Sam Mendes’ Beatles Biopics Get Top Writers: Jez, Peter, Jack Team Up!

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Sam Mendes‘ four Beatles biopics have found writers.

Jez Butterworth, a Tony Award winner known for “Ford v Ferrari” and “Spectre”, Peter Straughan, an Academy Award winner with credits like “Conclave” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”, and Jack Thorne, a BAFTA and Tony Award winner recognized for “Adolescence” and “Enola Holmes”, are slated to pen the screenplays for four movies from Sony Pictures and Neal Street Productions.

For the very first time, Apple Corps Ltd. and the legendary band members of The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr – have agreed to grant complete access to their personal lives and musical rights for a feature film’s script.

Mendes is planning to create and helm four movies, each offering a unique perspective from one of the band members, with their stories ultimately intertwining to narrate the epic tale of this legendary group.

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Mendes intends to produce and oversee the production of four films, each focusing on a different member’s viewpoint, which will collectively recount the story of this famous band.

In these upcoming movies, Harris Dickinson takes on the role of John Lennon, Barry Keoghan portrays Ringo Starr, Paul Mescal plays Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn is cast as George Harrison.

Sony Pictures will finance and distribute worldwide with full theatrical windows in April 2028.

The four-film event, ‘The Beatles: A Cinematic Experience’, is a production of Neal Street, in collaboration with Apple Corps, and distributed by Sony Pictures.

Mendes, together with his Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris and Neal Street’s Julie Pastor, are collaborating on the project. Additionally, Alexandra Derbyshire (known for “Wonka”) is involved as a producer.

More recently, Butterworth has been recognized for his screenwriting work on films such as “Ford v Ferrari” directed by James Mangold and the upcoming “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” Previously, he contributed to movies like “Spectre,” “Black Mass,” and “Edge of Tomorrow.” Apart from this, Butterworth is a distinguished playwright who penned “The Ferryman” which won him a Tony for best play. His latest work, “The Hills of California,” has just earned seven Tony nominations, including the category for best play. Both plays were directed by Sam Mendes.

More recently, Straughan clinched an Academy Award for his screenplay on Edward Berger’s thriller “Conclave,” featuring Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini. Earlier, he collaborated with his late wife, Bridget O’Connor, on the script for “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” This screenplay was recognized with an Academy Award nomination and received a BAFTA award for adapted screenplay. Among his other film projects are “Our Brand is Crisis” and “Frank.” For television, Straughan brought Hilary Mantel’s bestselling novel “Wolf Hall” to life, which won the BAFTA for the category of best drama series. He also penned its sequel, “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.

Thorne is a celebrated screenwriter and playwright who has won both BAFTA and Tony Awards. His latest series, “Adolescence,” which he co-created, has received much praise. Among his film credits are “The Swimmers,” “Enola Holmes” (both parts), “The Aeronauts,” and “Wonder.” On television, he’s also worked on “Toxic Town,” “His Dark Materials,” “Help,” and “Best Interests.” In the theater world, Thorne penned the award-winning “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and more recently “The Motive and the Cue,” which was directed by Sam Mendes.

1. Butterworth is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan is also represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA. Thorne, on the other hand, is represented by United Talent Agency (UTA), Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

2. Butterworth’s representation includes CAA and Jackoway Tyerman Austen’s Alan Wertheimer. Straughan is represented by both Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA as well. Thorne, in turn, has UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern on her team of agents.

3. Butterworth’s representatives are CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan is represented by both Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA. Thorne, meanwhile, has UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern as her list of representatives.

4. In terms of representation, Butterworth works with CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan is represented by both Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA. Thorne’s team includes UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

5. Butterworth is managed by CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan, too, has representation from Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA. Thorne’s roster of agents includes UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

6. Butterworth is under the wing of CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan has representation from both Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA as well. Thorne’s list of agents includes UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

7. Butterworth’s reps are CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan is represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA as well. Thorne has UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern on her team of agents.

8. Butterworth’s representatives include CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan is represented by both Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA. Thorne, in turn, works with UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

9. The reps of Butterworth are CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan’s team includes Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA as well. Thorne works with UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

10. Butterworth is represented by CAA and Alan Wertheimer at Jackoway Tyerman Austen. Straughan also has representation from both Casarotto Ramsay & Associates and CAA. Thorne’s list of agents includes UTA, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.

Initially, The InSneider broke the news about Thorne being a writer, whereas Deadline was the one who initially disclosed Butterworth and Straughan.

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2025-05-08 00:15