The cast for the upcoming Beatles biopic was confirmed on Monday – but unimpressed fans of the British band were left convinced it was an April Fool’s joke.
Sony confirmed the four English and Irish acting heavyweights set to be the stars at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas on Monday.
The films about The Fab Four will see Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
All four films — called The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event — will come out in the same month in April 2028.
However fans were left unimpressed by the casting, with some saying they should have picked lesser known stars while others moaned that the actors bore no resemblance to The Fab Four.
And as the news was shared online in the early hours of April 1, many expressed their hope that it was all an April Fool’s joke.
The cast for the upcoming Beatles biopic was confirmed on Monday – but unimpressed fans of the British band were left convinced it was an April Fool’s joke
The films about The Fab Four will see Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney , Harris Dickinson as John Lennon , Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, fans wrote: ‘WAIT. It’s April fools day. Tomorrow they’re going to announce the real Beatles biopic cast. I cannot wait until they reveal the new cast! And it was all a joke guys hahaha yup happy april fools,’;
‘Is this a April fools ‘joke’?’; ‘no way it’s real i thought twas april fools post,’; ‘wait… is it 1st April fools?’;
‘April Fools. Please. Please let this be April Fools,’; ‘This casting has to be a joke right? Can’t get farther than that. April Fools?’;
‘No this is an April’s fools joke,’; ‘Is this April Fools prank?’; ‘APRIL FOOLS!!!’; ‘i thought it was an april fools joke,’;
‘APRIL FOOLS?????’; ‘not a single accurate casting here, has to be a april fools prank surely,’;
‘April Fool’s or is this real,’; ‘This cast is the worst. None of them look like a member of the beatles. Who is yoko ono? Who is my fav, paul mccartney? I hope it’s april fools.’
Announcing the news, director Mendes, 59, appeared at the Caesar’s Palace event as he revealed there would be four films before introducing his four leading stars to the stage.
Each of the movies will focus on one of the members of the band. According to the director, Sony’s film boss Tom Rothman dubbed the films ‘the first binge-able theatrical experience.’
Sony confirmed the four English and Irish acting heavyweights set to be the stars at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas on Monday
As the news was shared online in the early hours of April 1, many fans expressed their hope that it was all an April Fool’s joke
‘We’re not just making one film about the Beatles — we’re making four,’ Mendes announced. ‘Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply.’
‘The Beatles changed my understanding of music,’ Mendes added. ‘I’ve been trying to make a movie about them for years.’
‘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,’ the filmmaker shared back in 2024, as per People.
Speaking at Cinemacon, Sam said that he felt the story of The Beatles were ‘too big for one film,’ and he didn’t want to turn it into a television series.
Sam went onto share that the four films will be released ‘in proximity’ with each other.
‘Frankly, we need big cinematic events to get people out of the house,’ the Skyfall frontman added.
Announcing the news, director Sam Mendes, 59, appeared at the Caesar’s Palace event as he revealed there would be four films before introducing his four leading stars to the stage
While onstage, the actors recited lyrics from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and concluded with a coordinated bow reminiscent of the Beatles
‘There had to be a way to tell the epic story for a new generation,’ he told the audience, adding: ‘I can assure you there is still plenty left to explore and I think we found a way to do that.’
While onstage, the actors recited lyrics from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and concluded with a coordinated bow reminiscent of the Beatles.
It marks the first time ever that The Beatles and their Apple Corps. company have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
The movies are being made by Sony Pictures and Sam’s Neal Street Productions company.