NEW YORK -- The Beatles are getting the big-screen biopic treatment in not just one film, but a Fab Four of movies that will give each band member their own spotlight 鈥� all of which are to be directed by Sam Mendes.
For the first time, the Beatles, long among the stingiest rights granters, are giving full life and music rights to a movie project. Sony Pictures announced Monday a deal that may dwarf all music biopics that have come before it, with the stories of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr spread out over a quartet of films.
The films, conceived by Mendes, are expected to roll out theatrically in innovative fashion, with the movies potentially coexisting or intersecting in theaters. Precise release plans will be announced at a later date. Sony is targeting 2027 for their release.
McCartney, Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison have all signed off on the project through the band's Apple Corps. Ltd. Sony Music Publishing controls the rights to the majority of Beatles songs.
鈥淚鈥檓 honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,鈥� Mendes said in a statement.
Each film will be from the perspective of a Beatle.
鈥淲e intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time,鈥� said producer Pippa Harris. 鈥淭o have The Beatles鈥� and Apple Corps鈥� blessing to do this is an immense privilege.鈥�
The Beatles' most famous forays into film were in their early years. Between 1964 and 1970, they appeared in five movies, including 鈥淎 Hard Day鈥檚 Night鈥� (1964) and the animated 鈥淵ellow Submarine鈥� (1968). They鈥檝e, of course, been the subject of many documentaries, most recently Peter Jackson鈥檚 2021 鈥淭he Beatles: Get Back.鈥�
In 2023, the Beatles reunited with the aid of artificial intelligence in the newly released song 鈥淣ow and Then.鈥� The recording was made possible by technology used by Jackson on 鈥淕et Back,鈥� and featured a music video made by the New Zealand director.
Attempts to dramatize the Beatles鈥� story have been more sporadic and less impactful. A 1979 biopic, made when Lennon was still alive, called 鈥淭he Birth of the Beatles鈥� was produced with Beatles original drummer Pete Best as an adviser. The 1994 indie drama 鈥淏ackbeat鈥� chronicled Lennon鈥檚 relationship with Stuart Sutcliffe before the Beatles were famous. 鈥淣owhere Boy鈥� (2009) starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a teenage Lennon.
But in the last decade, music biopics have become big business. Box-office hits like 鈥淏ohemian Rhapsody,鈥濃�淩ocketman鈥� and 鈥淓lvis鈥� have sent Hollywood executives chasing the next jukebox blockbuster. Over Presidents Day weekend, 鈥淏ob Marley: One Love,鈥� produced with the Marley estate, was the No. 1 movie in theaters. A Michael Jackson biopic is in production.
鈥淭heatrical movie events today must be culturally seismic. Sam鈥檚 daring, large-scale idea is that and then some," said Tom Rothman, chair and chief executive of Sony Pictures鈥� Motion Picture Group.
The combination of Mendes' team 鈥渨ith the music and the stories of four young men who changed the world, will rock audiences all over the globe,鈥� Rothman said. "We are deeply grateful to all parties and look forward ourselves to breaking some rules with Sam鈥檚 uniquely artistic vision.鈥�
