The Beatles’ swinging sixties to be revived on the big screen in four epic biopics

Hang onto your seats and prepare to travel back to the Swinging Sixties as Sony Pictures announces that four Beatles biopics will be hitting the silver screen in 2027.

The iconic British rock band, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, is seen as one of the most influential and successful bands in the history of popular music.

Their innovative music, characterised by catchy melodies, intricate harmonies, and thoughtful lyrics, transformed the landscape of rock and roll and left an enduring mark on the music industry, inspiring generations of musicians and fans worldwide.

Beyond their musical achievements, they also played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural and social landscape of the 1960s, embodying the spirit of youthful rebellion, creativity, and cultural change.

Their astonishing legacy will now be captured in four landmark feature films. The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. (The Beatles label) and The Beatles – McCartney, Starr, and the families of the late Lennon and Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.

Directed by Sam Mendes, each film will present each band member’s point of view and intersect to tell the amazing story of the world’s greatest band.

“I’m honored 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,” Mendes said.

Co-director Pippa Harris said, “We intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time.”

“To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege.”

The announcement together with last year’s release of a new single, Now and Then, demonstrate that Beatlemania is alive and well and the band is as capable of surprises as ever.

Now and Then, described by the band as “The Last Beatles Song”, combines posthumous recordings by Lennon and Harrison with new contributions by McCartney and Starr.

The track, originally a home demo recording from the late 70s, was passed on to McCartney by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, for consideration as a new Beatles recording.

Two other home demos, Free as a Bird and Real Love, were transformed into full-brand songs for the 1995 Beatles Anthology compilation. Now and Then was also considered but abandoned due to sound quality issues.

It’s thanks to new AI sound separation technology that Now and Then could be cleaned up and used for commercial use.

The surviving Beatles shared their feelings about the new song in a press release at the time. 

McCartney said, “It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”