Barry Keoghan's latest red carpet appearance in London's Leicester Square on Wednesday evening sent Beatles enthusiasts into a frenzy, offering a tantalising preview of his upcoming portrayal of Ringo Starr in Sir Sam Mendes' ambitious four-film anthology project.
A Striking Transformation on the Red Carpet
The 33-year-old Irish actor, currently promoting his new thriller Crime 101, debuted the distinctive 'moptop' hairstyle made famous by all four Beatles during their mid-1960s heyday. Walking the red carpet outside the Odeon Luxe cinema, Keoghan bore an undeniable resemblance to the legendary drummer, despite sporting a leather biker outfit that contrasted sharply with the Fab Four's iconic style.
Keoghan was joined by his Crime 101 co-stars including Mark Ruffalo, Monica Barbaro, Halle Berry and Chris Hemsworth for the premiere event, though all eyes were understandably drawn to his striking Beatles-inspired transformation.
The Groundbreaking Beatles Film Project
The forthcoming biographical films represent a landmark cinematic undertaking, with Sony Pictures announcing four separate films about each band member scheduled for simultaneous release as a 'cinematic event' in 2028. This unprecedented project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd and The Beatles – including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film production.
Speaking at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas last April, director Sir Sam Mendes described the ambitious project as the "first binge-able theatrical experience," suggesting audiences will be able to watch all four interconnected films in a single cinema session.
The Complete Casting Lineup
The star-studded cast includes British actor Harris Dickinson taking on the role of John Lennon, while Paul Mescal will portray Sir Paul McCartney and Joseph Quinn has been cast as George Harrison. The ensemble attended CinemaCon together last year, generating significant buzz within the film industry.
Interestingly, Sir Ridley Scott inadvertently revealed Mescal's involvement in the Beatles project while promoting his Roman epic Gladiator II, telling an industry event that the actor was "actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next" and might therefore be unavailable for his next film.
Keoghan's Nerve-Wracking Encounter with Starr
In a recent television appearance, Keoghan confessed to being so starstruck during his first meeting with Ringo Starr that he struggled to maintain eye contact with the music legend. The actor described their encounter as 'lovely' but admitted to Jimmy Kimmel Live that he was overwhelmed by nerves throughout their interaction.
"I met him at his house, and he played the drums for me," Keoghan recalled. "He asked me to play, but I wasn't playing the drums for Ringo. When I was talking to him, I couldn't look at him. I was nervous, like right now. But he's like, 'You can look at me.'"
Starr himself appeared to confirm Keoghan's casting earlier this year, telling Entertainment Tonight: "I believe he's somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many."
The Beatles' Enduring Legacy
Formed in Liverpool in 1960, The Beatles remain the best-selling musical act of all time and one of the most influential groups in history. Their remarkable catalogue includes 18 UK number one singles and 16 UK number one albums before their dissolution in 1970 following the release of their twelfth studio album, Let It Be.
Previous cinematic treatments of the Beatles' story include Nowhere Boy, focusing on John Lennon's childhood in Liverpool with Aaron Taylor-Johnson portraying the young musician, BBC drama Lennon Naked starring Christopher Eccleston as Lennon, and Chapter 27 depicting the musician's 1980 assassination in New York.
With principal photography already underway for Mendes' ambitious project, Keoghan's red carpet appearance provides the first concrete visual evidence of what promises to be a landmark cinematic interpretation of the Beatles' extraordinary story and enduring cultural impact.
