Legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr met with director Sam Mendes in London earlier this year to review the script for the ambitious Sam Mendes Beatles biopic project, which will consist of four separate films about each band member. During two days in April, Starr carefully examined the script, focusing on accuracy and authenticity, especially regarding scenes involving his family.
Detailed Script Review and Notable Concerns
Starr, who will turn 85 on July 7, told The New York Times that he and Mendes spent significant time going through the script line-by-line. The attention to detail highlighted Starr’s commitment to ensuring his life story is depicted truthfully, especially in scenes featuring his first wife, Maureen Starkey Tigrett, and their family. Starr provided Mendes with extensive feedback, aiming to create a portrayal closer to what actually happened.
“He had a writer — very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I,”
—Ringo Starr, Drummer
“That’s not how we were. I’d say, ‘We would never do that.’”
—Ringo Starr, Drummer
Starr and Maureen Starkey Tigrett were married in 1965 and together had three children: acclaimed drummer Zak Starkey, Jason, and Lee. They divorced in 1975, and Starr later married actress and model Barbara Bach in 1981. Starr’s dedication during the script review underlines his desire for the cinematic retelling of his life to remain accurate and respectful, particularly regarding personal relationships.
Current Status and Expectations for the Four-Part Cinematic Event
After the review process, Starr expressed satisfaction with the script’s revisions, even though he remains curious about how Mendes plans to film all four movies simultaneously.
“But he’ll do what he’s doing,”
—Ringo Starr, Drummer.
“and I’ll send him peace and love.”
—Ringo Starr, Drummer
The films will feature Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. The writing team includes Tony Award-winner Jez Butterworth, Oscar winner Peter Straughan, and BAFTA and Tony Award recipient Jack Thorne. At this time, it has not been revealed how the writing duties will be distributed or if the writers will collaborate on all scripts.
These upcoming movies represent a significant milestone—the first time that Apple Corps Ltd. and the Beatles have given full authorization for use of their life stories and music in scripted films. Titled
“The Beatles — A Four Film Cinematic Event,”
each installment will spotlight one band member, with the interconnected movies scheduled for release in early 2028. The press announcement emphasized that the quadrilogy will combine to tell
“the astonishing story of the greatest band in history.”
—Press Release
What the Biopic Could Mean for Beatles Fans and Film History
The Sam Mendes Beatles biopic project is set to be a landmark in both music and film, offering a rare, authorized insight into the lives of Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. The involvement of high-profile actors and accomplished writers, along with direct input from Ringo Starr, suggests the films will provide a nuanced perspective on each member’s story. As anticipation builds for the early 2028 release, audiences and Beatles historians alike will be keen to see how this cinematic undertaking reshapes the legacy of the world’s most renowned band.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What was Sam Mendes’s early life?
A. Mendes grew up in London with his mother, who wrote books for children. His parents split up when he was five years old. His father worked as a university professor. Later, Mendes went to the University of Cambridge. While studying there, he started a theater group with Tim Firth, who was a playwright.
