Get ready for a Fab Four cinematic takeover. Sam Mendes’ long-anticipated Beatles biopic isn’t just one film—it’s four. And all of them will hit theaters in April 2028.
Mendes dropped the bombshell at CinemaCon, confirming months of speculation about who would bring the legendary band to life. Paul Mescal steps into the shoes of Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn takes on George Harrison, Barry Keoghan becomes Ringo Starr, and Harris Dickinson embodies John Lennon. In a nod to Beatlemania, the actors even took the stage together, bowing in the band’s signature style.
Officially titled The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the ambitious project promises to be the “first binge-able theatrical experience.” What that means exactly—whether all four films will drop at once or roll out weekly—is still under wraps. But Mendes made one thing clear: this is a big-screen spectacle designed to pull audiences out of their living rooms and back into theaters.
“We need big cinematic events to get people out of the house,” he told the crowd of theater owners at Sony’s presentation.
For years, Mendes wrestled with how to bring the Beatles’ story to the screen. A single film couldn’t do justice to their journey, and a mini-series didn’t feel right. His solution? A groundbreaking four-part saga, each film offering a unique perspective from one of the band members. It’s a gamble—but then again, so was Beatlemania.
And here’s the kicker: This will be the first-ever narrative feature to secure rights to the Beatles’ full song catalog. Expect to hear classics like Strawberry Fields Forever, Let It Be, Yellow Submarine, and countless more in full cinematic glory.
The production will take an entire year to shoot, underscoring just how massive this endeavor is. Even Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman couldn’t help but joke that Mendes’ epic gave him “Avatar flashbacks.”
If history has taught us anything, it’s that big risks can lead to cultural revolutions. Just ask the Beatles.
