In February, we shared the thrilling news that Sam Mendes is working on not one, but four Beatles biopics, each of which is set to premiere in cinemas in 2027.

Although this may seem a while away, the journey to Mendes' Fab Four films may have just reached its first milestone — and its first Beatle. During an Entertainment Tonight interview following a slew of Grammy nominations, The Beatles' legendary drummer Ringo Starr hinted, almost confirming, that Bird star Barry Keoghan is poised to take on the role of drummer in Mendes' upcoming projects.
When asked about the idea of Irish actor Keoghan portraying him on screen, Starr playfully remarked, "I think it’s great. I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many." While this is not an official casting confirmation yet, Starr's endorsement of Keoghan is an encouraging sign for the Saltburn lead, who famously showcased his Scouse accent (among other talents) as Oliver Quick in Emerald Fennell's thriller. If Keoghan's casting materializes, it might add weight to rumors suggesting the rest of the band will include Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, especially since those rumors initially mentioned Keoghan.

Mendes' films will be the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and the Beatles — both surviving members and the families of George Harrison and John Lennon — have granted full life story and music rights to a scripted project about the band. We don't have a final release date or confirmed casting details yet (the possibilities remain open for now), and we can only speculate on how Mendes' four films will eventually come together. However, with exciting names attached to the project and the prospect of a fully authorized set of films about the most famous band of all time, you'll need to be ready when we rush for our tickets on opening night(s). Now it's over to Sam — don't let us down!