Abbey Road Recreation Highlights Production Progress
The production team behind the forthcoming four-film Beatles biopic, directed by Sam Mendes, has been spotted filming outside Abbey Road studios in London. Footage posted on social media on Sunday shows the actors playing the Beatles lining up on the kerb and walking across the crossing, recreating the celebrated Abbey Road album cover. Harris Dickinson, as John Lennon, leads the walk, with Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison following in sequence.
The original shot was taken on 8 August 1969, after an initial idea to travel to Nepal was abandoned. Freelance photographer Iain Macmillan took six stills from a stepladder in the middle of the road, one of which was chosen for the cover of the Beatles' 1969 studio album. The crossing has remained a popular tourist landmark.
The films are due for release in April 2028, with each of the four films focusing on an individual Beatle. Mendes announced the project in February 2024, with backing from Sony Pictures and permission from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison. The cast includes Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, James Norton as Brian Epstein, and Lucy Boynton as Jane Asher.
Reported Rift Between Barry Keoghan and His Brother
Amid the production, several outlets have reported on a possible rift between Barry Keoghan and his younger brother Eric. Barry plays Ringo Starr in the biopic, and Eric previously acted as Barry's assistant on past projects. Reports suggest that Eric has been absent from filming in recent weeks and is currently living back in Ireland rather than staying with Barry near London.
A source told The Sun: "Eric is back in Ireland and is not living with Barry at the house he is renting near London. Barry is in the honeymoon phase with his new girlfriend, Danica Hall, and she is not Eric’s biggest fan. Barry decided it was best that Eric didn’t stay with him and he has not been seen at filming."
Another insider shared: "Eric didn't always bring out the best in Barry so it is probably better that the brothers are not in each other’s pocket."
The pair had a close but challenging upbringing. They grew up in Dublin and spent years in foster care after their mother's addiction struggles, before being raised by their aunt. Their father, now dead, was not involved in their upbringing. The report says the brothers' mother passed away when Barry was 12 years old. Eric previously worked as an assistant on Barry's projects and frequently appeared on Barry's social media account before Barry deleted it.
Barrett's relationship with Danica Hall became public earlier this year. Sources say Danica met Boyne through her work in the cosmetic industry, and confidants describe their relationship as quieter and more private. According to sources, Danica reminds Barry of his former partner Alyson Kierans, with whom he shares a young son, and is said to be slower in sync with him. The relationship marks Barry's first public romance since his split from Sabrina Carpenter in 2024; reports at the time noted that Barry was wrongly accused of infidelity.
Casting Details from the Biopic
Alongside Keoghan, the cast of the Beatles films includes Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Daesch as Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. The Abbey Road recreation footage shows the actors walking across the crossing in North West London, with a choreographer counting to keep them in step.
The films are planned for a simultaneous release in April 2028, as previously announced.
Perspectives
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