Sam Mendes Welcomes Harry Lawtey, Farhan Akhtar, Lucy Boynton, and Morfydd Clark to His Beatles Films
In a significant development for the film industry, actors Harry Lawtey, Farhan Akhtar, Lucy Boynton, and Morfydd Clark are set to star in Sony and Neal Street’s upcoming project, The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes. The announcement of the below-the-line team was made on Thursday, with production currently under way in the UK, targeting an April 2028 theatrical release.
Harry Lawtey, known for his role on HBO’s Industry, will portray Stuart Sutcliffe, often referred to as “The Fifth Beatle.” Sutcliffe was the band’s original bass guitarist before leaving to pursue a career in painting in 1961. His notable moment with the band included singing “Love Me Tender,” a performance that reportedly did not sit well with Paul McCartney. While Sutcliffe was known for facing away from the audience during performances, this has been disputed by the band’s first drummer, Pete Best.
Farhan Akhtar, recognized for his work in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, will take on the role of Ravi Shankar. Shankar was a renowned Indian sitarist whose influence on George Harrison and the incorporation of Indian instruments into some Beatles songs is well documented.
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Lucy Boynton will portray Jane Asher, McCartney’s former fiancée and the inspiration behind several Beatles classics, including “And I Love Her” and “We Can Work It Out.” Asher was also part of the Beatles’ trip to Rishikesh in 1968, where they attended Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s transcendental meditation sessions.
Morfydd Clark will play Cynthia Lennon, John Lennon’s first wife and the mother of Julian Lennon. Their relationship began at a college party but faced challenges, notably due to John’s drug use and his affair with Yoko Ono, which Cynthia discovered through letters.
As previously noted, Mendes is creating a series of four feature films, each told from the perspective of one of the band members—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. This marks the first instance in which Apple Corps Ltd and the Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for a feature film. Mendes will direct all four films and is producing alongside Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor from Neal Street Productions, with Alexandra Derbyshire also involved in production.
Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser (Dune and Dune: Part Two) will lead the visual team, while Oscar-winning editor Lee Smith (Dunkirk, 1917) will handle editing. Production design will be managed by Stefania Cella (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, The Pale Blue Eye), Mark Tildesley (Jay Kelly, Banshees of Inisherin), and Neal Callow (Bob Marley: One Love, Spectre).
The production team further includes BAFTA TV-nominated costume designer Sinéad Kidao (Joy, The Pursuit of Love) and Oscar-nominated hair and makeup designer Naomi Donne (The Batman, 1917). Additional key personnel are Grammy- and Emmy-winning executive music producer Giles Martin (The Beatles: Get Back, Back to Black), Oscar-winning sound mixer Stuart Wilson (Project Hail Mary, 1917), BAFTA and Emmy-winning casting director Nina Gold (Hamnet, Wonka), and executive producer/first assistant director Toby Hefferman (F1, The Batman).
In addition to his role in Industry, Harry Lawtey has appeared in The Pale Blue Eye, Joker: Folie à Deux, and starred in Mr Burton, which received a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film. He will next be seen alongside Russell Crowe in the thriller Billion Dollar Spy.
Farhan Akhtar, an accomplished producer, director, writer, actor, and singer in Indian cinema, debuted with Dil Chahta Hai (2001), earning a National Award. His acting repertoire includes titles such as Rock On!!, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, The Sky Is Pink, Marvel’s Ms. Marvel, and the forthcoming 120 Bahadur (2025).
Lucy Boynton gained recognition for her role as Mary Austin in the Oscar-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody. Her filmography also features The Greatest Hits, Chevalier, The Pale Blue Eye, and the miniseries A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story. She is set to appear in Jay Duplass’ upcoming project, See You When I See You.
Morfydd Clark’s breakout performance in Saint Maud earned her a BAFTA Cymru award, and she has since garnered additional nominations for BIFA and BAFTA Rising Star. She will soon be seen in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and is set to portray Ophelia in an upcoming production of Hamlet alongside Riz Ahmed.
