Apple are continuing to keep fans on their toes following the unexpected release of Now & Then and the re-issue of the Red & Blue LP’s last year. The recent announcement that there are to be four bio-pic movies to be helmed by Oscar winning Director Sam Mendes with initial releases slated for 2027 has caused something of a stir.

The four movies will tell the Beatles story from the individual perspective of John, Paul, George and Ringo. The bio-pics have been sanction by Paul and Ringo as well as the Lennon and Harrison estates. Mendes’ production company Neal Street Productions will deliver the movies for distribution by Sony Pictures with full music rights granted too in an unprecedented telling of music’s greatest story. Mendes stated that he felt “honoured to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time” with Apple confirming that the project would “explore each Beatle’s unique story and to bring them together in a suitably captivating and innovative way”.

Little else has been revealed about the movies at this stage including whether they would be released simultaneously or staggered during the course of 2027. The prospect of four bio-pics is a novel approach, and many will be sceptical about the prospect of such a method of telling their story. Casting will be critical and the success ratio of similar projects is a random affair for every “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “Rocket Man” that might achieve success there are countless examples of flops such as the 2020 David Bowie bio-pic “Stardust”. Even within the Beatles world there have been hits and misses too Backbeat and Nowhere Boy may have been reserved successes but the Linda McCartney Story epitomised perhaps one of the worst examples in the genre.

watch this space.Apple obviously consider this project to be an important element in continuing to enhance the Beatles legacy. There is, however, a risk in choosing this format but in the hands of Sam Mendes they have chosen a major player to guide this project through to fruition. We await further news with interest … watch this space.

By Gwyn Jenkins.