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The Beatles fans react to Fab Four being cast in new Sam Mendes film

Fans of The Beatles have been voicing their opinions about the new cast of the upcoming biopics being shared.

After months of speculation about Sam Mendes’ forthcoming film about the Fab Four, a series of announcements were made by the director at the end of Sony’s CinemaCon last night (March 31).

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These included a first look at the actors who would be playing the iconic band members – with Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn being cast. Dickinson will play John Lennon, Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Keoghan will play Ringo Starr and Quinn will play George Harrison.

It’s also been confirmed that each Beatle will get their own film. All are set to arrive in cinemas throughout April 2028 and the franchise, which is predicted to be the “first bingeable moment in cinema” has been dubbed: The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event.

The Beatles in 1962. Credit: Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty Images

Now, following the first look at the cast being shared, fans across social media have shared their views on the upcoming films – and it seems like it has them divided.

For the most part, many fans are pleased with the new announcements, praising the cast for their acting ability and sharing their confidence that the help of the hair and makeup will help them resemble the original four.

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“This might be one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen,” one user on X/Twitter responded to the news, while another added: “The Beatles, reimagined with this cast? I’m already in line for tickets”.

A third praised the decision as centring on people who are “fantastic actors”, while some shared that they had been won over purely by the confirmation that Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn: “I’m really boutta watch a Beatles biopic for Joseph Quinn, lord have mercy,” one joked.

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Others, however, were less convinced about the line-up for the films and took to social media to criticise the cast as looking too different from the real Fab Four.

“In what world do you think that group looks like the Beatles, great talent, bad casting,” one wrote. Another added: “Four famous men who look nothing like the Beatles star in the Beatles films!! Okay..” while a third chimed in: “The way none of them look like the ppl they r playing…. these r just four mid white guys trying to play four mid white guys.”

While some took an issue with the cast not resembling the original band members generally, some had more specific issues with the bill. This included a complaint at Sony for opting to “cast whatever popular actor is trending at the time and hope for the best”, and a handful of comments about Harris Dickinson potentially being “too tall” to play John Lennon.

“Harry Dickinson is too tall. Casting error,” one stated, while someone else questioned why the actor chosen is less of a household name than his three castmates: “It’s funny that they chose the least known actor to be John Lennon…” they wrote.

Find more fan responses below.

According to Variety, Mendes’ decision to land on four films comes after years of toying with the idea of a mini-series but ultimately deciding against it.

Specific details remain vague, although each of the four films is predicted to be told from the perspective of one of the four Beatles. It is also the first-ever film to be granted music rights to the Beatles’ discography.

The confirmation of the cast comes after recent reports claimed that Quinn would be playing the late George Harrison. Prior to that, Gladiator 2 director Ridley Scott claimed that Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney in the film, and that Ringo Starr himself seemed to confirm that Barry Keoghan was cast as the drummer.

Last summer, it was reported that Mendes had cast the two actors, along with Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Charlie Rowe for the role of Harrison. Rowe is now seemingly not involved in the film, though he could appear as someone else.