New Casting Announced for Beatles Biopic
Morfydd Clark, known for her role in Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power, has been cast as Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John Lennon, in Sir Sam Mendes' upcoming four-part Beatles biopic. Clark, who grew up in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, joins a star-studded ensemble portraying the iconic band members and their close circles.
Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon in the series, which explores the lives and careers of the Liverpool band from each member's perspective. Alongside Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Joseph Quinn will play the other Beatles.
Additional Cast Members
Newly announced cast members include Harry Lawtey, recognized for his portrayal of Welsh actor Richard Burton, and Lucy Boynton, known for her role in Bohemian Rhapsody. Lawtey will play Stuart Sutcliffe, the Beatles’ original bassist who left the band in 1961, while Farhan Akhtar is set to portray the renowned Indian composer Ravi Shankar.
Boynton will take on the role of Jane Asher, Paul McCartney's fiancée, who famously ended their engagement during a televised interview. James Norton and Harry Lloyd, previously announced, will portray The Beatles' manager and producer respectively.
Background on John and Cynthia Lennon
John Lennon and Cynthia met at art college in Liverpool and were married from 1962 until 1968. Their son, singer-songwriter Julian Lennon, was born in 1963. The couple separated after Cynthia discovered John’s relationship with Yoko Ono. Cynthia Lennon passed away from cancer in 2015.
Cast of The Beatles
The four films will be told from the individual perspectives of each band member. Paul Mescal, known for Normal People, will play Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan will portray Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn completes the lineup as George Harrison.
Director’s Vision
The project was officially announced by Sony two years ago. Sir Sam Mendes revealed the four lead actors at CinemaCon in April 2025. Speaking at the event, Mendes said:
"Each one is told from the particular perspective of just one of the guys. They intersect in different ways, sometimes overlapping, sometimes not. They're four very different human beings. Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply. But together, all four films will tell the story of the greatest band in history."
Supporting Roles and Release Date
Actresses Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood, and Mia McKenna-Bruce have been cast as the wives and partners of the four Beatles. The four films are scheduled for simultaneous release in April 2028.
