Despite the secrecy surrounding this project, Ridley Scott couldn’t keep his mouth shut and has let it out that Paul Mescal will be playing Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles movies.
During a conversation with Christopher Nolan that followed a screening of “Gladiator II” at the DGA in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Scott let it slip that Mescal might actually not be able to take part in his next film, “The Dog Stars,” because he now has a commitment to play McCartney in Mendes’ movies.
It was also recently revealed that Barry Keoghan would be portraying Ringo Starr in Mendes’ films. This all confirms what The InSneider had previously reported, in June — he also had Harris Dickinson playing John Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
Mendes will direct all four films. For the first time ever, Apple Corps. and The Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted biopic. Sony chief Tom Rothman stated that Mendes was eyeing a mid-2025 shoot in the UK and that all four films would be released in 2027.
Mendes’ goal is to release all four movies on the same day. Is this a good idea? Obviously, most people will first and foremost pay to see the Lennon and McCartney movies, then Harrison and finally Starr.
There will also be four seperate writers for each film. “Conclave” screenwriter Peter Straughan confirmed that he’s writing the Harrison project, and went on to compare the movies to “Rashomon,” pointing out that there might be “certain famous scenes from their lives,” but from a different point of view.
As for other writers, Krsyty Wilson Cairns (“1917”) is definitely involved to pen one of the four movies. If that name rings a bell, it’s because Cairns was mentioned many months back as the screenwriter Denis Villeneuve hired to write his still-in-development “Cleopatra.”
Roger Deakins was offered to be cinematographer on all four films, but there’s been no word yet on whether he’s signed a deal.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.