MOVIE NEWS – Joseph Quinn has been tapped to play George Harrison in a series of Beatles biopics directed by Sam Mendes. The lives of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Harrison will be explored and told from each member’s point of view across four movies. According to multiple reports, Femme star Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Paul Mescal (Gladiator II) will portray Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) is Ringo Starr, and Charlie Rowe (Rocketman) was allegedly set to play Harrison, but The Sun reports that Mendes personally selected Quinn for the role.

“Joe is an incredible actor,” one insider said, adding, “It’s a massive role, but Sam is delighted to have him on board.” The 30-year-old British star won over the hearts of fans with his guitar-playing hero character Eddie Munson in Netflix’s sci-fi horror hit Stranger Things. This breakout performance landed Quinn major roles in films such as A Quiet Place: Day One and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, which hits theaters on Nov. 22. Next year, Quinn makes his MCU debut as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and he will reprise the character in Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars the following year.

It’s unclear whether all four Beatles films will be released at once or staggered throughout the year. In a statement released on the group’s official website, producer Pippa Harris said:

“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. To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege.”

The Beatles and Their Families Have Approved the Project

Sony Pictures Entertainment announced in February that Mendes (American Beauty) will tell the rags-to-riches story of The Beatles with four feature films set for a global theatrical release in 2027. This marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd., McCartney, Starr, and the families of Lennon and Harrison have signed off on full story and music rights for a scripted movie. Mendes said,

“I’m honored 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.”

Mendes will produce all films alongside Neal Street Productions’ Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor. Jeff Jones will executive produce for Apple Corps Ltd. Mendes was instrumental in convincing the surviving band members and the Harrison/Lennon estates to allow the use of the band’s music in the biopics. Speaking to Deadline, Harris said:

“It’s a testament to his creative brilliance and powers of persuasion that Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sean Lennon, and Olivia Harrison responded with such warmth and enthusiasm as soon as he spoke with them.”

There have been numerous unofficial biopics and documentaries about the Fab Four over the years, including Peter Jackson’s 2021 The Beatles: Get Back, 1994’s Backbeat, and 2009’s Nowhere Boy about Lennon’s childhood and teenage years. Sony has promised an “innovative release cadence” for all four of Mendes’ biopics. Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, praised the Oscar-winning director’s involvement in the project, saying:

“Theatrical movie events today must be culturally seismic. Sam’s daring, large-scale idea is that and then some. Pairing his premiere filmmaking team with the music and the stories of four young men who changed the world will rock audiences all over the globe. We are deeply grateful to all parties and look forward ourselves to breaking some rules with Sam’s uniquely artistic vision.”

The Beatles revolutionized pop culture when they burst onto the music scene in the ’60s and appeared in several films, including A Hard Day’s Night and the animated feature Yellow Submarine. In 2023, the group used artificial intelligence to record a new song, Now and Then. The track, which included recordings of Harrison playing guitar, reached No. 1 on the UK music charts upon its release last November.

Source: Movieweb