Sam Mendes’ Beatles films add Harry Lawtey, Farhan Akhtar, Lucy Boynton and Morfydd Clark to cast

Sam Mendes expands his Beatles biopics cast with Harry Lawtey, Farhan Akhtar, Lucy Boynton and Morfydd Clark

Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes has expanded the cast of his highly anticipated Beatles biopic project, adding Harry Lawtey, Farhan Akhtar, Lucy Boynton and Morfydd Clark.

The films are part of Sony and Neal Street’s The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, currently in production in the UK and slated for a theatrical release in April 2028.

The ambitious project will feature four individual movies, each told from the perspective of one legendary band member — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Notably, this marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted feature film.

Harry Lawtey, best known for HBO’s Industry, will portray Stuart Sutcliffe, often referred to as “The Fifth Beatle” and the band’s original bass guitarist before leaving in 1961 to focus on painting. Farhan Akhtar has been cast as renowned Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, whose influence helped shape George Harrison’s musical experimentation and the band’s incorporation of Indian sounds.

Lucy Boynton will play actress Jane Asher, Paul McCartney’s former fiancée and the inspiration behind several Beatles songs, while Morfydd Clark takes on the role of Cynthia Lennon, John Lennon’s first wife and mother of Julian Lennon.

Mendes is directing all four films and producing alongside Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor. The production also features an award-winning creative team, including cinematographer Greig Fraser and editor Lee Smith.

With a star-studded cast and unprecedented access to the Beatles’ story and music, the multi-film project is already shaping up to be one of the most ambitious music biopic undertakings in cinematic history.