Recent years have made way for some of the biggest musical influences to be highlighted on screen. Movies like “Rocketman,” “Respect,” and “Elvis” reveal the lives of some of the world’s most beloved late artists. Meanwhile, films like “Blonde” and “Malcolm X” share the lives of our culture’s greatest figures. There is a fascination that comes with a biopic, as the world is given an intimate view of its idols through a looking glass. It is no wonder Hollywood has capitalized on biopics in recent years. However, a project like the one acclaimed director Sam Mendes has recently announced has yet to be attempted, and it will be a great accomplishment if it plays out as hoped.
At the end of February, Sony Pictures announced that it would be taking on a project with Mendes. However, the surprise came with the news that four separate films would be made, each film about a different Beatles member. All films are set to start production in 2025 and release in 2027, which leaves a mere two years for the entire filmmaking process. Writers are not confirmed for the films yet, but with Sony’s investment in the project, industry critics are optimistic for what is to come.
Never before has The Beatles’ music been granted to a proposed movie project, but Sony has already received licensing to use their original music in the four films. Again, this brings hope to industry followers and Beatles fans alike.
Exploring the lives of people so emblematic and beloved means taking on a great responsibility. Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film “Elvis” took on a theatrical, maximalist style with a soundtrack that featured a plethora of Elvis’ music; Luhrmann took to representing Elvis by recreating the craze and allure on the screen that Elvis brought to the 60’s and 70’s. Meanwhile, films like Pablo Larrain’s “Spencer” take creative freedoms where Princess Diana’s entrapment in the royal family is expressed through fictional events. Larrain’s experimentation on screen challenges the idea of creating a “true story,” instead utilizing the film as an outlet to make his audience feel the same horror and anxiety that Diana likely did.
Biopics have been a widely explored genre in the film industry, and many approaches have been seen. With Mendes’ films soon to be underway, a question is raised about how he will tackle the responsibility of representing one of the world’s most idolized musical groups. However, it will not be long until we find our answer, considering the film’s production timeline. No matter what his approach is, Beatles fans can only hope that being able to see the band members on screen will bring their songs back to life and remind us of all the band’s timeless contributions to the world of music.
Ava Stockstad is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
