Barry Keoghan says Beatles biopics have ‘indie soul’ and will be incredible

The Irish actor stars as drummer Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’s The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event
Barry Keoghan says Beatles biopics have ‘indie soul’ and will be incredible

Barry Keoghan (Doug Peters/PA)

Saltburn star Barry Keoghan has said the Beatles biopic films will be “incredible” and praised the set for harnessing an “indie soul” despite being such a big production.

The 33-year-old Irish actor stars as drummer Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’s The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event alongside Normal People’s Paul Mescal’s Paul McCartney, Babygirl actor Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn who portrays George Harrison.

The four films will follow the lives of the Fab Four and are due to be released in April 2028.

Barry Keoghan plays Sir Ringo Starr in the movies (Ian West/PA)

Speaking to Deadline, Keoghan said: “It’s going incredible.

“It’s such a big family out there, and it’s such a big movie, but it has that indie soul to it, where I’m feeling super safe to reach and bring forward the most vulnerable truths and the most… Just really dig deep with the performance as Ringo.”

The cast also includes White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood, Lady Bird actress Saoirse Ronan, The Lady star Mia McKenna-Bruce and Shogun actress Anna Sawai who will portray the pivotal women in the story of The Beatles – Pattie Boyd, Linda McCartney, Maureen Starkey and Yoko Ono respectively.

Keoghan praised filmmaker Mendes adding that he is learning from the director as well as the “absolutely brilliant” cinematographer, Greig Fraser.

He said: “Sam is such a legend and family now, and everyone’s family out there.

“It’s such a tight, lovely group, and I’m learning lots by watching Sam and by watching Greig on the camera and getting back into my photography as well.

Sir Sam Mendes is directing all four films in the franchise (Ian West/PA)

“And I’ve got the best DOP (director of photography) in the world beside me to learn from.”

Formed in 1960, The Beatles are the best-selling musical act of all time and one of the most influential groups in the world.

Keoghan is best known for his roles in hit films such as Saltburn (2023) and The Banshees Of Inisherin (2022), and recently starred in the latest instalment in the Peaky Blinders franchise – The Immortal Man (2026).

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