The Beatles are going to be the subject of a big-screen biopic, not in just one film, but in a “Fab Four” of films that will give each member of the group their own unique perspective ― and all of these films will be directed by Sam Mendes.
For the first time, the Beatles, who have long been among the most reluctant to grant rights, are granting full rights to their lives and music to a film project. Sony Pictures announced a deal Monday that could eclipse all previous music biopics, with the stories of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr spread across four films.
The films, conceived by Mendes, are expected to be released theatrically in innovative ways, with films able to coexist or crossover in theaters. Specific release plans will be announced at a later date. Sony plans a release in 2027.
McCartney, Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison all approved the project through the Apple Corps company. Ltd.
Sony Music Publishing controls the rights to the majority of Beatles songs.
“I’m honored to tell the story of the greatest rock band of all time and excited to challenge the notion of travel in cinema,” Mendes said in a statement.
Each film will be made from the perspective of a Beatle.
“We intend to deliver a unique, thrilling and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different points of view, that tell a single story about the most famous band of all time,” said producer Pippa Harris. . Having the blessing of The Beatles and Apple Corps to make this project possible is a huge privilege. »
Wave of success for biographical films
The Beatles’ most famous forays into cinema date back to their early years. Between 1964 and 1970, they starred in five films, including A Hard Day’s Night (1964) and the animated film Yellow Submarine (1968). They have of course been the subject of numerous documentaries, the most recent of which is entitled The Beatles: Get Backdirected by Peter Jackson in 2021.
In 2023, The Beatles reunited with the help of artificial intelligence in new song Now and Then. The recording was made possible thanks to the technology used by Jackson to Get Backand was accompanied by a music video directed by the New Zealand director.
Attempts to dramatize the Beatles’ story have been more sporadic and have had less impact. A 1979 biographical film, made when Lennon was still alive, titled The Birth of the Beatles, was produced with original Beatles drummer Pete Best as an advisor. In 1994, the independent drama Backbeat chronicled Lennon’s relationship with Stuart Sutcliffe before the Beatles rose to fame. The film Nowhere Boy (2009) stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a teenage Lennon.
But over the past decade, music biopics have become big business. Box office hits like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman And Elvis have Hollywood executives searching for the next jukebox blockbuster. During Presidents Day weekend, Bob Marley: One Love, produced with the Marley estate, was the number 1 film in theaters. A Michael Jackson biopic is in production.
“Today’s cinematic events must be culturally seismic. Sam’s bold, large-scale idea fits this perfectly,” said Tom Rothman, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.
The combination of Mendes, music and the story of four young men who changed the world will move audiences around the world, Rothman said.
“We are deeply grateful to all parties and look forward to breaking some rules with Sam’s unique artistic vision,” he said.