Ringo’s Reality Check
Starr gives notes on Mendes’ ambitious four-film Beatles project.
- Ringo Starr reviewed scripts for the upcoming Beatles films.
- Starr ensured accuracy regarding his relationship with Maureen Starkey Tigrett.
- The four films are slated for release in April 2028.
- Barry Keoghan will portray Ringo Starr.
The upcoming Beatles biopic, officially titled The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, is already making waves, especially with **Ringo Starr ensuring the authenticity of the Beatles’ story.**
Sam Mendes is taking on what might be the most ambitious musical biopic ever attempted. The project, announced in February 2024, will explore the Fab Four with a movie from each member’s perspective.
Barry Keoghan is set to play Ringo Starr, with Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. In May of this year, Keoghan mentioned that the cast underwent a 17-week band boot camp to prepare for their roles.
Starr’s Script Insights
Ringo Starr sat down with Mendes to review the scripts. Starr noted inaccuracies, particularly in scenes depicting his relationship with his first wife, Maureen Starkey Tigrett. As Starr told *The New York Times*:
He had a writer — very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I. That’s not how we were. I’d say, ‘We would never do that.’
Starr said he is much happier with the revised scripts after giving his notes. However, he remains unsure how Mendes will manage filming four movies at once. Still, the legendary drummer offered the filmmaker his support: “do what he’s doing, and I’ll send him peace and love.”
Doubts About the Scale
Given the countless movies, documentaries, and books about The Beatles, Mendes’ films need to offer something new. The plan to create four movies at once certainly fits that bill, but Starr isn’t alone in questioning whether it’s too ambitious.
While it is a gamble worthy of the legacy of the world’s best-known band, the sheer scope of the project would likely prove daunting to even the most experienced filmmakers.
Mendes is aiming for what’s being called the world’s “first binge-able theatrical experience,” with all four Beatles movies planned for release in April 2028. However, the sheer scale of the project would likely prove daunting to even the most experienced filmmakers.
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Still, Mendes is working to ensure his films are as true to The Beatles’ history as possible. Getting input from an original band member will help deliver a more authentic final product.
A Huge Gamble
Can Mendes Pull It Off?
With audiences increasingly choosing streaming over traditional theaters, Mendes’ plan to film and release four interconnected movies at once might draw them back to cinemas. But such a big gamble comes with big risks.
Beyond the financial risks of four high-profile releases, Mendes seeks to offer his take on pop-culture icons whose legacy continues to inspire more than 55 years after The Beatles broke up.
Like Starr, countless Beatles fans are silently wishing Mendes success with The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event.
