Beatles biopic in the works for Sony’s Sam Mendes – The Hollywood Reporter

Sam Mendes

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Sam Mendes has teamed up with Sony Pictures Entertainment for the BeatlesFour theatrical films about the British supergroup, each from the perspective of a different band member.

The project, which comes more than 50 years after the Beatles broke up and 40 years after the death of John Lennon, will see Apple Corps and the Beatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the Lennon and George Harrison families – provide both the Fab Four’s complete life story and music rights to a scripted film. . Mendes will direct the four theatrical films to reclaim the story of the greatest band in history.

Musical films have proven to be resilient at the box office. Paramount Bob Marley: One Love Taylor Swift’s concert film generated higher revenues than expected last week, with revenues reaching $15 million Tour of the ages It has outperformed a number of Hollywood mainstays, with $261 million worldwide last year. There are a number of other musical films in the works, with Antoine Fuqua currently filming a Michael Jackson biopic Michael For Lionsgate.

Sony will finance the film series and distribute it worldwide in theaters in 2027. The release schedule for the films has not been announced yet.

Mendes will also produce films about the generation-defining band through his Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris and Neal Street’s Julia Pastor. Geoff Johns will executive produce for Apple Corps Ltd.

“I’m honored to tell the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and I’m excited to challenge the idea of ​​what constitutes a trip to the movies,” Mendes said in a statement.

“I know I speak on behalf of our CEO Tony Vinciquerra, who was instrumental in making this happen, and every Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group colleague around the world when I say: ‘Yes, yes, yes!’” Tom Rothman, Chairman and President The CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group added Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group in his own statement.

Rothman in a memo to Sony employees on Tuesday obtained by Hollywood Reporter He added, “Many companies were hoping for the opportunity to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime cinematic experience. I’m honored that on Columbia Pictures’ 100th anniversary, with Tony’s enthusiastic support, we have won the day and become a select home.”

The Beatles project had long been in development at Sony, with Rothman and also Elizabeth Gabler helping to lead the project. The goal is to tell the story of the legendary rock band as a whole leading up to their long-running breakup in 1970 but from the point of view of each band member.

The series will be produced in full cooperation with The Beatles and Apple Corp. “At all times,” Harris said in a statement.

The Beatles have been chronicled in the past with other films, including Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary, The Beatles: Backwhich captured an intensely productive month for the band, culminating in a legendary public performance on January 30, 1969 that would be the band’s last.

Ron Howard captured the chaos of Beatles concerts from 1963 to 1966, at the height of Beatlemania and ultimately burning out the band members, with Hulu Photography. The Beatles: Eight days a week – Years of wandering.