The Beatles biopics eyes Netflix’s House of Guinness star for key role | Films | Entertainment

James Norton, star of House of Guinness, is reportedly being considered for the role of Beatles manager Brian Epstein in Sam Mendes’ forthcoming four-part film.

The biopic will feature Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon.

Slated for release in April 2028, each film will narrate the story of one of the four members of the most famous band in British history.

Given Epstein’s pivotal role in moulding the band’s music and image, Norton is expected to appear in each instalment of the series.

Epstein first encountered the Fab Four at Liverpool’s Cavern Club at the dawn of their careers in 1961, reports the Mirror.

Despite lacking management experience, he signed them and eventually secured a contract with EMI’s Parlophone label.

Tragically, he passed away just six years later at the age of 32 from an accidental combined overdose of alcohol and barbiturate.

Mendes is directing the quartet of films from scripts by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan and Jack Thorne, although it remains unclear who is writing which part.

It’s also uncertain whether all four films will premiere on the same day in April 2028 or be released at different times throughout the month.

Norton first gained recognition for his standout performance as Tommy Lee Royce in the highly praised BBC crime drama Happy Valley.

Recently, he has been spotted as brewery foreman Sean Rafferty in Netflix‘s popular historical drama House of Guinness and is currently filming for his role as Ormund Hightower in the third season of House of the Dragon.

In addition, he has featured in ITV’s drama Playing Nice and BBC‘s historical saga King and Conqueror, both of which aired this year.

News of Norton’s potential casting as the Beatles’ manager comes hot on the heels of reports that actresses have been shortlisted to play the band members’ partners.

Saoirse Ronan has been confirmed to play McCartney’s first wife Linda, while Mia McKenna-Bruce will take on the role of Starr’s wife Maureen Starkey.

Variety has since revealed that Shogun’s Anna Sawai and The White Lotus’ Aimee Lou Wood are being considered for the roles of Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono and Harrison’s first wife Pattie Boyd, respectively.

House of Guinness is available to stream on Netflix.