Saoirse Ronan To Play Linda McCartney in THE BEATLES - A FOUR-FILM CINEMATIC EVENT
Saoirse Ronan has officially signed on to play Linda McCartney, the beloved photographer, musician, and first wife of Paul McCartney, in Sam Mendes’ ambitious project The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event. The news comes from multiple sources confirming to Deadline that the four-time Oscar nominee has joined the high-profile ensemble.
The massive undertaking from Mendes will tell the story of The Beatles like never before, through four interconnected theatrical films, each from the perspective of a different band member.
Ronan will appear primarily in the Paul McCartney-focused chapter, though it’s not yet known whether she’ll appear in the others.
Joining Ronan in this Beatles universe are Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon.
Sony representatives declined to comment on the casting news, but the lineup already has fans excited for what’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious film experiments in modern cinema.
Linda McCartney left an indelible mark on both art and activism. A trailblazing photographer in the 1960s, she captured iconic portraits of The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and The Doors.
She became the first female photographer to have her work featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. After marrying Paul McCartney in 1969, she collaborated with him musically in Wings and became a driving force for vegetarianism and animal rights, launching Linda McCartney Foods in 1991. She passed away in 1998, but her influence continues to resonate.
Mendes’ vision for The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event is groundbreaking and each movie will explore the band’s story from a unique perspective, with screenplays penned by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan, and Jack Thorne.
The films are a collaboration between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Mendes’ Neal Street Productions, alongside Apple Corps Ltd., marking the first time The Beatles and Apple Corps have officially authorized the use of the band’s life stories and music in scripted films. Sony will both produce and finance the project, which will hit theaters in April 2028.
This move adds another prestige role to Ronan’s already impressive career. Known for standout performances in Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women, the Irish actress recently starred in The Outrun from Nora Fingscheidt and Blitz from Steve McQueen. Up next, she’ll appear in Bad Apples, a dark comedy by Jonatan Etzler.