Sam Mendes’ Beatles Project Gets Star Writers: New Film Promises Big Surprises!

Sam Mendes has selected the scriptwriters for his upcoming series of four Beatles biopics.

The screenplays for these cinematic portrayals will be penned by Tony Award recipient Jez Butterworth (“Ford v Ferrari,” “Spectre”), Oscar winner Peter Straughan (“Conclave,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), and the BAFTA and Tony Award-winning Jack Thorne (“Adolescence,” “Enola Holmes”). These films are a collaborative effort between Sony Pictures and Neal Street Productions.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone as Apple Corps Ltd. along with The Beatles – comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr – have given their comprehensive life story and music rights for the creation of a scripted cinematic project.

Mendes is set to direct all four films, each offering a unique perspective from the respective Beatles members, intertwined to narrate the legendary tale of the band.

The roles of the iconic Beatles members have been cast with Harris Dickinson portraying John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.

Sony Pictures is responsible for the financing and global distribution of the films, which are scheduled for theatrical release in April 2028.

The project, titled “The Beatles—A Four-Film Cinematic Event,” is a production of Neal Street in partnership with Apple Corps and Sony Pictures.

Alongside Mendes, the production team includes his Neal Street Productions colleague Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor, with Alexandra Derbyshire (“Wonka”) also on board as a producer.

Jez Butterworth’s recent ventures include scripting for James Mangold’s “Ford v Ferrari” and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” He has also worked on “Spectre,” “Black Mass,” and “Edge of Tomorrow.” A distinguished playwright, Butterworth’s “The Ferryman” earned him a Tony for best play, and his play “The Hills of California” has recently been nominated for seven Tonys including best play, with both plays directed by Mendes.

Peter Straughan recently secured an Oscar for his screenplay for the thriller “Conclave,” featuring a stellar cast including Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci. He co-authored “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” which brought him an Oscar nomination and a BAFTA win. His other works include “Our Brand is Crisis” and “Frank,” and he adapted Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall” for television, which won a BAFTA for best drama series and was followed by the sequel “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.”

Jack Thorne, awarded both a BAFTA and a Tony, has been recognized for his series “Adolescence.” His filmography includes “The Swimmers,” the “Enola Holmes” series, “The Aeronauts,” and “Wonder,” with television credits like “Toxic Town,” “His Dark Materials,” and “Best Interests.” In theatre, he penned the acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and the recent “The Motive and the Cue,” directed by Mendes.

Butterworth is represented by CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Austen Tyerman, Straughan by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA, and Thorne by UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

The news of Thorne joining the project was initially reported by The InSneider, whereas Deadline was the first to announce Butterworth and Straughan’s involvement.