Beatles biopic movies taps award-winning screenwriters — but key detail remains mystery
Sam Mendes' "four-film cinematic event" for the Beatles has reportedly found his writers: Jack Thorne, Jez Butterworth and Peter Straughan.
The "four-film cinematic event' for the upcoming Beatles biopics has found its writers.
The cinematic event is being helmed by director Sam Mendes and in March, he officially announced the cast of the notable English band at CinemaCon after casting rumors. Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan is Ringo Starr and Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon.
Since the announcement at the gathering of movie theater owners globally, there's been an update on who will be writing the films. The Insneider first reported Jack Thorne and then the Deadline reported Jez Butterworth And Peter Straughan will be joining Jack.
Deadline stated sources disclosed to them these three award-winning screenwriters will be penning the films but it was not disclosed if they will be taking on separate films or working together on all four.
Jack is a BAFTA and Tony Award-winning screenwriter and theatre writer. He co-created Netlfix's hit limited series Adolescence with actor Stephen Graham. His other TV writing credits include Toxic Town, His Dark Materials, The Eddy and Best Interests. For film, his writing credits include The Swimmers, Enola Holmes, Enola Holmes 2, The Aeronauts and Wonder. For theatre, Jack recently wrote the The Motive and the Cue directed which Mendes directed as well as penned the Tony and Olivier Award-winning Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Jez's recent writing credits include Ford v Ferrari and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. His other film screenwriting credits include Spectre, Black Mass and Edge of Tomorrow. Jez is also an award-winning playwright who has won accolades such as the Tony, Laurence Olivier and Critics Circle Theatre Award for respectively Best Play and Best New Play. The recent play his wrote,The Hills of California, received seven Tony nominations at the upcoming 2025 Tony Awards. Both of those plays, Mendes directed.
Peter recently won for the Oscar and the Golden Globe for his screenplay for Edward Berger’s pope political Conclave. He also co-wrote Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with his late wife, Bridget O’Connor. Thee two received an Academy Award nomination and won the BAFTA for the screenplay. Pete's other film credits include Our Brand Is Crisis, Frank, The Snowman and The Goldfinch.
On the television side, Peter wrote the adaption of Hilary Mantel’s bestselling novel Wolf Hall and the show won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series. He also wrote the series' sequel, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. Peter additionally dabbled a bit in directing with a short film called Gee Gee and an episode of Playhouse Presents. He's attached to direct and write the adaptation of Ned Beauman’s 2012 novel The Teleportation Accident.
Mendes' Beatles films are the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles as well as their estates have given full life-story and music rights for a scripted film. The four films which tell each band member's perspective is set to drop in theaters in April 2028. Sony Pictures will finance and distribute the films. Neal Street production is developing the films in association with Apple Corps for Sony Pictures.
Sony Pictures will finance and distribute worldwide with full theatrical windows in April 2028. The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event is a Neal Street production in association with Apple Corps for Sony Pictures. Mendes is additionally producing the film with his Neal Street partner Pippa Harris and Neal Street’s Julie Pastor. Alexandra Derbyshire, known for Wonka, is also producing.