Barry Keoghan Cast As Ringo Starr In Sam Mendes’ Four Beatles Movies, Confirms Starr

Barry Keoghan has been cast as Ringo Starr in director Sam Mendes’ four biopics about The Beatles, Starr confirmed during an interview. Early this year, it was announced that the Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes – known for Skyfall, Spectre, and 1917 – would direct four interconnected biopics about one of the biggest bands of all time, with each film focusing on a different member – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. Months later, it was reported that Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Charlie Rowe were cast as the four band members.

Now, one of these castings has seemingly been confirmed. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ringo Starr was asked about the reports that Barry Keoghan will play him in the four-part Beatles biopic, and he seemingly confirmed that the casting is true, saying he is a “great” choice and is currently “taking drum lessons” in preparation for the role. Read Starr’s full response below:

Well, I think it’s great. I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.

Barry Keoghan Is Seemingly The First Confirmed Casting

Ringo Starr’s comment seemingly confirms that Barry Keoghan will play him in the four-part Beatles biopic. If true, this would be the first confirmed casting out of the four. Harris Dickinson, who’s reportedly playing John Lennon, was also recently asked about the reports, though his response was noncommittal, saying “There’s nothing I can say about that; it might not be true, it might be, I don’t know… there’s a speculation culture.” Gladiator 2 star Paul Mescal, reportedly playing Paul McCartney, responded similarly to the reports, saying “I would love to be involved, but there’s nothing set in stone.“

Starr says that Keoghan is currently “taking drum lessons” in preparation for the role, but he “hopes not too many,” joking about how his own drumming style isn’t overly complex and that maybe Keoghan might become too good at it. It’s a self-deprecating comment, one that aligns with Ringo’s well-known modesty and sense of humor about his drumming skills. Even Starr has admitted that he’s not the most technically proficient drummer and has more of an offbeat style, being left-handed, characteristics that Keoghan will be tasked with capturing in his performance.

Our Take On Barry Keoghan’s Casting As Ringo Starr

He’s A “Great” Choice, As Ringo Starr Says

With Barry Keoghan seemingly confirmed, he is certainly a “great” choice to play Ringo Starr, as he himself says. Keoghan is known for his quirky performances in Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Batman, The Banshees of Inisherin, Saltburn, and more. Keoghan’s quirkiness as an actor makes him especially qualified to capture Starr’s laid-back and often humorous personality. However, Keoghan’s typical intensity may need to be dialed back to align with Ringo’s laid-back nature, though his versatility as an actor suggests he could easily adjust for The Beatles biopics.

Source: Entertainment Tonight