Sam Mendes’ monumental project The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event has added four acclaimed actors to its already stellar ensemble, cementing its status as one of the most ambitious undertakings in modern film. Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood, and Mia McKenna-Bruce have officially joined the cast to portray the women who stood beside the Beatles during their meteoric rise to global fame — Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono, Pattie Boyd, and Maureen Starkey, respectively.
According to Sony Pictures’ official press release, the announcement follows the formal closure of all four casting deals, with Mendes calling these women “fascinating and unique figures in their own right.” He praised the ensemble as “four of the most talented performers working in film today,” describing the project as “an amazing adventure.” Sony confirmed that this is the first time The Beatles and their families have granted both full music and life rights for a scripted theatrical feature — a milestone moment for music and cinema alike.
Each of the four feature films will tell the story of the Beatles from a unique perspective: one through the eyes of John Lennon, another from Paul McCartney, the third from George Harrison, and the fourth from Ringo Starr. Together, they will chart the band’s journey from humble beginnings in Liverpool’s club circuit during the early 1960s to their final breakup in 1970. Mendes has described the ambitious structure as “four films, one story” — an interconnected cinematic mosaic exploring fame, creativity, and the cost of genius.
The casting of Ronan, Sawai, Wood, and McKenna-Bruce adds emotional depth to this sweeping portrait.
Linda McCartney (née Eastman), portrayed by Saoirse Ronan, met Paul McCartney in 1967 while working as a photographer. Their relationship became one of rock music’s most enduring partnerships; they married in 1969, formed the band Wings together, and remained inseparable until Linda’s passing from breast cancer in 1998.
Anna Sawai will play Yoko Ono, the avant-garde artist whose relationship with John Lennon became one of the most scrutinized in music history. Ono met Lennon in 1966 at a London art exhibition, and their marriage in 1969 marked the start of a creative and political partnership that redefined the boundaries between art, music, and activism.
Aimee Lou Wood takes on the role of Pattie Boyd, the model and muse who married George Harrison in 1966. Boyd’s influence on music was profound — she inspired timeless songs like “Something” and “Layla” — while her marriage reflected the Beatles’ spiritual and cultural awakening during the late 1960s. Meanwhile, BAFTA-winning actress Mia McKenna-Bruce portrays Maureen Starkey (née Cox), who married Ringo Starr in 1965. A hairdresser from Liverpool, she was part of the Beatles’ inner circle during their peak years, before the couple divorced in 1975. Starkey passed away from leukemia in 1994.
Collectively, these four roles highlight how the women around the Beatles shaped not only their personal lives but also their creative evolution. Mendes’ casting choices reflect a commitment to exploring these perspectives with nuance and authenticity. Ronan, a four-time Oscar nominee, will next appear in the dark comedy Bad Apples. Sawai recently earned widespread acclaim for Shōgun and continues her rise through Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Wood, celebrated for Sex Education and The White Lotus, and McKenna-Bruce, who won the BAFTA Rising Star Award for How to Have Sex, round out a remarkable ensemble that balances prestige with freshness.
Behind the camera, Mendes is supported by an equally formidable creative team. Screenwriters Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan, and Jack Thorne are co-writing the interconnected scripts, each bringing deep experience in crafting emotionally layered narratives. Sony Pictures has described the project as a “bingeable theatrical experience” — a bold attempt to merge the epic sweep of cinematic storytelling with the continuity of serial drama. The four films will interconnect narratively and emotionally, creating what Mendes envisions as a panoramic depiction of art, love, and identity in the age of mass fame.
A global theatrical rollout is currently planned for April 2028, though early materials on The Beatles’ official website have referenced a possible 2027 timeline. Whichever schedule holds, the project already stands as a landmark in biographical filmmaking — one that redefines what a music biopic can achieve. Not only will it chronicle the Beatles’ evolution from raw Liverpool talent to global phenomenon, but it will also delve into the intimate personal dynamics that powered their creativity and ultimately led to their separation.
For The Beatles’ estates, the decision to grant full access to the band’s music and life stories signals unprecedented trust and collaboration. For Sam Mendes, whose filmography includes American Beauty, Skyfall, and 1917, the series offers an opportunity to explore fame and friendship at a scale rarely attempted in cinema. With its artistic ambition, ensemble cast, and emotional scope, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event is shaping up to be not just a biographical epic, but a reimagining of how cinema can tell the story of a cultural revolution that changed the world.
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