Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics cast unveiled with mixed reactions from fans over actor resemblance
Photo: PA Wire
The cast for the highly anticipated Beatles biopics, directed by Sam Mendes, has been officially announced—and social media users are not holding back. The four-part film series, set for release in April 2028, will feature Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
While the news has generated excitement for fans of the Fab Four, the reaction online has been divided. A viral post from Pop Base revealing the cast has amassed over 2 million views, sparking thousands of comments and memes.
Many fans expressed disbelief over the casting choices, with one writing, "and who will be playing the beatles?” Another added, “You might as well cast Sydney Sweeney as Yoko Ono”.
A third user joked that this was just an April Fool's prank.
and who will be playing the beatles? https://t.co/hRl2njd5CJ
— rachel darby (@rachelsdarling) April 1, 2025
You might as well cast Sydney Sweeney as Yoko Ono atp lmfao
— ૮₍˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶₎ა (@ashleim1chelle) April 1, 2025
robert pattinson could’ve played all four beatles
— zoë rose bryant (@zoerosebryant) April 1, 2025
Wattpad writers have made it into the casting department because the actors don’t even look like the band members but whatever
— Fxe. (@ultronymous) April 1, 2025
guys i figured out this beatles news… april fools pic.twitter.com/YZ1I7PEhYp
The film series will take an ambitious approach, with each film centred on a different member of the band.
British actor Harris Dickinson is known for Where the Crawdads Sing and Babygirl, while Paul Mescal gained acclaim in Normal People and starred in Gladiator II. Barry Keoghan is best known for Saltburn and Top Boy, and Joseph Quinn rose to fame with Stranger Things and recently appeared in A Quiet Place: Day One.
The Beatles, formed in Liverpool in 1960, remain one of the most influential bands in history. Their legacy includes timeless hits such as Let It Be, Hey Jude, and Here Comes the Sun. As the biopics move toward production, fans are hoping that strong performances can overcome the current casting backlash.