English actor James Norton will play Brian Epstein, the influential manager of the Beatles, in the upcoming four-part musical biopic by director Sam Mendes.
He’ll star in “The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event,” as the unconventional project has been dubbed, alongside Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harrison Dickinson as John Lennon and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
Epstein, a legend among Beatles fans and often considered the band’s fifth member, met the Fab Four in 1961 and helped propel them into a global phenomenon. He was with the group until he died in 1967 from a drug overdose at age 32. (Epstein’s own epic story was immortalized in the 2024 biopic “Midas Man.”)
Sony, the studio behind the films, declined to comment on Norton’s casting, which was first reported by Deadline.
Mendes is making four separate movies, one from each Beatles member’s point of view. All four installments will debut on the big screen in April 2028. The films are expected to intersect to capture the band’s improbable journey from Liverpool to the center of global culture, leading to their 1970 breakup. Given Epstein’s influence, it’s likely that he’ll appear in each of the films.
It’s unclear how other key figures in the Beatles universe will factor into the cinematic quartet. As previously announced, Saoirse Ronan is playing Linda McCartney, “Shogun” star Anna Sawai will portray Yoko Ono, “The White Lotus” breakout Aimee Lou Wood is circling the role of Harrison’s spouse Pattie Boyd and Mia McKenna-Bruce will appear as Starr’s first wife Maureen Starkey.
Norton, 40, recently appeared in another musical biopic, last year’s “Bob Marley: One Love,” as record producer Chris Blackwell. His other credits include Netflix’s limited series “House of Guinness,” “Grantchester,” “Happy Valley” and HBO’s third season of “House of the Dragon.”
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From Variety US