Beatles fans have noticed the same thing as cast announced

SAM MENDES' FILMS ABOUT THE FAB FOUR WILL BE RELEASED IN 2028 DAN HAYGARTH Liverpool Daily Post Editor and Regeneration Reporter 12:41, 01 Apr 2025 The announcement of the cast for

forthcoming films about The Beatles has led to much discussion among fans. The core cast for Sam Mendes' series of films about the band was confirmed at the CinemaCon convention in Las

Vegas on Monday as Sony Pictures announced there will be four films, with an April 2028 release date. Irish actors Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan will play Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr

respectively. London-born Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, while Joseph Quinn, also from the capital, will play George Harrison. Speaking at convention, which the cast also attended,

Sam called the films the "first binge-able theatrical experience". He added: "I’ve been trying to make a story about The Beatles for years." It is the first time that

Apple Corps Ltd and The Beatles – Paul, Ringo, and the families of John and George – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film. Sam will produce the films under his

Neal Street Productions banner alongside its co-founder Dame Pippa Harris, the former chairwoman of Bafta, and Julie Pastor. Beatles fans have had their say since the cast was announced and

lots have the same concerns. Commenting on the announcement on The Beatles Facebook page, Matt Moran said: "So Barry is 32 now, Mescal nearly 30. What age are they playing in the

film?" John was 19 when The Beatles were formed in 1960, George was 17, Paul was 18 and Ringo was 22 when he joined the band in 1962. It means that the actors will all be much older

than The Beatles ever were while they were in the band, by the time the films hit screens. Bryan Dawson added: "I respect the actors and the director helming this bold endeavour, but,

they don’t look anything like any of The Beatles." Laura Hughes said: "All brilliant actors (particularly love Barry & Harris) but I just don't see them as anything

approaching The Beatles. Sam Mendes hasn't made a bad film so I'll reserve judgement." On X (formerly Twitter), @AdamEBond said: "The casting is superb, all great actors,

but the issue is that they’re all going to be older than each Beatle was by the time the band broke up." Joey Walker made his point briefly, saying: "Scouse actors exist."

Back on Facebook, Liam Parry had the same thought, saying: "They couldn’t have found 4 Scousers?". Grete Ringgaard said: "Much can be done in the makeup department. Let’s hope

their acting saves it as I don’t think they look like the band." However, some people were very happy with the casting. Matt Blackwell said: "Absolutely incredible cast. And Sam

Mendes directing. Finally the project the boys deserve!" Asikul Islam added: "Big shoes to fill boys good luck fellas!" About the films' release plans, Kenneth Longden,

lecturer in film production and film studies at the University of Salford, said: “It is an unusual strategy to release four films all in the same month but if there is anything that we know

about The Beatles, it’s that there is inexhaustible audience for any Beatles-kind of project whatsoever. "The way they are doing this is interesting but we shouldn’t be surprised by

that because anything to do with The Beatles is always kind of innovative. 'The Beatles Anthology', for instance was a multimedia package of book, CDs and a television documentary

and that was kind of unusual at the time. These films are typical of the strategy around The Beatles since Anthology, with audiences getting the full package. "I’ve no doubt that this

will be financially successful because Beatles fans will just hoover this up, but critically, that’s another matter. "In terms of which film do you release first, traditionally the most

space has always been given to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but which one you do first of those two because there was always a competition around which one of those was always credited

first. Maybe they’ll surprise us and go with Ringo first! "There will be an enormous amount of pressure on these actors, however, Sam Mendes’ name carries a lot of way and I think that

it will have been a factor for them in signing on." 'Normal People' and 'Gladiator II' star Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan are both Oscar nominees, having been

nominated for drama 'Aftersun' and black comedy 'The Banshees Of Inisherin', respectively. Harris Dickinson has also acted in the comedy 'Triangle Of Sadness'

and thriller 'Where The Crawdads Sing', while Joseph Quinn rose to fame in 'Stranger Things' before taking on roles including in 'A Quiet Place: Day One'.

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