Joseph Quinn lined up to play George Harrison in The Beatles biopics
Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn has been lined up to portray George Harrison in the upcoming set of biopics about The Beatles by Sam Mendes.
The project was first announced by Mendes at the start of 2024 with a unique twist on the biopic genre. Rather than tell one version of events in a singular movie, the director is planning to create four separate films which explore the same version of events from the perspective of each member of the Fab Four.
A statement when the films were announced read, “The dating cadence of the films, the details of which will be shared closer to release, will be innovative and groundbreaking.”
The upcoming set of films marks the first time The Beatles and Apple Corps have granted permission for the full life story of their members and music rights to be used within a scripted project. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison, have granted Mendes permission to make the four movies.
In October, Mendes provided an update and told Variety: “I’ve got this huge Beatles project that I’m working on for the next several years. So this is the last time you’ll see me until sometime in the middle of 2028.”
However, casting has largely remained under wraps. Now, it seems Quinn is set to take on the role of Harrison, who was originally linked to actor Charlie Rowe.
Last month, The Sun broke the news that Quinn had been chosen to portray Harrison. A source told the publication, “Joe is an incredible actor. It’s a massive role, but Sam is delighted to have him on board.”
Furthermore, InSneider has now supported The Sun’s claims. They also state that Mendes will hire a separate screenwriter for each of the four movies to give them a different texture and perspective on events.
Peter Straughan has reportedly been given the task of handling Harrison’s movie, meanwhile, Krysty Wilson Cairns is also alleged to have signed on to write another.
Who else is starring in The Beatles biopics?
In June, Vogue claimed that Gladiator II star Paul Mescal would portray Paul McCartney, Harrison Dickinson landed the role of John Lennon, and Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan was eyed up to play Ringo Starr. However, they also stated that Charlie Rowe was set to play Harrison, which now appears to have been assigned to Quinn.
During a recent interview with GQ, Mescal addressed the rumours and admitted that he would “love to be involved” with Mendes’ biopics. However, he caveats this by saying there is currently “nothing set in stone” but doesn’t acknowledge whether talks have taken place.
Furthermore, in another interview with ET, Mescal said, “It would be an incredible story to be attached too, Sam Mendes is attached to direct. It truly would be a dream come true.”
Initially, the four films were scheduled for a mid-2027 release, but Mendes’ admission that the series of biopics will keep him occupied until mid-2028 suggests that it will take until then for his work to reach the big screen.
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