Everything we know about Sam Mendes's Beatles biopics: Cast, release dates, chart records and more

These films will feature some of the most iconic songs in Official Charts history

Beatlemania never really goes away, but it's spiking once again with news that four interlocking biopics are on their way.

Each film will tell the band's incredible story from the perspective of a different band member: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

MORE: Every UK Number 1 single by The Beatles

What's more, The Beatles' long-running company Apple Corps – Paul, Ringo plus the families of John and George – have signed over full music rights to director Sam Mendes and his production team. So, these films are set to feature some of the most iconic songs in Official Charts history.

Here's everything we know about the unpredecented project.

Who's been cast in Sam Mendes' Beatles biopics?

Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney
Harris Dickinson as John Lennon
Joseph Quinn as George Harrison
Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr

Paul Mescal has been cast as Paul McCartney. The Irish actor, 29, was recently seen in Gladiator II and earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in 2022's Aftersun.

He is also a BAFTA winner for his work in the TV miniseries Normal People, based on Sally Rooney's novel of the same name. You can watch him showing off his singing and guitar-playing skills in the 2022 film Carmen here.

Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon. The English actor, 28, has appeared in films including 2022's Triangle of Sadness, 2023's The Iron Claw and 2024's Babygirl opposite Nicole Kidman. He has also directed music videos for Rose Gray.

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Englishman Joseph Quinn has been cast as George Harrison. He also appeared in Gladiator II and will soon be seen in the Marvel superhero movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps. On TV, he's acted in Stranger Things, Dickensian and Catherine the Great.

Another Irish rising star, 32-year-old Barry Keoghan, will portray Ringo Starr. Barry picked up an Oscar nomination for his performance in 2022's The Banshees of Inisherin, but is perhaps best known for his role in 2023's Saltburn.

As you may remember, his viral dance scene rocketed Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder on the Dancefloor back into the Official Singles Chart more than 22 years after its initial release.

What records do the Beatles hold on the Official Charts?

Oh, just a few. The Liverpool band have the most Number 1s on the Official Albums Chart – 15 – and the second most Number 1 singles: 18 to Elvis Presley's 21.

When their 'last' single Now and Then was released in 2023, it smashed an assortment of Official Charts records. Notably, The Beatles can now claim the longest time span between an artist’s first and last Number 1 single: an amazing 60 years and 6 months.

They also broke the record for the longest gap between UK Number 1 singles because Now and Then, their 18th chart-topper, arrived a full 54 years after their 17th, The Ballad of John and Yoko.

Who is Sam Mendes?

Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes CBE – to use his full title – is one of the UK's most eminent film and theatre directors. He won an Oscar for directing 2000's American Beauty and a BAFTA for directing the hard-hitting 2019 war film 1917.

He also directed two Bond films, 2012's Skyfall and 2015's Spectre, each of which yielded an Oscar winning theme song: Adele's Skyfall and Sam Smith's Writing's on the Wall. So, it's safe to say he also knows a bit about music.