In news that broke the internet, Sam Mendes has released the line-up for his four films about The Beatles. Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison and Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon in four interconnected biopics due for release in April 2028.
It marks the first time Apple, The Beatles’ record company, and the two living band members, McCartney and Starr, have granted the rights to their stories for the big screen.
The resounding response has been positive – which is hardly surprising given that they are four of the most sought after actors of the day, who happen to all be 'internet boyfriends' – but there are a few naysayers who question how closely the four actors each resemble their Liverpudlian counterparts.
Before we all get carried away scanning their facial features and measuring the gaps between their eyes, let's remember that casting biopics is an incredibly tricky business. Not only does Mendes have the weight of Beatles fans' expectations on his shoulders, but given how supremely well known the four band members are, he was never going to find their doppelgängers – or cast them if he did.
As a director, Mendes also has to trust that they will morph into their characters through their performance and with the help of hair and make up. That, after all, is their job. Transforming into someone else involves so much more than facial similarities, it covers accent, hairstyle, mannerisms, gait, style, tone, comedic timing, expression and, most importantly, 'vibes'. We can't possibly know if Harris has a convincing 'John Lennon vibe' yet, or if Paul can pull off Paul's accent, but Mendes obviously thinks they can and for now that's all that matters.
Anyway, if you squint your eyes and look at the below side by sides, it makes sense. They have similar eyebrows, downturned eyes and elongated noses. Give Harris a '60s fringe and have him play 'Imagine' on the guitar and we're away.
Why was Harris Dickinson cast as John Lennon?
We don't know Mendes' rhyme and reasoning behind casting Harris, but his growing star power and acting prowess are likely to have something to do with it. The actor recently starred in the viral hit Babygirl opposite Nicole Kidman, earning him an army of new fans, and he found fame in 2022 in his lead role in the critically acclaimed film, Triangle of Sadness. Harris also features in Iron Claw, Where the Crawdads Sing and Beach Rats.
At an event in Las Vegas where the casting news was confirmed, Mendes said, 'Together, all four films will tell the story of the greatest band in history.'
The Oscar-winning director said the story was 'too big for one film', and did not work as a TV series. 'Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply,' he added. 'There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation. I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore and I think we found a way to do that.'
Meanwhile Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman added that it would be 'the first bingeable theatrical experience'.
What has Harris Dickinson said about playing John Lennon?
In January, before the news was announced, Harris was asked about rumours he was playing John Lennon during the press run of another film. 'Don't ask me about that,' he said when the subject was nearly broached during one conversation.
'Okay, my comment is that I think it would be a brilliant opportunity to play John Lennon, and to work with Sam and everyone else mentioned. Yeah, I don’t know. It would be splendid.'
How have fans responded to Harris Dickinson playing John Lennon?
Comments under Pop Base's post announcing the cast range from 'why are they afraid of casting ugly people' and 'you might as well cast Sydney Sweeney as Yoko Ono' to 'the only one that looks remotely similar is Barry, everyone else I don’t see it' and 'Shouldn’t Harry be George and Barry as John?'. [sic]
Another X user commented, 'McCartney was tallest, so perpetuating the Lennon myth' in reference to the fact that Harris is the tallest cast member. Something another super fan contested in a reply, arguing that both band members were 5'11. We can see what Mendes is already up against...
Another fan thinks it should have been Paul Mescal to play John Lennon. 'It will never stop being weird that they cast an actor who looks more like John Lennon than almost any other actor to play John Lennon, as Paul McCartney,' their post reads.
Others were more optimistic. 'The hair will play a big role I think!' reads one hopeful post. And under Sony's picture of the cast on Instagram, another fan wrote, 'Obviously the studio saw something in the casting room we haven't... I'm excited to see what they bring!'. A third simply put, 'I've been waiting all my life for this.'
As for us, we reserve further judgement until 2028! Let's trust the process.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things TV for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow shows with equal respect).