Sam Mendes’ expansive project, The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event, has cast Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird) and Mia McKenna-Bruce (Get Even) to portray two of The Beatles members’ wives. This move enhances the film series’ portrayal of the personal lives surrounding the iconic band.
Four-Part Series Focuses on Each Beatles Member
The ambitious series consists of four films, each dedicated to a different member of The Beatles, who remain monumental figures in music nearly six decades after their breakup. Harris Dickinson (Where The Crawdads Sing) will star as John Lennon, Paul Mescal (Hamnet) as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) as Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) as George Harrison.
Ronan and McKenna-Bruce to Play Beatles Wives
Saoirse Ronan is set to play Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney’s first wife, known for her photography work in the 1960s and as the first woman featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Mia McKenna-Bruce will portray Maureen Starkey, who was Ringo Starr’s first wife, a hairdresser by profession, and married Starr for ten years after they first met in Liverpool, The Beatles’ hometown.
Creators, Production Timeline, and Release Date
The scripts are penned by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan, and Jack Thorne. Production is scheduled for 2026, with all four films planned to premiere simultaneously in April 2028. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Neal Street Productions, Mendes’ production company, are overseeing development, with Mendes, Pippa Harris, and Julie Pastor producing.
Significance of the Project and Anticipated Impact
Each film sheds light on the distinct story of one Beatles member, offering detailed portraits while collectively depicting the band’s enduring legacy. The inclusion of the wives’ perspectives adds depth to the narrative, promising a comprehensive dramatization of this legendary group’s lives both on and off stage.
“Each man has his own story, but together they are legendary.” ? Sam Mendes, Director
