We’re three years away from Sam Mendes‘ Beatles movie project, a massive undertaking in which he’ll direct four different films from each of the Fab Four’s perspective. As expected, it doesn’t come easy: Ringo Starr recently revealed he gave extensive notes to the director on his script, where he’s portrayed by Barry Keoghan.
In an interview with The New York Times, Starr said that he flew to London to meet Mendes and spent two days going over the script with him, line by line. Starr requested that parts be rewritten, specifically involving scenes with his family and his first wife, Maureen Starkey Tigrett. “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 said. “That’s not how we were. I’d say, ‘We would never do that.’”
Starr, who is currently promoting his country album Look Up, told the outlet that he’s now more satisfied with the script, and gave Mendes his signature send-off: “He’ll do what he’s doing,” he said, “and I’ll send him peace and love.”
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In addition to Keoghan — who recently met with Starr at his home — the other Beatles will be played by Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. Officially titled The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the cast was revealed at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in April. “It’s wonderful to be here,” they said, reciting lines from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” “It’s certainly a thrill. You’re such a lovely audience, we’d like to take you home with us.”
Upon the project’s announcement, Mendes 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.” As the development of the biopic continues, we expect McCartney to also provide some feedback. Who knows, maybe he’ll slip in a totally inaccurate scene, like Bob Dylan did on A Complete Unknown?
