Sam Mendes is preparing to redefine the cinematic biopic. At CinemaCon 2025, the Oscar-winning director announced an unprecedented film event: four separate Beatles biopics, each focused on a different member of the legendary band, all set for theatrical release in April 2028. Dubbed The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the ambitious series will dive into the lives of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—not collectively, but individually.
The announcement ended months of speculation by revealing the ensemble cast: Paul Mescal as McCartney, Harris Dickinson as Lennon, Joseph Quinn as Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Starr. The four actors made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon, taking the stage in Las Vegas and bowing in homage to the Fab Four’s iconic stage presence.
Mendes, known for American Beauty and Skyfall, explained the rationale behind the innovative format. “Each man has his own story, but together they are legendary,” he said, referencing the official logline. Rather than compress the Beatles’ rich and tumultuous journey into a single feature or a streaming series, Mendes opted to tell four standalone narratives, each shaped by the personal perspective of its subject. The result, he claimed, will be the world’s “first binge-able theatrical experience.”
Whether the films will drop simultaneously or be staggered weekly throughout April 2028 is still unconfirmed. Regardless, the cinematic marathon promises to be one of the most daring theatrical releases in years—if not decades.
Sony Pictures, backing the project, is betting big on Mendes’ vision. Principal photography is set to span a full year, underscoring the scope of the production. Even Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman couldn’t help but joke that Mendes’ quartet was giving him “Avatar flashbacks”—a nod to the scale and logistical challenge of James Cameron’s blockbuster franchise.
Crucially, this is the first narrative feature project ever granted access to the Beatles’ full music catalog, including classics like Strawberry Fields Forever, Yellow Submarine, Let It Be, and I Am the Walrus. That unprecedented access ensures the films won’t just tell the Beatles’ story—they’ll sound like it too.
For Mendes, this has been a long-held dream finally taking shape. And for moviegoers, it’s shaping up to be a cultural event unlike any other: one band, four stories, and a theatrical experience designed to be lived, not just watched.