See the Beatles biopic cast side-by-side with John, Paul, George, and Ringo

Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan will bring the legendary band to life on screen.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on *The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer*, and many other publications.

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on February 3, 2026 2:48 p.m. ET

Paul McCartney; Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney. Credit:

Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty; Chiabella James

- Sam Mendes is bringing the Beatles back to the big screen with a four-part film series.

- Harris Dickinson, Barry Keoghan, Paul Mescal, and Joseph Quinn will star as the Fab Four.

- Anna Sawai, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Saoirse Ronan, and Aimee Lou Wood round out the cast as the Beatles' better halves.

The Beatles have been the subject of countless documentaries and multiple parodies over the years. And while several actors have portrayed the Fab Four on film and TV, a proper biopic about the band has proved elusive — until now.

In April 2028, Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes will release *The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, *an ambitious project comprised of four biopics, each focusing on a different member of the Beatles.

"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 said in a statement.

The initial cast was unveiled at CinemaCon 2025: Paul Mescal will star as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. In January 2026, fans got their first look at the actors as the trailblazing pop-rockers.

Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and Aimee Lou Wood will round out the cast as Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono, Maureen Starkey, and Pattie Boyd, respectively.

Read on for a side-by-side look at the stars* *and the real-life trailblazers they'll bring to the big screen.

Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney in 1963; Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney.

David Redfern/Redferns; Chiabella James

Oscar-nominated actor Paul Mescal is stepping into the shoes of Paul McCartney, the musical genius who wrote timeless hits like "Hey Jude" and "Yesterday." Throughout his decades-long career, McCartney has earned numerous accolades and remains one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Mescal first stole hearts on Hulu's romantic drama miniseries *Normal People* (2020) and has since become a full-blown movie star. You might've seen him in *Aftersun *(2022), *All of Us Strangers* (2023), and *Gladiator II* (2024). He also leads the film *Hamnet *(2025).

In a recent interview with *IndieWire*, Mescal revealed that he's linked up with McCartney. "He's an extraordinary man, like to spend any time — it's a crazy sentence to say that I've spent time with that man, let alone play him," he said of the musician.

Harris Dickinson as John Lennon

John Lennon in 1965; Harris Dickinson as John Lennon.

David Redfern/Redferns; Chiabella James

Harris Dickinson will star as John Lennon, the late musician who was shot and killed outside his apartment on Dec. 8, 1980. He left an incredible musical legacy in his wake. McCartney inducted him into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1994, and the 2009 biopic *Nowhere Boy* explored his early life.

Dickinson, known for starring in *Beach Rats *(2017), the Palme d'Or winner *Triangle of Sadness* (2022), *The Iron Claw *(2023), and *Babygirl* (2024), also made his feature directorial debut with the acclaimed drama *Urchin* in 2025.

The actor recently told RadioTimes that he feels "really lucky" to portray Lennon. "It's such a unique experience to play someone of that calibre. I mean, it's intimidating, but it's enriching," he added.

Joseph Quinn as George Harrison

George Harrison in 1970; Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.

Lester Cohen/WireImage; Greig Fraser

Joseph Quinn will portray the Beatles' guitar player George Harrison, who died of lung cancer on Nov. 29, 2001. Known as "the quiet Beatle," Harrison wrote iconic songs such as "Here Comes the Sun" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

The upcoming Beatles film event reunites Quinn and Mescal, who were onscreen enemies in *Gladiator II*. Quinn is also known for his breakout role as Eddie Munson on *Stranger Things *(2022) and for movies such as *A Quiet Place: Day One* (2024),* Warfare *(2025), and *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* (2025).

Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr in 1966; Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty; Lloyd Wakefield

Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr, the Beatles' drummer. Starr joined the Fab Four in 1962, replacing Pete Best. He's responsible for some of the group's most whimsical songs, including "Octopus' Garden."

Starr has expressed support for the films, previously telling *Entertainment Tonight *that he thinks "it's great" to have Keoghan portray him. In July 2025, he also shared that he requested a few script changes tied to his relationship with his first wife, Maureen Starkey Tigrett.

Keoghan earned his first Oscar nomination for *The Banshees of Inisherin* (2022), but he's also known for his roles in *Dunkirk *(2017), *Eternals *(2021), *The Batman *(2022), and *Saltburn* (2023).

Since his casting, Keoghan has spoken about visiting Starr at his home. "I was nervous," the actor recalled. "But he's like, 'You can look at me.'"

Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney

Saoirse Ronan; Linda McCartney.

Euan Cherry/Getty; Michael Putland/Getty

Four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan is taking on the role of Linda McCartney, a celebrated photographer and musician, and the first wife of Paul McCartney. After the Beatles broke up, Linda and Paul formed Wings and performed together until 1981. She also spent her life advocating for animal rights and remained with Paul until her death from breast cancer in April 1998.

The Beatles project reunites Ronan with Mescal, her onscreen husband in the 2023 sci-fi thriller *Foe*, and with Dickinson, her costar in *Blitz* (2024). Ronan first turned heads in the period drama *Atonement* (2007) and has since delivered acclaimed performances in *Brooklyn *(2015), *Lady Bird *(2017), *Little Women *(2019), and *The Outrun *(2024).

Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono

Anna Sawai in 2025; Yoko Ono in 1973.

Araya Doheny/WireImage; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Anna Sawai will play Yoko Ono, the Japanese artist, musician, and activist who first met Lennon at a London exhibition of her work. They married in 1969 and were inseparable until Lennon's assassination in 1980.

Sawai initially gained fame as a member of the J-pop group Faky and has since developed a successful acting career. She's best known for her roles on the TV shows *Pachinko *(2022–present), *Monarch: Legacy of Monsters* (2023–present), and *Shōgun *(2024–present), the latter earning her a SAG Award, a Golden Globe, and a historic Emmy.

Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd

Aimee Lou Wood in 2025; Pattie Boyd in 1964.

Amy Sussman/Getty; Michael Ward/Getty

Aimee Lou Wood takes on the role of Pattie Boyd, the model and photographer who crossed paths with Harrison on the set of the Beatles movie *A Hard Day’s Night*. The couple married in 1966 and divorced 11 years later.

Wood gained international fame with her acclaimed turn in the third season of *The White Lotus*, which earned her an Emmy nomination. Fans also know her for her BAFTA-winning turn as Aimee Gibbs on Netflix's comedy series *Sex Education *(2019–2023).

Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Cox

Mia McKenna-Bruce; Maureen Starkey Tigrett.

Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic; Bettmann Archive

Mia McKenna-Bruce will play Maureen Starkey Tigrett, an early fan of the Beatles who married Starr in 1965. They later divorced in 1975. She died on Dec. 30, 1994, from complications related to leukemia.

McKenna-Bruce is best known for starring in the drama film *How to Have Sex *(2023), for which she won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and a British Independent Film Award. She's also appeared in *Persuasion* (2022) and on shows such as *Tracy Beaker Returns *(2010–2012), *The Dumping Ground *(2013–2018), and *Vampire Academy *(2022).

The actress confirmed her casting on Instagram on Oct. 31, posting photos of Maureen with the caption, "Let's go Mo 🖤."

Where can I watch The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event?**

*The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event *is set to hit theaters in April 2028.

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