scott added fuel to those rumors during a Directors Guild of America event on Dec. 10, revealing to fellow director Christopher Nolan that Mescal is “doing the Beatles next.”

Mescal isn’t the only potential Beatle in the mix.

Deadline reported Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn is “the choice” to portray Harrison after he was spotted by sources with a guitar on the set of Fantastic Four in Europe, fueling speculation about the role.

Babygirl star Harris Dickinson ignited speculation that he may have been cast as Lennon based on how he responded to a question about the project in an interview with Variety.

Last month, Starr himself responded to rumors that Saltburn star Barry Keoghan is gearing up to play him, telling Entertainment Tonight that Keoghan would be “great” in the role, adding, “I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.”

As anticipation for the films builds, here’s everything we know (and don’t know) about the Beatles biopics.

When are the films coming out?

The four films will hit theaters sometime in 2027. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the production team plans to start shooting the films in the U.K. in mid-2025 to make the planned 2027 release.

Although no screenwriters have been announced, it’s reported that Sony Pictures expects to shoot all four films at the same time — though they won’t have a sense of their overall budget until the scripts have been written.

Four films, four perspectives, one giant rollout

Each film will dive into the life of one Beatles member, weaving his personal journey into the band’s rise and eventual breakup in 1970. It’s believed that each plot will cover each band member’s story from childhood to the end of their lives, or the present day in the cases of McCartney and Starr.

In a press release, Mendes called it an “epic cinematic experience” designed to challenge traditional moviegoing and said he’s “excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.”

According to Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman, the films will have an equally innovative release strategy to match the boldness of the idea (perhaps, all four being released on the same day).

“There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and you can’t think about it in traditional releasing terms,” Rothman told the Hollywood Reporter.

Who will play the Beatles?

Neither Mendes nor Sony has confirmed the cast, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation. While Mescal and Keoghan are rumored to play McCartney and Starr, Babygirl star Harris Dickinson and Charlie Rowe have been floated as actors who may take on Lennon and Harrison, respectively. Now Quinn has emerged as a top contender for Harrison.

When asked about the prospect of playing Lennon, Dickinson told Variety, “It would be amazing to do that,” adding, “I think the idea of Sam [Mendes] teaming up to do something like that would be incredibly exciting. Obviously, John Lennon is a very complex role, a pretty formidable force to try to do. It would be cool.”

As to whether or not he’s signed on for the project, Dickinson replied, “We’ll see.”

Rowe has yet to comment on the matter.

Other names that have been tossed into the mix include Daniel Radcliffe for Starr and Aaron Taylor-Johnson or Paul Dano as Lennon. Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi and even George’s son, Dhani Harrison, have also been mentioned to play Harrison. As for McCartney, actors Elordi, Jamie Bell and Tom Holland have been mentioned in recent days.

The Beatles gave their full support

The Beatles have been featured in countless documentaries and films, from A Hard Day’s Night (1964) and Help! (1965) to Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back (2021). However, this reportedly marks the first time McCartney, Starr and the families of Lennon and Harrison have fully endorsed a project, granting both life story and music rights.

Here’s what we don’t know

Several key details remain under wraps. The full cast has yet to be officially confirmed, and we still don’t know who will pen the screenplays — whether it’ll be a single writer or four separate ones for each film is still unclear.

It’s also a mystery which Beatles songs will make the cut and whether the actors will sing them or lip-sync the original recordings. With access to the band’s entire catalog, Mendes faces some tough choices.

As for the release, Sony Pictures has only confirmed a 2027 debut, with production slated to kick off in July 2025 in the U.K. For now, fans will have to stay tuned for more updates.

Update, Dec. 16, 2024: This story was originally published on Dec. 11, 2024, and has been updated with new details surrounding rumored castings.

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