First On-Set Photos From the Beatles Biopics Divide Fans Online
Beatlemania is in full swing in London, as the British capital is transformed into New York City for the filming of the four biopics detailing the lives of The Beatles, set for release in April 2028.
In new on-set images, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr — portrayed by Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan, respectively — are ambushed by fervent New Yorkers in what appears to be early 1964, when The Beatles first landed in America.
Last week, Beatles fans got their first glimpse of the four-film project, when postcards showing stills of each band member were released. The postcards first appeared at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), a performing arts higher education institution co-founded by McCartney.
Social Media Is Split in Two on Whether or Not the Beatles Biopic Actors Look The Part
The Beatles. April 2028.
— The Beatles (@thebeatles) January 30, 2026
Paul Mescal is Paul McCartney
Barry Keoghan is Ringo Starr
Joseph Quinn is George Harrison
Harris Dickinson is John Lennon
The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes. #TheBeatlesMovies pic.twitter.com/YXQCr7idCk
In one scene, McCartney appears to have had his suit jacket sleeve ripped off by a fan. Ringo, ever the source of fun in the Fab Four, smiles as he snaps images of the frenzy on his camera. Lennon and Harrison, however, look less amused.
The postcard pictures brought mixed reactions from music and film enthusiasts, with the first look at Quinn's portrayal of Harrison, notably his ultra-long, super-styled wig, among the most divisive elements of the stills. Now, some are more swayed by the second look at the portrayal, while others are less convinced by these new images than they were before.
One such example is a post from @peterlanee, who wrote: "They definitely dropped those postcards RIGHT in time because they knew that everyone’s first impressions of the actors playing the Beatles was about to be some leaked set photos."
Similarly, others emphasised that pap photos weren't the best way to get a first glimpse of the upcoming films. "I need everyone freaking out to calm down," @kristnstews wrote. "I’ve seen enough paparazzi set pics to know everytime fandom complains it ends up looking fine in the movie with proper lights/camera."
Others had a more pessimistic take on the matter. "This is why I said I was suspicious of that first angle and lighting on Paul," @pawkingmetaws wrote, referring to the widely-praised first official still of Paul Mescal as a young Paul McCartney — previously thought to be one of the actors with the weakest physical resemblance to their subject. "WHO ARE YOU" they asked.
Joseph Quinn, whose initial image of him in full hair and makeup for his designated Beatle received the least praise at first, got some more compliments this time around. "[Joseph] may just look like Joseph Quinn in a wig but he definitely has studied the George Harrison resting stank face so I’ll give him that!" @thimbleberrie wrote in a mixed review.
Other Beatles fans were officially won over by these early glimpses of George. "JOSEPH QUINN HAS GEORGE’S ESSENCE DOWN ALREADY I FEAR. HIS FACIAL EXPRESSIONS?!?!?" @heartofmvsic exclaimed. "JOSEPH QUINN IS MY GEORGE HARRISON I AM NOT ASHAMED TO SAY."