With theaters preparing for a British Invasion ahead of the upcoming Beatles cinematic event in 2028, Ringo Starr is making sure the movies get it right.
After flying to London in April to meet with director Sam Mendes, the Beatles drummer revealed he had issues with how his first marriage to Maureen Starkey Tigrett was depicted in the script for the upcoming four-part biopic about the legendary British rock band, which is penned by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan and Jack Thorne.
“He had a writer — very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I,” Starr explained to The New York Times. “That’s not how we were. I’d say, ‘We would never do that.’”
Starr is now pleased with his depiction in the script, but he remains skeptical of how Mendes will shoot four films at a time. “But he’ll do what he’s doing, and I’ll send him peace and love,” he added.
Barry Keoghan, who’s been tapped to play Starr, previously recounted his “absolutely lovely” meeting with the real percussionist, who “played the drums for me,” recalling it as “was one of those moments where you’re just in awe and just froze.”
Sam Mendes, Joseph Quinn, Barry Keoghan, Harris Dickinson and Paul Mescal attend the opening night of CinemaCon 2025 on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Last February, Deadline exclusively revealed that Mendes is set to direct each installment of The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event, through his Neal Street Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Each film will connect, telling the band’s story from each member’s point of view.
In addition to Keoghan, the cast is rounded out by Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon.
