Sony Pictures entertainment has announced that four separate Beatles movies are in the works, one featuring each of the members of the famed British band.
Filmmaker Sam Mendes and his Neal Street Productions will direct all four films — and they have been granted, for the first time ever, full life-story and music rights from Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney along with the families of John Lennon and George Harrison and Apple Corps Ltd., Deadline reported.
Mendes will reportedly tell the story of each of the famous singer’s through interconnected stories — one from each member of The Beatles, the outlet noted.
“We went out to L.A. just before Christmas to pitch the project, and it’s fair to say we were met with universal enthusiasm,” Mendes told Deadline about meeting with Sony. “The reason Sony stood out from competing offers was down to Tom [Rothman] and Elizabeth’s [Gabler’s] passion for the idea and commitment to propelling these films theatrically in an innovative and exciting way.”
Sam Mendes will direct all four of the films, and this marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and #TheBeatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film… pic.twitter.com/9SuCKKUpXR
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) February 20, 2024
Starr even confirmed the project was happening in a post the singer made on Tuesday on X with his two million followers.
“Have you heard the news?” Ringo wrote. “Oh boy. We all support the Sam Mendes movie project. Yes, indeed. peace and love.”
Lennon’s family shared a message on the late-singer’s social media account that read, “Four feature films, one from each band member’s perspective, will have global theatrical release in 2027,” the message added.
“‘I’m 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’ — Sam Mendes,” the message continued.
Lennon’s post included a link on The Beatles website to more information about the movie projects.
“We 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,” Pippa Harris, Neal Street Productions partner, said. “To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege. From our first meeting with Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, it was clear that they shared both our passion and ambition for this project, and we can’t think of a more perfect home than Sony Pictures.”
“Apple Corps is delighted to collaborate with Sam [Mendes], Pippa [Harris] and Julie [Pastor] to explore each Beatle’s unique story and to bring them together in a suitably captivating and innovative way,” Apple Corps Ltd. CEO Jeff Jones said. “Sony Pictures’ enthusiastic support, championing the project’s scope and creative vision from the start, has been invaluable for all of us.”
