Barry Keoghan lauds Ringo Starr “an icon” amid The Beatles biopic
In a new interview, Irish actor Barry Keoghan has called Ringo Starr “an icon” ahead of portraying him in a series of biopics on The Beatles.
Talking to Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet for his upcoming project, Hurry Up Tomorrow, Keoghan shared his admiration for the drummer whose life he will bring to the big screen.
The star was grateful for the opportunity to play Starr, but also extremely anxious to get it right: “I’m nervous,” he admitted. However, he explained that he was working hard to ensure he would smash the role. “I’m looking for the little nuances, without making him feel that I’m observing for that reason.”
Keoghan recounted when they first met, and suggested that he was “still in shock from it.” Previously, the Saltburn actor acknowledged the upcoming role for the first time. “He played the drums for me,” the Irish actor recalled of his first meeting with The Beatles legend during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “He asked me to play, but I wasn’t playing the drums for Ringo.”
Director Sam Mendes announced the highly anticipated forthcoming films at the start of 2024, albeit with a unique twist on the biopic genre. Rather than telling one version of events in a singular movie, the director is set to helm four separate movies that explore the same version of events from each Fab Four member’s perspective.
Keoghan revealed to Entertainment Tonight, he was already working with “the guys” to achieve the right chemistry, referring to Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, and Joseph Quinn who have been cast as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison, respectively. This casting decision was announced on April 1st. However, several months before the official announcement, Starr prematurely confirmed that Keoghan would portray him.
Keoghan ended the interview with the comment that he’s “off to drumming now,” a comment he quickly admitted was a joke. Entertainment Tonight had previously asked Starr for his thoughts on Keoghan bringing his life to the big screen. He responded, “Well, I think it’s great. I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.”
All four of The Beatles biopics are set for release in 2027.
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