It has been reported that Sam Mendes may be eyeing Paul Mescal to play one of the Fab Four in his upcoming Beatles biopic.
- READ MORE: ‘All Of Us Strangers’ review: the saddest film of the year
Mescal first gained attention for his award-winning role as Connell Waldron in the 2020 drama miniseries Normal People. He was also nominated for Best Actor at the 95th Academy Awards for his portrayal of Calum in 2022’s Aftersun.
The actor is set to star as Lucius Verus in Ridley Scott’s upcoming Gladiator II. Verus is the nephew of the original film’s villain Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) but grows up idolising deceased gladiator Maximus (Russell Crowe).
Now, The Hollywood Reporter has released a new feature highlighting 10 young movie stars who are taking Hollywood by storm. They included Mescal in their list and shared that Mendes, the director of the upcoming Beatles biopic, has his eyes on the Irish actor to potentially portray the role of one of the Liverpudlian legends in the film.
Announced back in February, Mendes will be directing four Beatles biopic projects – one told from the perspective of each band member.
The biopics will be told from each band member’s point-of-view and will intersect to “tell the story of the greatest band in history.”
The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, along with the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
With Sony Pictures Entertainment set to finance and distribute the films, which are set to have a global release in 2027, “the dating cadence of the films, the details of which will be shared closer to release, will be innovative and groundbreaking” – say the band in a statement.
The films will be produced alongside Mendes’ Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris and Neal Street’s Julie Pastor. Jeff Jones will executive produce for Apple Corps Ltd.
“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,” shared Mendes.
In other news, Mescal was announced as one of the special guests at this year’s Glastonbury festival at its Palais Cinema for a Q&A alongside Andrew Scott and director Andrew Haigh about their emotive film All Of Us Strangers.