American Beauty and Jarhead director Sam Mendes is directing four individual films focused on each member of The Beatles, prompting The Beatles Cinematic Universe to trend online.
Films focused on John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Star were announced simultaneously. Each film will focus on one of the music legends' points of view and intersect to "tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history".
The films won't go beyond the band's 1970 breakup but McCartney, Starr, and the families of the late Lennon and Harrison have granted full life story and music rights.
Love the idea of a Beatles Cinematic Universe....the BCU pic.twitter.com/Agm8gqsL9m
— SoapyPitts (@Mcready1971) February 20, 2024
"I’m honoured to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies," Mendes said, though didn't elaborate on what exactly he means by this. No timeline for the films was released, so it's unclear if they'll come out years apart, at the same time, or somewhere in between.
Releasing in a world of cinematic universes, where the likes of Marvel and DC (and Star Wars, Karate Kid, Dungeons & Dragons, Godzilla, The Lord of the Rings, and more) have myriad films and TV shows linking each entry together, word of the announcement spurred internet users to share joy at this new 'Beatles Cinematic Universe'.
@ScratchyDerose joked on X/Twitter: "This leads straight into the fifth film called The Beatles. And then will be the start of the BCU (Beatles Cinematic Universe). Yoko Ono will then get a mini series on Disney+."
Others got in on the joke too, with @Mcready1971 posting a photo of the iconic Abbey Road cover with Marvel stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth photoshopped over the top of each band member, holding the likes of Captain America's shield and Thor's hammer.
Image Credit: Eyles/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
