🎥 “That’s Not How We Were”: Ringo Starr Pushes Back on Beatles Biopic Script
In a move that underscores his dedication to legacy and truth, Ringo Starr, 84, has stepped into the production process of Sam Mendes’ ambitious Beatles biopic project with full force. During a revealing interview, the iconic drummer shared that he insisted on script changes — especially when it came to the portrayal of his personal life with first wife, Maureen Starkey Tigrett.
“He had a writer – very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I,” Starr explained. “That’s not how we were. I’d say, ‘We would never do that.’”
🎬 Starr vs. Script: Two Days of Notes with Sam Mendes
Starr, who has enjoyed a career spanning six decades, reportedly spent two days offering extensive feedback to Mendes, 59, the Oscar-winning director behind Skyfall and 1917. His key concern? That the script misrepresented his marriage to Maureen Starkey Tigrett — a relationship that began in 1965 and produced three children, including fellow drummer Zak Starkey, before ending in divorce a decade later.
Starr clarified that while the film had a strong writer, the portrayal didn’t sit right with him emotionally or factually. It was crucial for the ex-Beatle to maintain an accurate and respectful representation of the people closest to him during the band’s meteoric rise.
🌟 Beatles Biopic to Be “Binge-Worthy” Cinematic Event
Sam Mendes is breaking tradition with his vision for the project, titled The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event. Each Beatle will be given a standalone film released simultaneously, making the experience “the first binge-able theatrical event,” Mendes claimed during a major reveal at CinemaCon 2025.
Starring Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, the biopic series seeks to tell each story through a distinct lens. As Mendes said, “Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply.”
🥁 Barry Keoghan on Playing Ringo Starr: “I Want to Humanize Him”
Rising star Barry Keoghan, known for his work in The Banshees of Inisherin and Saltburn, has taken on the formidable challenge of portraying Ringo Starr. The actor has immersed himself in drum lessons and even visited Starr at his home.
“I met him at his house, and he played the drums for me,” Keoghan said during a May appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “He asked me to play, but I wasn’t playing the drums for Ringo.” He continued, “My job is to observe and kinda take in mannerisms and study him. I want to humanize him and bring feelings to it and not just sort of imitate.”
🎶 “Peace and Love”: Starr Blesses the Project Despite Reservations
Despite his critiques, Starr shared that he is ultimately at peace with how the film will portray his life and relationships. Though still uncertain about the planned April 2028 release, he remains optimistic.
“But he’ll do what he’s doing,” Starr said of Mendes. “And I’ll send him peace and love.”
Reflecting on the broader scope of the project, Starr added, “My life as a lad, John’s life, Paul’s life, George’s life — I mean, it must interact in some way. There’ll be Beatles in mine around when I joined, and there’ll be Beatles in Paul’s. We’ll all be there.”
Writers Jez Butterworth (Ford v Ferrari), Peter Straughan (Conclave), and Jack Thorne (Adolescence) have been enlisted to write the four respective films, promising a blend of authenticity, narrative flair, and emotional resonance.
