If you’re still unfamiliar with Harris Dickinson and his growing body of work, chances are you won’t be when he finally fulfills what is arguably his most challenging role to date.
The British actor will play John Lennon in an ambitious four-part anthology of films that will chart the lives of each individual member of The Beatles, from their working class origins to Beatlemania and the band’s cultural impact on the 1960s and beyond.
With Paul Mescal taking on Sir Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn playing the late George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, the project’s casting has raised plenty of eyebrows – but Dickinson’s own background parallels that of the acerbic, quick-witted Lennon.
Much like Lennon, who was tragically shot dead outside his New York apartment in 1980, the rising star, 29, grew up in a working class environment, albeit significantly south of Liverpool, in east London.
Unashamedly proud of his upbringing, Dickinson – whose own father was born in the north of England, close to Liverpool – admits it was once used to humiliate him by an unnamed actor while they worked together on an earlier film.
In an interview with the The Times, Dickinson says the former co-star – “a w**ker, middle to upper class” – used a series of social class cliches to describe him while playing a game where he pretended to be someone on set and co-workers had to guess who it was by asking a series of questions.
(L-R) Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn will play respective Beatles John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison in four new films
When asked, ‘what food are you?’ the response was fish ’n’ chips – a classic British staple – while ‘what TV show are you?’ was long-running ITV dating show Love Island.
While Dickinson refused to directly name the actor in question, he hinted at the culprit while sifting through comments from Times readers, with many convinced it was Ralph Fiennes, his co-star in 2021 spy drama The King’s Man.
‘No, it’s not Ralph. Ralph’s a sweetheart,’ he told the publication.
However he was less convincing when others suggested it might be Robert Lindsay, with whom he starred in 2019 fantasy Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
‘F***! I’ve been caught!’ he said, but refused to elaborate further on the incident.
Filmmaker Sam Mendes – who will direct at least one of the new biopics – appeared at the CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas to introduce them to the stage and confirmed all four films will come out in the same month.
Dickinson worked with Robert Lindsay on 2019 fantasy Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (L-R: Dickinson, Elle Fanning, Lindsay and Michelle Pfeiffer in a scene from the film)
The British actor played Prince Phillip in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (pictured)
According to the director, Sony boss Tom Rothman dubbed the films ‘the first bingeable theatrical experience’ – with all films set to be released in April 2028.
‘We’re not just making one film about the Beatles — we’re making four,’ Mendes announced. ‘Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply.’
‘The Beatles changed my understanding of music,’ Mendes added. ‘I’ve been trying to make a movie about them for years.’
Dickinson already has a string of blockbusters to his name, including the erotic thriller Babygirl, in which he starred alongside Nicole Kidman, and recent wrestling drama The Iron Claw, starring Jeremy Allen White.
The new Beatles projects are yet to be given an official release date.
The Beatles’ story is set to be told in four biopics, which will all be released in April 2028, in what’s been dubbed ‘the first binge-able theatrical experience’
Dickinson appeared on stage with his co-stars at the CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas earlier this year after confirming his involvement in the new Beatles project
Dickinson has a string of blockbusters to his name, including the erotic thriller Babygirl (pictured) with Nicole Kidman
