The streets of London caught a glimpse of music history in the making this week as Barry Keoghan stepped out with a physical transformation that confirms the "Beatlemania" revival is well underway. Attending the premiere of Crime 101 on January 28, the Oscar-nominated actor turned heads not just for his MAINS leather racing jacket, but for a distinct, shaggy brunette haircut that immediately evoked the early 1960s aesthetic of the world’s most famous rock band. This "mop-top" debut marks the beginning of Keoghan’s journey into the life of Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer of The Beatles, for an upcoming cinematic event that promises to be as revolutionary as the band itself.
Directed by the visionary Sam Mendes, this project is not a singular film but a massive, four-part biographical epic. In a move unprecedented in Hollywood, Mendes and Sony Pictures have committed to producing four separate feature films, each told from the perspective of a different member of the band. The interconnected narratives will explore the meteoric rise and internal complexities of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, with the films expected to intersect and overlap to provide a 360-degree view of the group’s unparalleled legacy.
Joining Keoghan in this high-stakes ensemble is a quartet of Hollywood’s most sought-after young leading men. Paul Mescal, fresh off the massive success of Gladiator II, will take on the role of the melodic architect Paul McCartney. Harris Dickinson, known for his versatile performances in Triangle of Sadness and The Iron Claw, is set to portray the rebellious and intellectual John Lennon. Rounding out the group is Joseph Quinn, who became a household name through Stranger Things, stepping into the shoes of the "quiet Beatle," George Harrison. Together, these four actors represent the vanguard of modern cinema, tasked with humanizing figures who have long been treated as modern deities.
For Keoghan, the preparation for the role has already involved a deeply personal encounter with his real-life counterpart. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last May, the Saltburn star opened up about the surreal experience of visiting Ringo Starr at his home. The actor admitted to being completely overwhelmed by the presence of the percussion legend. Keoghan recalled feeling "frozen" with awe, noting that he was so nervous he initially found it difficult to even look the musician in the eye.
"He played the drums for me," Keoghan shared, describing the intimate session in Starr’s garden. The actor used the opportunity to observe the subtle nuances that define the drummer’s persona—the specific way he moves, his unique mannerisms, and the gentle, "lovely" temperament that made him the heartbeat of the band. Starr, for his part, handled the actor’s nerves with his trademark wit, telling him, "You can look at me," and encouraging him to relax.
The real-world Ringo Starr has already begun weighing in on the production with his characteristic humor. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Starr joked about the reports that Keoghan had begun intensive drum lessons to prepare for the role. "I heard the guy who’s playing me was taking drum lessons," Starr quipped, before adding that he had sent word to the actor "not to take too many." This playful endorsement suggests a level of support from the surviving members of the band that is crucial for a project of this magnitude.
The structure of the films is perhaps the most discussed aspect of Mendes’ vision. Rather than a standard chronological biopic, the four films will offer four different versions of the same history. As Starr explained to People magazine, the lives of the four "lads" are so inextricably linked that their individual stories must naturally collide. There will be "Beatles in mine," Starr noted, referencing the period when he joined the group, just as there will be appearances by the rest of the band in the films focused on Paul, John, and George. The goal is to create a tapestry of storytelling where the audience can see how four distinct personalities merged to change the world.
This ambitious undertaking comes at a time when the "celebrity transformation" has become a hallmark of prestige cinema and television. Actors are increasingly going to extreme lengths to inhabit the lives of public figures, often undergoing grueling physical changes and technical training to achieve authenticity. Keoghan’s haircut is just the tip of the iceberg in a trend that has seen some of the most memorable performances of the last decade.
Consider the recent work of Timothée Chalamet, who has undergone a similar metamorphosis to play Bob Dylan in the film A Complete Unknown. Like Keoghan, Chalamet’s transformation involved not just a change in appearance, but a deep dive into the musicality of a folk icon. We have also seen this level of commitment in projects like Pam & Tommy, where Lily James and Sebastian Stan were virtually unrecognizable as Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. Their transformations, involving hours of prosthetic work and tattoo applications, set a new bar for how modern actors approach the "biopic" genre.
The art of the transformation often leads to critical acclaim and award-season success. Jennifer Hudson’s portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Respect and Andra Day’s Golden Globe-winning turn as Billie Holiday in The United States Vs. Billie Holiday demonstrated how a powerful vocal and physical performance can breathe new life into a legend’s story. Similarly, Taron Egerton’s role as Elton John in Rocketman and Eddie Redmayne’s Oscar-winning performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything showed that audiences have a deep appetite for seeing the human struggle behind the famous face.
The Beatles project also follows in the footsteps of successful historical dramas that explore the intersection of personal life and public service. Films like On the Basis of Sex, starring Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, or Bombshell, featuring Charlize Theron’s uncanny transformation into Megyn Kelly, have used the biopic format to examine pivotal moments in social and political history. Even the romantic beginnings of world leaders have been dramatized, as seen in Southside With You, which featured Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter as a young Barack and Michelle Obama.
As Sam Mendes begins the arduous task of filming four interconnected movies, the pressure is on to capture the "magic" that the Beatles possessed. The casting of Keoghan, Mescal, Dickinson, and Quinn suggests a focus on raw talent and emotional depth rather than mere imitation. Keoghan’s commitment to "humanizing" Ringo Starr is a sentiment shared across the production; the aim is to strip away the myth and find the men underneath the fame.
The Beatles’ story is one of brotherhood, creative friction, and a global cultural shift. By dedicating a full film to each member, Mendes is acknowledging that the band was not a monolith, but a collection of four unique voices. Whether it is George Harrison’s spiritual journey, John Lennon’s acerbic wit and activism, Paul McCartney’s melodic genius, or Ringo Starr’s steady, grounding presence, each narrative thread is essential to understanding the whole.
As production continues, fans can expect more glimpses of the actors inhabiting their roles. While Keoghan has started with the hair, the real challenge lies in the music and the chemistry between the four leads. The Beatles were famous for their shorthand and their deep, often complicated bond—a bond that the four actors will have to replicate on screen to make the project a success.
With the blessing of Ringo Starr and the estate of the other members, the Sam Mendes Beatles project is shaping up to be the definitive cinematic statement on the group’s history. For Barry Keoghan, the journey from the dark, intense world of Saltburn to the vibrant, high-energy world of 1960s rock and roll represents a significant milestone in an already stellar career. As he grows out his locks and picks up the drumsticks, he isn’t just playing a part; he is stepping into a piece of history that continues to resonate with every generation. The mop-top is back, and with it, a new era of Beatles history is ready to be told.
