Ringo Starr has seemingly confirmed that Barry Keoghan will be playing him in Sam Mendes’ Beatles movies.
It was announced in February 2024 that Mendes — known for directing 2012’s Skyfall, 2019’s 1917, and more — was directing four separate movies about The Beatles. Each film will follow one specific band member’s point of view.
There has since been a flurry of online rumors suggesting that actors such as Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan are being considered to play members of the band.
Speaking with ET Tonight, Starr has now seemingly confirmed that Keoghan will indeed play him in Mendes’ films.
What did Ringo Starr say about Barry Keoghan and Sam Mendes’ Beatle movies?
When asked what he thought about Keoghan potentially playing him in Mendes’ movies, Starr said, “Well, I think he’s great and I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons.”
Starr went on to say that he hopes Keoghan isn’t taking “too many” drum lessons as he belives that drummers need to “get their own feel.”
Mendes will direct all four movies. He will also produce them alongside eal Street Productions’ Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor. Apple Corps Ltd.’s Jeff Jones serves as an executive producer. The films will be released through Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Mendes previously said, “I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.”
Harris added, “We intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time. To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege. From our first meeting with Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, it was clear that they shared both our passion and ambition for this project, and we can’t think of a more perfect home than Sony Pictures.”
