Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman excitedly shared the studio’s plans for Sam Mendes’ ambitious Beatles biopic saga. Even though the release strategy is risky, Rothman has shown confidence in “the boldness of the idea.”
Sony hasn’t brought in any writers, but they hope to begin shooting all four films together in mid-2025. Due to Mendes’ insistence on it being theatrically released and the Beatles’ reputation, the production is likely to have an immense budget to satisfy new and old fans. Still, Rothman believes the boost in popularity of musical biopics will help reign in more audience members.
The success of biopics like Bob Marley: One Love and Rocketman exemplify this notion even if there are some detractors. Marley’s film, for instance, drew criticism for its “’Hallmark presentation’ of Bob,” even noting that “’there’s hardly a relative without an associate producer credit.’” While the subjects’ estates being involved can increase access to their song catalogs, it opens up a serious conversation regarding sanitizing unsavory parts of someone’s life.
The Beatles’ media corporation Apple Corps Ltd. shared these fears regarding the band’s legacy while recognizing the members’ complexities. For this reason, they have been reluctant to do a full mainstream biopic. They are willing to create films that revolve around their music (Yesterday, Across the Universe) or even a simple origin story. Biography writer Bob Spitz said, “Everybody has heard the legend of The Beatles, but their individual life stories are powerful and little-known.”
With Mendes’ acclaim for his work in American Beauty and 1917, Rothman has confidence in the project and its release schedule’s success. To him, the industry needs these unique projects to help stay relevant and fresh for audiences. “How often do you get an approach that is entirely original?” he asked. To him, Mendes’ work is one of the key ingredients to bring new life to entertainment.
All four films in this saga are set to be released by approximately 2027.
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