Summary

• Sam Mendes has announced an ambitious four movie Beatles biopic leading to speculation over which actors could play The Fab Four.
• George Mackay may land the role of John Lennon, based on his previous work with Mendes. Skiffle fan Jacob Fortune-Lloyd could play a convincing late period George Harrison.
• Asa Butterfield and Craig Roberts could be great casting as Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr roles.

Skyfall director Sam Mendes has announced his plans for an epic four-part The Beatles biopic, leading to speculation over who will play John, Paul, George and Ringo. Each of Sam Mendes' movies will put each member of the Fab Four front and center in the story of the biggest and most influential band of all time. The Beatles: Get Back which was released on Disney+ in 2021. Mendes' ambitious four-movie project is slated for release in 2027 and has the full backing of surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison.

No writers or cast have yet been announced for Sam Mendes' new Beatles movie, but thoughts have turned to who could possibly play John, Paul, George and Ringo. Many actors have tried their hands at portraying of The Beatles from the comedic to the dramatic. Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Justin Long, and Jason Schwarzman famously played John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in John C. Reilly's spoof music biopic Walk Hard. In a more dramatic vein, Kick Ass' Aaron Taylor-Johnson played the young John Lennon in the 2009 movie, Nowhere Boy. It remains to be seen who will be following in Taylor-Johnson's footsteps in Sam Mendes' Beatles movie.

5 George Mackay as John Lennon

Sam Mendes worked with Mackay on 1917.

Presuming that Sam Mendes' Beatles movies will cover their ten years together, it would make sense to cast British actors that are in their early 30s who can play younger. In casting his John Lennon, 1917 director Sam Mendes could do a lot worse than cast his star, George Mackay. The tumultuous, occasionally abusive, marriage between John and Cynthia Lennon, and the musician's own difficult childhood will likely make his Beatles movie one of the more complex entries. George Mackay is no stranger to playing complex roles, having played Ned Kelly in The True History of the Kelly Gang, and the closeted and abusive Preston in the 2023 thriller Femme.

George Mackay is no stranger to musical movies, either, having played the lead in Sunshine on Leith, Dexter Fletcher's movie adaptation of the Proclaimers stage musical. Mackay's chiseled jawline and facial features also make him a good fit for playing the role of John Lennon in Sam Mendes' movies. The only thing standing in George Mackay's way could be replicating Lennon's famous voice. However, the English actor has convincingly portrayed young Scottish men in both Sunshine on Leith and For Those in Peril, suggesting that he could master the requisite Scouse accent.

4 Asa Butterfield as Paul McCartney

The Sex Education alum could introduce a new generation to The Beatles.

Sex Education's Asa Butterfield feels like a good fit to play Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' Beatles project. Coming off the back of the hugely successful Netflix show, Butterfield could bring a whole new audience to the music of the Beatles. The Sex Education star does have some of the young McCartney's boyish good looks, which is a good sign that he could convincingly play the Beatles' legendary songwriter and bass player. Crucially, Butterfield also knows how to play bass guitar, which could put the actor head and shoulders above the competition.

In 2018, People revealed that Hereditary actor Alex Wolff taught Asa Butterfield how to play bass for the movie The House of Tomorrow. The Sex Education star now produces his own music in his downtime, which he has showcased on social media. Judging by his Instagram post, he already has good stage presence, which he could perfectly channel to portray Paul McCartney in the new Beatles movies.

Asa Butterfield's Sex Education co-star, Ncuti Gatwa will meet The Beatles in an episode of Doctor Who.

3 Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as George Harrison

The actor has already played Beatles manager Brian Epstein in Midas Man.

Bodies actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd played Beatles manager Brian Epstein in the 2021 movie Midas Man, but he could also be a good fit for the role of George Harrison. Fortune-Lloyd has the look of Let it Be era George Harrison, but it's unclear if the 36-year-old actor could convincingly play the youngest member of The Beatles. That being said, Fortune-Lloyd has had a string of breakout roles in The Queen's Gambit, Bodies and See How they Run, which have shown his considerable range as an actor.

George Harrison is a fascinating character, a supremely talented musician who was often overshadowed by Lennon and McCartney. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd's previous roles demonstrate that he's more than capable of tapping into the psyche of one of The Beatles' more fascinating . Additionally, judging by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd's Instagram profile, he's a fan of UK film critic Mark Kermode's skiffle band, The Dodge Brothers. Famously, The Beatles started life as a skiffle band, The Quarrymen, fronted by John Lennon.

2 Craig Roberts as Ringo Starr

The actor-director would nail Ringo's dry sense of humor.

Red Oaks' Craig Roberts could be a great left field casting choice for The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr. The actor's breakthrough role in Richard Ayoade's Submarine showcased his deadpan delivery and dry sense of humor, something he shares with Ringo. For example, it's easy to imagine Craig Roberts fully committing to dramatizing Ringo pitching "Octopus's Garden" to the rest of the band. There's a wealth of comic Ringo Starr moments that Craig Roberts can draw on to inform his portrayal, including the infamous "no more fan mail" video.

Craig Roberts is also a director and has directed music videos for Los Campesinos! and Matt Maltese. The actor has also starred in music videos too, most notably Tim Burton's video for The Killers' single "Here With Me". Roberts' experiences working with musicians could further inform his portrayal of Ringo Starr in The Beatles movie. Craig Roberts has also starred in a handful of music-themed indie movies, including Bittersweet Symphony, so he has a clear love of music that could attract him to Sam Mendes' Beatles movies.

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Leading a movie as John, Paul, George, or Ringo, while starring in three others is daunting for any actor, especially those born and raised on the legend of The Beatles in the UK. However, it's clear that there is a wealth of acting and musical talent that are up to the task. For example, All of Us Strangers' Andrew Scott would make a brilliant post-Beatles Paul McCartney, perhaps ed by Johnny Flynn as an older Ringo Starr if the new movie's story allows for it.

Sam Mendes' four Beatles movies will be a co-production between Sony Pictures and Neal Street Productions for release in 2027