For the first time, an official scripted biopic of The Beatles: in fact, four of them, all due in 2027 from director Sam Mendes.
A project that almost felt like a case of when, not if, there’s now an official feature film biopic of The Beatles on the way. Scrub that: they’ve gone all James Cameron.
There are four official biopics of The Beatles on the way.
In an idea taken to Apple Corps and Sony Pictures, Sam Mendes has hatched on the plan of making four films, one from each band member’s point of view. We’re thus getting Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison’s stories in individual films. McCartney and Starr have agreed full life story and music rights, and the families of Lennon and Harrison have done the same.
All four films look like they’re going to be released in 2027.
Sam Mendes, as per the blurb I’m looking at now, is to direct all four films. He will also produce, and as it’s going through his Neal Street Productions outfit, he’s joined by Julie Pastor and Pippa Harris. Jeff Jones from Apple Corps is also an executive producer.
It’s the first time that life and music rights have been granted by the band for an official scripted feature film, and it’s one hell of a deal. No word yet on who’s writing each film, or any casting. Still, we know that Sony is distributing.
On the official announcement, Sam Mendes said that “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 Sam Mendes.
From the Apple Corps point of view, Jeff Jones chipped in with “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”. I checked, that sentence was not written by AI.
Jones continued: “Sony Pictures’ enthusiastic support, championing the project’s scope and creative vision from the start, has been invaluable for all of us.”
Crikey. Not one film, four films. And a firm commitment to theatrical releases.
Expect to hear much more. And fairly soon if they need to shoot four of the things…
