Sam Mendes will direct 4 films about The Beatles (one from each member's POV) to be theatrically released by Sony in 2027

This is a big swing and an ambitious idea by Mendes!

It could end up being a fiasco if done poorly...but I'm intrigued, and his track record is (mostly) good.


Mendes will direct all four of the films, and this marks the first time Apple CorpsLtd. and The Beatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.

Mendes conceived this grand vision. He’ll tell interconnected stories, one from each band member’s point of view. I’m told they are locking down writers quickly. All of this came about when Mendes pitched the project in Hollywood, and just about everyone flipped their mop-tops for it. Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler sparked to the opportunity and won the package.

The dating cadence of the films will be revealed closer to the films’ release.

Updated On: 2/20/24 at 12:36 PM

Sounds like a really interesting way of doing it, I suppose.


I wish Hidden Figures had been done this way. I always felt like all three of those women deserved their own biopics.

Plannietink08 said: "I wish Hidden Figures had been done this way. I always felt like all three of those women deserved their own biopics."

I think this sort of 4-film thing only works when it's about people as famous as THE BEATLES. Lesser known figures (such as those in Hidden Figures) could not sustain 4 films in a year. Heck, even The Beatles might not be able to sustain 4 films...

That this is not becoming a TV show is notable and is a testament to Mendes (who conceived the ida) as a filmmaker.

Maybe they'll get a big name to play Ringo, just to get people to see it.

This is really just a television series, I suppose, there is no real rationale for it to get extra gravitas because it will be in theaters.

Kad said: "I can't imagine the Ringo installment will do as well as the others."

Unless Mendes includes a lot of flash-forwards to the Barbara Bach era.

Zeppie2022 said: ""I can't imagine the Ringo installment will do as well as the others."

Yep. To be honest, I don't think George installment will do much better. Most people will only care about John & Paul IMO."

I strongly disagree! George has a very dedicated fanbase. "Here Comes The Sun" is the most-streamed Beatles song on Spotify. He's always been my fave and I regard him best songwriter in the group. (For all the songs that John and Paul wrote, they never created a love song as arresting as "Something").

But he also has the most compelling arc of any of the four, especially during the sixties when the Beatles were active. It will be great to see how Mendes tackles his development as a songwriter.

buffalospeedway said: "I strongly disagree! George has a very dedicated fanbase. "Here Comes The Sun" is the most-streamed Beatles song on Spotify. He's always been my fave and I regard himbest songwriter in the group. (For all the songs that John and Paul wrote, they never created a love song as arresting as "Something")."

I couldn't have said it better myself. As a Johnny-come-lately fan of The Beatles, I'm in awe of Harrison's compositions, including the two that you mention, especially considering he was a year or two younger than Lennon and McCartney. I'd say the three of them are on similar footing, all things being equal.

"I strongly disagree! George has a very dedicated fanbase. "Here Comes The Sun" is the most-streamed Beatles song on Spotify. He's always been my fave and I regard him best songwriter in the group. (For all the songs that John and Paul wrote, they never created a love song as arresting as "Something")."

I never said George was not a talented songwriter. He just did not have the volume of great songs that John and Paul did and that was not all his fault. Paul and John held him back and George only got a couple of songs each album. George may have a dedicated fanbase, but it is nothing in comparison to John or Paul, especially Paul. Even later in life, McCartney sold out stadium concerts all over the world. George lived a quiet and not very public life after the Beatles. John and Paul are also more interesting for a film because of the dynamic of their personal relationship which became very love/hate relationship.

"But he also has the most compelling arc of any of the four, especially during the sixties when the Beatles were active. It will be great to see how Mendes tackles his development as a songwriter."

Why was his arc compelling? He always wrote a song or two on an album and they were usually good songs. His best work was on the album "Abbey Road" when he wrote the beautiful songs "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Really, you don't thing the arc of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting team was compelling. They went from writing mostly simple two-minute love songs to thought provoking songs on "Rubber Soul"/"Revolver" to mind blowing "Sgt. Pepper", to the very diverse "White Album" and finishing it with the fantastic "Abbey Road". (the medley by McCartney at the end is awesome).

"Sam Mendes offered me the role." - Patti LuPone

I'm trying to figure out why a topic on film is on the main Broadway message board and not on the off-topic message board, and as much as I love the Fab 4...four separate films is so excessive IMO.

Zeppie2022 said: ""I strongly disagree! George has a very dedicated fanbase. "Here Comes The Sun" is the most-streamed Beatles song on Spotify. He's always been my fave and I regard him best songwriter in the group. (For all the songs that John and Paul wrote, they never created a love song as arresting as "Something")."

I never said George was not a talented songwriter. He just did not have the volume of greatsongs that John and Paul did and that was not all his fault. Paul and John held him back and George only got a couple of songs each album. George may have a dedicated fanbase, but it is nothing in comparison to John or Paul, especially Paul. Even later in life, McCartney sold out stadiumconcerts all over the world. George lived a quiet and not very public life after the Beatles. John and Paul are also more interesting for a film because of the dynamic of their personal relationship which became very love/hate relationship.

"But he also has the most compelling arc of any of the four, especially during the sixties when the Beatles were active. It will be great to see how Mendes tackles his development as a songwriter."

Why was his arc compelling?He always wrote a song or two on an album and they were usually good songs. His best work was on the album "Abbey Road" when he wrote the beautiful songs "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Really, you don't thing the arc of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting team was compelling. They went from writing mostly simple two-minute love songs to thought provoking songs on "Rubber Soul"/"Revolver" to mind blowing "Sgt. Pepper", to the very diverse "White Album" and finishing it with the fantastic "Abbey Road". (the medley by McCartney at the end is awesome)."

George's arc is compelling because he went from teenage lead guitarist (hired to play the guitar parts that John and Paul couldn't) to legendary songwriter, despite John and Paul's attempts to control him.

And he had more than 2 great songs. Neither John nor Paul had a post-Beatles album as great as All Things Must Pass.

Beatles fans who try to argue that George is less talented or less impactful than John or Paul don't understand the group's legacy. Most critically acclaimed bands have 1 or 2 great songwriters. The Beatles had 3. That's why they are regarded as the greatest rock band ever.