A new wave of Beatlemania is sweeping the UK, driven by the upcoming release of four Sam Mendes biopics dedicated to each member of the Fab Four. Author Ian Leslie, who wrote 'John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs', says the current revival rivals the 1990s resurgence, with the band's cultural impact now comparable to Shakespeare's.
The frenzy follows recent events: Paul McCartney's 20th solo album, the use of 'Come Together' in England's World Cup squad announcement, and a recreation of the Sgt. Pepper's album cover in Felixstowe. Leslie attributes the latest wave to Peter Jackson's documentary 'Get Back', which offered an intimate look at the band.
The Mendes films, due in 2028, will star Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan as the Beatles. Cultural critic Simon Reynolds notes the band's transformation from pop stars to psychedelic icons within a decade, calling it 'the greatest adventure in pop music'. He adds that the Beatles embodied a changing Britain that culturally eclipsed the US.
Excitement is already high, with Pattie Boyd, George Harrison's ex-wife, expressing anger at not being contacted by Mendes. Leslie predicts the films will spark a 'second wave of Beatlemania', comparing it to the 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon.
