Buckle up, Beatles fans, because we finally have a first look at ‘Fab Four’ Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn and Barry Keoghan in The Beatles – a four-movie series that will each follow a different member of the band.
Word has been out about the casting of the biopics for some time, but this is the first time we've seen the four actors in character as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr on set. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the images were first distributed on Thursday 29 January at Liverpool’s Institute of Performing Arts, as well as in Hamburg, New York City and Tokyo – before being released to the press on Friday 30 January.
On Instagram, Sony Pictures shared the new shots with audiences, writing: “The Beatles. April 2028. Paul Mescal is Paul McCartney; Barry Keoghan is Ringo Starr; Joseph Quinn is George Harrison; Harris Dickinson is John Lennon. The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes.”
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Unsurprisingly, many fans responded with excitement at the update – though some noted that we'll be waiting a while before the first film's release. “2028?! Damn, we definitely not getting a trailer 'til next year,” one wrote.
Others reacted to the likeness of each actor with their respective Beatle, with many commenting on one in particular. “Oh God. I was scared for Ringo but I should've been scared for George,” one wrote, with another adding: “I can't even find the words to express my disappointment with the casting for George.” Uh oh.
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So what else do we know about The Beatles? The project's logline reads: “Each man has his own story, but together they are legendary,” which explains the four-film decision – with director Sam Mendes saying at last year's CinemaCon: "Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply.”
Of course, there's so much more to these films' casts than each Beatle, too, with big names signed up to play the likes of Lynda McCartney and Yoko Ono. Ahead, everything you need to know about The Beatles movies – from casting to release dates, plot lines and more.
When are The Beatles movies out?
As revealed in the latest update from Sony Pictures, The Beatles will be released in April 2028 – an exact date has not yet been confirmed.
The four-film series is being hailed as a first-of-its-kind cinematic event, with all four films expected to be released at the same time. “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,” said one of the film’s producers, Pippa Harris, when the films were initially announced.
One Battle After Another swept this year's Academy Awards.
Who's in the cast?
ICYMI, The Beatles cast is essentially a who's who of the male acting zeitgeist. Buckle up:
Babygirl icon Harris Dickinson will take on the much-anticipated portrayal of John Lennon, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of The Beatles. Tragically, the musician was shot and killed in December 1980, at the age of just 40.
Speaking about the role with Radio Times in 2025, Harris said: "It's such a unique experience to play someone of that calibre. I mean, it's intimidating, but it’s enriching, it's like an opportunity to delve into something incredibly complex and challenging, which I've loved. I feel really lucky to go to work every day and get to, kind of, attempt to dig into who and what that is."
Next up, it's Hamnet and Normal People fave Paul Mescal, who will be playing the legendary Paul McCartney. Many have commented on his uncanny hair and makeup in the newly released images of him in character.
Paul has shared that he is doing his own singing in the movies, and has spent time with Paul McCartney himself to prepare. Speaking to Variety, he didn't give much away though. “I don’t want to get into the Beatles thing, not coyly, but actually because I think the world hopefully will benefit from knowing as little as possible going into it,” he said. “We’re a while away from finishing. That’s my job for all of 2026.
“On a personal level, I’m so thrilled to be working on something at this scale, but also rooted in performance with Sam and great writers,” he added. “But also just to be living and working in London and to have some sort of stability in what has been like a kind of mad six, seven years since Normal People came out.”
Fellow Irish actor and Saltburn star Barry Keoghan will play drummer Ringo Starr, the other surviving member of The Beatles. He has also confirmed that he has spent time with Ringo ahead of taking on the role.
He told Jimmy Kimmel Live: “I met him at his house and he played the drums for me. He asked me to play, but I wasn’t playing the drums for Ringo!”
Of his portrayal, he added that he hopes to “to humanise and bring feelings to it and not just sort of imitate.”
Our final member of the fab four is Joseph Quinn, who will play the late Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison. Joseph is also known for his roles in Stranger Things, A Quiet Place: Day One and in Gladiator II alongside Paul Mescal.
Before he even got the role, the actor has talked about his close connection with The Beatles. “My mum’s from Liverpool. She’s a very Scouse lady. I grew up spending Christmases and stuff there – I love my Liverpudlians. West Derby. It’s its own little world – a lot of humour,” he told Esquire. “My mum was singing Beatles songs when I was at primary school, so if that [getting the role] was to happen, there would be another level of meaningfulness there.” Aw.
The Beatles supporting cast
We don't have any pictures of the supporting cast members in character as yet, but we do have some casting news on some of the (epic!) actors who will join Paul, Barry, Harris and Joseph on The Beatles films, including Saoirse Ronan playing Paul McCartney's first wife Lynda and Shogun star Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono:
- Saoirse Ronan as Lynda McCartney (née Eastman)
- Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono
- Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd
- Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Cox
- James Norton as Brian Epstein
- David Morrissey as Jim McCartney
- Leanne Best as Mimi Smith
- Bobby Schofield as Neil Aspinall
- Daniel Hoffmann-Gill as Mal Evans
- Arthur Darvill as Derek Taylor
- Adam Pally as Allen Klein
- Harry Lloyd as George Martin
Weekend sorted.
What are the movies about?
It's been confirmed that each film will follow a story from one band member's point of view, allowing the films to intersect and build a complete picture of The Beatles' history.
On The Beatles' official website, it states that the films will “intersect to tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history,” adding that the “dating cadence of the films… will be innovative and groundbreaking”. Interesting.
Sam Mendes, who will direct all four films, has also remained pretty schtum about what they will cover. It's not known whether John Lennon's tragic death will feature, or the band's break-up in 1970.
We'll keep this article updated with news about The Beatles movies.
