Ringo Starr may have accidentally revealed who will play him in Sam Mendes’s highly anticipated Beatles biopic, a project that will span four films, each focused on a different member of the legendary band.
For the first time since the Beatles became the biggest pop phenomenon in history, Starr, Paul McCartney, and the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison have granted permission to tell the full life story of the Fab Four, with their music at the center of the narrative.
During a recent interview, Starr seemed to confirm long-standing rumors that Irish actor Barry Keoghan had been cast to portray him in the upcoming film about his life.
“Well, I think it’s great, and I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons,” Starr casually mentioned, adding to the speculation.
The interviewer, clearly taken aback, responded, “Oh really?” to which Starr quipped, “I hope not too many,” suggesting that Keoghan was still in the early stages of preparing for the role.
When asked what advice he might give Keoghan, Starr began demonstrating a rhythm on his knees: “I gave that lesson to my son when he was 10. I told him I’d give him another lesson,” he recalled. He then proceeded to demonstrate another beat on his lap. “He said, ‘I can do that, Dad.’ And I said, ‘You’re on your own.’”
Starr went on to explain his approach to teaching drumming: “You’ve got to let them get their own feel [for it]. Too many lessons could spoil it for an aspiring drummer,” he added.
Keoghan, who gained attention in 2017 for his roles in Dunkirk and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, has since built an impressive career. His portrayal in The Banshees of Inisherin earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2023 Academy Awards. He also starred in Saltburn, for which he received nominations for a Golden Globe and a Bafta. Recently, Keoghan appeared in The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson, a role that may lead to a significant part in the superhero franchise.
The casting for Mendes’s Beatles biopic has sparked much speculation. Actors such as Paul Mescal (Gladiator), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), and Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness) have all been rumored for the roles of McCartney, Harrison, and Lennon, respectively.
The news of the biopic’s development came shortly before the release of the Let It Be documentary on Disney+ in 2020, which revisits the iconic band’s final recording session. The documentary showcases the making of their Grammy-winning Let It Be album and the famous rooftop performance that marked their final public appearance together.
“I was always moaning about the original film because there was no real joy in it,” Starr commented to The Daily Beast. “But now it’s got a start, a middle, and a finish. It starts slow, then we get into creating, and then we’re at it, and then we’re out. I love it. But I’m in it, of course, so six hours is never enough for me.”
Meanwhile, another Beatles project is in the works, with Martin Scorsese preparing a retrospective documentary about how the band “broke America.” Featuring new interviews with Starr and McCartney, the documentary is set to air on Disney+ on November 29.
On the music front, Starr is gearing up for the release of his first album in six years, Look Up, a country-influenced record set for release in January 2025.
Related Topics
- Frankfurt Radio Symphony Violinist Peter Zelienka Dies
- Reimagining Mendelssohn: A Fresh and Brilliant Take on His Iconic Piano Trios
- Colorado Springs Trumpet Player Shines in Elite Groups and Composes for Film and Documentaries