Sam Mendes announces four "innovative and groundbreaking" Beatles' films- one following each member

Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director who's created two of the most critically acclaimed Bond films, American Beauty and most recently the single shot 1917 has announced his latest cinematic project: four biopics each telling the story of the world most popular band, the Beatles.

The project has the blessing of both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the surviving families of John Lennon and George Harrison. It marks the first time they, and rights holders Apple, have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.

The four films will all be released in 2027 and tell interconnected stories, one from each band member’s point of view.

The films have been described as having a“dating cadence” which will supposedly be “will be innovative and groundbreaking”.

Looking to replicate the blockbuster nature of recent cinema phenomenon of Barbenheimer, Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Tom Rothman, said: “Theatrical movie events today must be culturally seismic. Sam’s daring, large-scale idea is that and then some. Pairing his premiere film-making team, with the music and the stories of four young men who changed the world, will rock audiences all over the globe. We are deeply grateful to all parties and look forward ourselves to breaking some rules with Sam’s uniquely artistic vision.”

Mendes said of the upcoming project: “I’m honoured 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.”

No writers or cast have yet been announced, however Mendes' long time collaborator and producer Pippa Harris said: "it’s a testament to his creative brilliance and powers of persuasion that Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sean Lennon and Olivia Harrison responded with such warmth and enthusiasm as soon as he spoke with them”.

Approximately, 18 biopics of the band have also appeared on the big and small screen, such as 2009’s Nowhere Boy starring Aaron Taylor Johnson as a young Lennon.

Dozens of documentaries have been made about the band, including Ron Howard’s The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years (2016) and Get Back, Peter Jackson’s acclaimed three-part eight-hour movie from 2021.