TMS Discussion: How Do I Feel About the Casting of the Beatles Biopics?
(via tomandlorenzo.com)
Since the announcement this past year of Sam Mendes’ epic four-part film biopics on each respected Beatle, I’ve already been asked by a few people how I feel about the future projects, as the Beatles have been my top favorite band since 12th grade. And my main response is basically:
I generally accept that no biographical feature on a real artist is going to be 100% accurate, and I’ve already enjoyed plenty of biopics that generously take poetic license. I knew when I saw James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown (2024) that the love triangle between Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Suze Rotolo didn’t exist in real life, since Bob & Suze were broken up by the time he and Joan became official. I knew Dexter Fletcher’s ‘jukebox musical’ Rocketman (2019) left out huge chunks of Elton John’s history with his backing band and how important they were to the process of his classic songs. Michael Apted’s Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) lets Loretta Lynn’s husband, Oliver Lynn, off the hook for some pretty damning behavior. As great as it is Johnny Cash & June Carter’s marriage lasted until death and the two seemingly never lost love, it was not the complete fairytale Mangold’s Walk the Line (2005) portrays it at the end. And yet, I still think all these movies are good and well made. But another aspect is I’m also just a casual fan of all these musicians. I know much more about the Beatles’ personal history than the average person. No matter who is writing, directing or acting in the film(s), I already know I’m going to be distracted by inaccuracies during scenes.
The only things we know so far about the new movies are that each one will be told from the perspective of a Beatle—whether as the whole decade of the band’s existence or the fallout of the break-up has not been made clear yet—and the casting. Regarding the actors, we’re already off to a rocky start with most of the reactions largely being jokes and memes about how the most masculine of the four leads, Paul Mescal, was hired as the ‘pretty boy’ Beatle, Paul McCartney. Harris Dickinson, though talented, is not at all who I would have imagined as John Lennon, and don’t get me started on Joseph Quinn as my fave, George Harrison.
(via variety.com)
But what really soured me of this whole production is who they chose for the Beatles’ significant others. Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney? Not who I would have picked as Macca’s true love, but she’s a great actress and always delivers. Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Starkey, Ringo’s first wife. Er, well, I’ve never seen her with black hair or dark make-up, so maybe she’ll surprise me…Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono? Anna is obviously a star on the rise, but her features are kind of the complete opposite of the infamous second Mrs. Lennon. And Aimee Lou Wood as the ultimate classic rock muse herself, Pattie Boyd? Nahhh.
Honestly, I know this sounds ridiculous, but I’m one of those fans who think the wives are just as interesting as the bandmates themselves, especially the first set of ladies. Are Cynthia Lennon and Jane Asher even going to be portrayed in this? Or May Pang? Yoko and Linda were only around for a couple of years before the band broke up, so maybe this means each film will be set in a different period? Casting an actress who looks like a supermodel as Yoko Ono feels like a bit from NBC’s “30 Rock” (2006-2013). You need someone with features similar to say, Hong Chau, to fully capture Yoko’s earthy, hippy-dippy, avant garde vibe. Was Aimee Lou Wood, a curvy brunette with brown eyes, really cast as a thin blonde with blue eyes just because she and Pattie have the same type of teeth? This honestly bugs me the most. I really don’t see any resemblance between the two. The whole thing feels like the casting director just asked a group of fans from social media who they want to star in the biopic and called it a day. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m overreacting based on barely any info reported so far. But my expectations at the moment are incredibly nil.
