‘Beatles’ Biopics Officially Land Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood and Mia McKenna-Bruce as Fab Four Spouses

Sony Pictures has now formally confirmed the principal cast for the four women who married the members of The Beatles in Sam Mendes's ambitious cinematic series, "The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event." The roles of Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono, Pattie Boyd, and Maureen Starkey will be portrayed by Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood, and Mia McKenna-Bruce, respectively. These partners were pivotal figures in the lives of the band members throughout the 1960s, a period defined by the global phenomenon of Beatlemania. While initial casting rumors were reported by Variety, the studio's official announcement was only made this week following the finalization of all actor contracts.

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, celebrated for films like "American Beauty" and the James Bond installments "Skyfall" and "Spectre," expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He remarked that the production is extraordinarily lucky to have secured four of today's most talented actresses to play these unique and fascinating women. Mendes stressed that Maureen, Linda, Yoko, and Pattie were captivating individuals with their own compelling stories, which are integral to the full Beatles saga. This undertaking is historic, marking the first time The Beatles, along with their estates, have collectively granted full access to their life stories and entire music catalog for a major theatrical release.

The interconnected films will each adopt the perspective of a different Beatle, with Harris Dickenson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. This narrative approach will chronicle the band's journey from their modest Liverpool roots to their fractious breakup in 1970. According to film historian Dr. Eleanor Vance, "By framing the story through the lenses of both the band and their partners, Mendes is attempting a biopic on an epic scale, promising a more intimate and multifaceted portrait than any previous depiction." This dual focus aims to explore how the intense pressures of fame were navigated within their personal relationships.

The women at the heart of the story led remarkable lives deeply intertwined with music history. Linda Eastman, an accomplished photographer, married Paul McCartney in 1969 and later became a keyboardist and vocalist for his band Wings, a partnership that lasted until her death in 1998. Yoko Ono, a pioneering avant-garde artist, first met John Lennon at her own 1966 London exhibition; their 1969 marriage significantly shaped his artistic direction after The Beatles disbanded. Pattie Boyd, a leading 1960s fashion model, met George Harrison on the set of "A Hard Day's Night." Their marriage in 1966 ended in 1977, and she later married guitarist Eric Clapton, who famously immortalized his unrequited love for her in the classic rock anthem "Layla."

Maureen Starkey (née Cox) began her relationship with Ringo Starr in 1962 while working as a teenage hairdresser in Liverpool. They married three years later, had three children, and ultimately divorced in 1975, preceding her tragic death in 1994. The actresses embodying these iconic figures represent a blend of established and rising stars. Four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan will next be seen in "Bad Apples." Anna Sawai, recently an Emmy winner for her performance in FX's "Shōgun," is confirmed to return for the next season of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters." Aimee Lou Wood, who rose to prominence on "Sex Education," earned an Emmy nomination for her role in HBO's "The White Lotus." Mia McKenna-Bruce, a BAFTA Rising Star award winner for "How to Have Sex," is slated to co-star with Natalie Dormer in the upcoming miniseries "The Lady."