Sean Ono Lennon spoke to Variety at this year’s Oscars about director Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles films. He has a very specific person in mind for the role of his father John Lennon.
Mendes plans to make four films, each told from the perspective of a different member. “This is the minimum needed to tell the epic story of the Beatles. You need four films,” Lennon said.
Regarding his father’s casting, the musician joked: “I hope Emma Stone considers the role because she did such a good job in ‘Poor Things.’ I think when you achieve that as an actor, the next step is to really try and be John Lennon.”
However, Lennon subsequently commented on the difficulties of making a film about such a well-known figure as his father. “I think with someone as famous as my father, it’s very difficult to make a film like this. There have been some very successful biopics about musicians. ‘La Vie en Rose’ was incredible. ‘Ray’ was incredible. You can do it and I think we’ll do a good job, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
When asked about his involvement in the film, the musician jokingly said, “I am the cameraman. I am the grip. And I’ll also do the catering, which you wouldn’t expect, but I’ll cook until I drop.” He also joked that he would of course play his mother, Yoko Ono.
The Lennon-produced short film “War Is Over!” “Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” won the Oscar in the “Best Animated Short Film” category. Speaking about the film, he said: “It’s really surreal because we made the film just to honor and appreciate my parents and the song they wrote. We never thought he would be nominated and that we would be here.”