It’s clear: Saoirse Ronan portrays Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic.
Saoirse Ronan will portray Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biography film series. The actress joins the previously announced main cast of Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
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Not the first joint project between Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal
The production was officially authorized by the Beatles and partly also by their estate teams. This gives director Mendes and his crew exclusive access to original music and biographical material. The band’s main line-up has already been decided. Now Deadline reports that Saoirse Ronan will portray the late Linda McCartney. The four-time Oscar-nominated actress was last seen in “Foe” (2023) alongside Paul Mescal – so the two Irishmen are working together again in Mendes’ film series.
Linda McCartney: More than just a wife
Her life with Paul McCartney is considered one of the most enduring relationships in rock history. Mendes’ film will particularly highlight their artistic collaboration. The McCartneys released the album RAM together in 1971 and founded their own band Wings in the same year. The couple was nominated for an Oscar for their song “Live and Let Die” (1973), the theme song to the 1973 Bond film of the same name.
Linda McCartney also made a name for herself outside of her husband’s career: in the 1960s, she became known for her photographic portraits of the Rolling Stones, the Doors and Jimi Hendrix. She is considered the first woman whose work appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Paul Mescal sings himself – and what else?
In addition to the focus on McCartney, Lennon, Starr and Harrison, the biopics are intended to continuously tell the story of the band.
While few details about the film series are known so far, McCartney actor Paul Mescal revealed that he will sing in the films himself. He spent a lot of time with Paul McCartney personally.
Ringo Starr actor Barry Keoghan also reported on his encounter with the drummer. According to his own statements, he was quite nervous: “When I spoke to him, I couldn’t even look at him properly,” he recalled. But Starr encouraged him not to be afraid. Keoghan explained: “My job is to observe him, absorb his mannerisms and study him. I want to humanize him and make him feel rather than just imitate him.”
Beatles biopics: theatrical release
The release date is currently set for April 2028. All films should be released in cinemas at the same time and the “binge-watching” concept known from series should be transferred to longer productions.