The Fab Quadrilogy
Thoughts on The Beatles film announcement
On April 1st, at CinemaCon, Apple Corps Ltd. announced that Sam Mendes will be directing a four - film epic biographical series about The Beatles (tentative release for April 2028). For years, I've run around in my head with ideas about how a biographical film effort could be pulled off. I realized at some point that the safest choice would always be the wrong one. Thankfully, the Beatles themselves have had enough control over their rights to prevent the lowest common denominator efforts from diminishing their legacy. The people who "get" the Beatles don't see them as Disney, white bread, Coca-Cola safe. It's a massive relief to see that we're getting something that appropriately meets the epic scope of how the band occupies our minds, while also providing something that will be novel and intimate.
Seeing that Sam Mendes is directing caused a sigh of relief. I've largely enjoyed his works that I've seen (except for Spectre). I appreciate his handle of period pieces, with 1917 being a clear stand out.
The cast announcement is mostly familiar to me, with Mescal, Keoghan, and Quinn. I'm happy with all of these choices, especially Keoghan. The specific deviousness he excels at is perfect for Ringo, and I can't wait to see how he blends it with the warm, anchoring magnetism signature of the drummer. I can "see" Mescal bring the sincerity of McCartney after his performance as Lucius in Gladiator II. Quinn has already acted beside Mescal in that respective film. He wasn't given much to do in that film, doing his best to breathe life into an otherwise uninteresting villain. I enjoyed him most as Eddie in Stranger Things. His performance there worked for me, and I hope that he can bring that vulnerability to his Harrison performance. The only question mark for me is Dickinson. I've yet to see any of his performances, something that I will remedy before making a verdict on his casting as Lennon.
This will be a massive undertaking that has to convince people who aren't Beatles fans, such as myself, that we need more than one film. This is especially the case, with films for Harrison and Starr. A proper embrace of each member will be stylistically and narratively distinct enough to feel that it isn't repetitive. I suspect the success of No Direction Home and its approach played a major part in getting this greenlit. I've also been through a Dylan phase and felt that film excelled the most when it felt like a hang-out movie in days of his life. The "fly on the wall" instinct is the most powerful when looking back at such impactful artists. Fans simply want to be in the same rooms. The numerous archives of footage of the artists on the road, the center of attention for the entire culture, and maintaining some sense of charm and humanity in the face of it is what makes their legacy enduring. Fans can see themselves in the Beatles as they navigate their sudden success. I'm quite confident that Mendes will ensure we get much more than a glorified Wikipedia article.