Fans have some polarizing thoughts after seeing Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Harris Dickinson and Barry Keoghan in their full looks as The Beatles.
Sony Pictures released four first-look images from The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event on Friday, January 30. Not only did fans get a glimpse at each of the actors in full costume, but the studio revealed that all four movies will be released in April 2028.
Mescal, 29, will be taking on the role of Paul McCartney while Dickinson, 29, is set to star as John Lennon. Keoghan, 33, will play Ringo Starr and Quinn, 32, rounds out the cast as George Harrison.
Reviews about the photos were rather mixed, with some fans criticizing how some of the stars looked in costume.
“They didn’t even try to find actors who looked like them,” one social media user shared upon seeing the photos.
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It seemed Quinn’s look as Harrison received the most hate.
“They should respond to fan backlash and fix george harrison’s character design,” another X user wrote. “Like they did with sonic the hedgehog.”
Another internet user wrote, “Bad casting form the jump. George had soulful, male manipulator eyes. You don’t seduce Ringo’s wife when your eyes are all pupil.”
Starr’s first marriage to Maureen Starkey reportedly ended when she cheated with Harrison. Neither Harrison nor Starkey confirmed the rumors, but Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd wrote about the alleged affair in her 2007 memoir.
The general consensus was that Mescal’s take on McCartney looked the best.
“I still can’t stop laughing about paul dedicating 85 percent of of the 4 beatle biopics’ budget to making paul mescal look as perfect as humanly possible,” one X user claimed. “He truly is the greatest guy ever.”
Another chimed in, writing, “Holy s*** he does look like Paul tbf.”
Despite the hate comments on some of the four looks, others seemed thrilled with the overall look of the teaser. A lot of social media users wrote, “Let them cook,” in response to the widespread negativity.
“Harris Dickinson as Lennon might steal the whole thing,” an internet user speculated. “That intensity is already there.”
A second added, “Casting looks solid… now please don’t fumble the tone and timeline.”
The photos come just days after Keoghan showed off his longer shaggy hair while attending the European Gala Screening for Amazon’s Crime 101 in London. Keoghan was photographed with thick bangs that were brushed to one side of his head at the event, and the came could be seen in the photo of him as Starr.
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“Barry Keoghan. That is Ringo Starr right there. I say it right now, he is going to be the best out of the four in his portrayal. By far,” one X user said of the actor. “Inspired casting!”
Saoirse Ronan, James Norton, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Anna Sawai and Aimee Lou Wood are also set to star, but a first look at their roles has yet to be released.
Ronan, for one, will be playing McCartney’s wife, Linda McCartney, in the film. Mescal exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2025 what it was like to reunite with his longtime friend on screen.
“She’s just one of my best friends and an unbelievable actress,” the actor gushed. “So I can’t wait to get into those scenes with her, yeah, down the line.”
The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event will hit theaters in April 2028.
