Sam Mendes’ Beatles Biopic Series Reportedly Casts Linda McCartney

Irish actor Saoirse Ronan has reportedly been tapped to portray Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes’ forthcoming four-film Beatles project, The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event.

Multiple industry sources told Deadline that Ronan — known for acclaimed turns in Lady Bird and Little Women — will play Paul McCartney’s first wife in the McCartney-centered installment. Representatives for distributor Sony Pictures had not issued a public statement at the time of the report.

Mendes’ ambitious series plans to devote one film to each Beatles member. Ronan is expected to co-star alongside Paul Mescal, who is reported to portray Paul McCartney; the extent of her appearances across the broader quartet of films has not been disclosed.

Ronan, a four-time Academy Award nominee, recently appeared in the addiction-recovery drama The Outrun and led the dark comedy Bad Apples, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her casting adds to an ensemble that reportedly includes Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon.

The scripts are being penned by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan and Jack Thorne. Though release details remain limited, the films have been tentatively slated for spring 2028.

Linda McCartney and Paul McCartney met in 1967 and remained married until Linda’s death from cancer in 1998. Linda was a photographer, musician and advocate for animal rights; she also founded a vegetarian food company and performed with Paul in his post-Beatles group Wings.

This cinematic event marks the first time The Beatles and Apple Corps Ltd. have authorized scripted films that chronicle the band members’ lives and incorporate their music.