Daily News 19

Tag: Paul Mescal

  • Beatles Biopic Cast Recreates Iconic ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ Opening Scene

    Beatles Biopic Cast Recreates Iconic ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ Opening Scene

    Key Highlights

    • Production is underway on the highly anticipated series of Beatles biopics directed by Sam Mendes, with filming capturing the iconic opening chase sequence from “A Hard Day’s Night.”
    • Actors Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan were photographed on set reenacting the famous footage of The Beatles fleeing screaming fans.
    • The multi-film project aims to tell the band’s story from each member’s perspective, marking the first fully authorized scripted dramatization with rights to the group’s music catalog.

    Beatles Biopic Series Begins Filming Iconic A Hard Day’s Night Chase Scene

    Principal photography has commenced on Sam Mendes’ ambitious four-film Beatles biopic series, with early set photos confirming the production is recreating one of the most recognizable moments in music cinema history. Paparazzi and onlookers captured actors Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan sprinting through London streets while pursued by a mob of extras, a direct restaging of the opening titles from the band’s 1964 feature film debut, A Hard Day’s Night.

    Casting Choices Reflect Distinct Eras and Personalities

    The trio spotted on location represents three of the four principal cast members announced for the interconnected films. Dickinson has been cast as Paul McCartney, Quinn as George Harrison, and Keoghan as Ringo Starr. The role of John Lennon has been awarded to Paul Mescal, though he was not visible in the current batch of set images. Each film in the quartet is designed to center on a single member’s perspective, weaving together a comprehensive portrait of the group’s trajectory from Liverpool clubs to global phenomenon.

    Mendes Secures Unprecedented Rights Package

    The project stands apart from previous Beatles dramatizations through its unprecedented access. Sony Pictures and Neal Street Productions negotiated directly with Apple Corps Ltd., the band’s holding company, securing full rights to the Lennon-McCartney song catalog as well as the cooperation of surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, alongside the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison. This authorization allows the films to deploy the actual recordings that defined a generation, rather than relying on cover versions or sound-alikes that have hampered prior efforts.

    Why This Matters

    The Beatles remain the best-selling music act in history, yet their story has never received a definitive, authorized scripted treatment on this scale. Mendes’ decision to structure the narrative as four interlinking features—each voiced by a different bandmate—mirrors the group’s collaborative yet individualistic dynamic. Filming the A Hard Day’s Night chase as an early set piece signals fidelity to the visual language the band themselves crafted, while the casting of rising stars Dickinson, Quinn, Keoghan, and Mescal suggests an emphasis on capturing the members’ youth and raw energy during the 1960-1970 window. With a theatrical release strategy planned for 2027, the series represents a major bet by Sony on event cinema driven by legacy intellectual property.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is directing the Beatles biopic series?

    Sam Mendes, the Academy Award-winning director of American Beauty, 1917, and Skyfall, is directing all four films in the series.

    When will the Beatles biopics be released?

    The studio is targeting a 2027 theatrical rollout for the interconnected quartet of films, though specific dates for each installment have not been announced.

    Will the movies feature the actual Beatles recordings?

    Yes. The production secured full rights to the band’s music catalog through Apple Corps Ltd., allowing the use of original master recordings rather than re-recordings.

  • Paul Mescal ‘dropped from Ridley Scott’s new movie’ after director blamed him for Gladiator II flop

    Paul Mescal ‘dropped from Ridley Scott’s new movie’ after director blamed him for Gladiator II flop

    Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars arrived in cinemas on Friday, 28 August, starring Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley. However, the film was originally expected to feature Paul Mescal in the lead role.

    Mescal’s departure has now been linked to claims that Scott blamed the Irish actor for the alleged underperformance of Gladiator II. Mescal’s representatives deny the reports, while Scott’s team has said they are ‘not true’.

    According to Puck’s Matt Belloni, Scott was unhappy with Mescal’s performance in the much-anticipated 2024 sequel. The director’s representatives have rejected that account.

    Gladiator II, the follow-up to Scott’s acclaimed 2000 epic, was viewed by some as a disappointment compared with the original. The film nevertheless earned $462 million worldwide, despite reports that its budget may have reached between $250 million and more than $300 million. Some critics also praised Mescal’s performance as Lucius.

    Scott’s team have rejected the claims. (Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images)

    Why Paul Mescal reportedly left The Dog Stars

    Belloni, via World of Reel, reported that Scott believed Mescal wasn’t ‘masculine enough’ for the lead role in Gladiator II. Mescal then reportedly ‘dropped’ out of The Dog Stars, with Elordi taking over the part.

    At the time, Mescal’s exit from the project was attributed to ‘scheduling conflicts’ with Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles film, in which the actor is playing Paul McCartney.

    Responding to the claims, Scott’s representatives told LADbible they were ‘not true’.

    “Ridley loves Paul and was excited to work with him on Dog Stars after having enjoying such a great collaboration on Gladiator 2.”

    Sadly, Paul’s rehearsal schedule for another film prevented him from ultimately doing Ridley’s film. While he was disappointed to lose Paul, he was thrilled to get the chance to work with Jacob, who was excellent in the role.”

    Belloni reported that The Dog Stars had an $89 million budget but opened to just $7.7 million during its first weekend. The LADbible Group has contacted Mescal’s representatives for comment.

    Jacob Elordi replaced Paul Mescal in The Dog Stars
    Elordi replaced Mescal in the film. (Matt Crossick/Variety via Getty Images)

    The Dog Stars receives mixed reviews

    The film has reportedly become one of Scott’s biggest box-office disappointments, performing poorly with both critics and audiences.

    On Rotten Tomatoes, The Dog Stars currently has a 39 percent Tomatometer score and a 71 percent Popcornmeter audience rating.

    One viewer described the film as ‘mediocre’, while another said they wanted to save others ‘from wasting two hours of their God given time on this film’.

    “Took a great book and made it a pretty stupid zombie apocalypse shoot ‘em up. Really disappointed,”

    A fourth viewer wrote:

    “Slow, not much of a plot. Simple ending. Kept waiting for the movie to take off never really did.”

    Other viewers said they were ‘blown away’ and ‘love everything about it’.

    “I don’t understand the story but I still enjoyed the ride.