Saoirse Ronan will play Linda McCartney, wife of Sir Paul, in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic.
The four-time Oscar-nominated actor will co-star as Paul Mescal and Paul McCartney. Linda and Paul were married in 1969. Linda worked alongside him as keyboardist and harmony vocalist for the post-Beatles band Wings. Linda died of cancer in 1998 at the age of 56.
Sony, the studio behind this bold cinematic gamble, declined to comment on Ronan’s casting.
As for the remaining Fab Four, Harrison Dickinson will play John Lennon, Joseph Quinn will play George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will play Ringo Starr. Additional cast members have not yet been announced.
Mendes has produced four separate films, one from the perspective of each member of the Beatles. As such, it is unclear how much Ronan will appear in the other three films. The cinematic quartet intersects to chronicle the band’s unlikely journey from Liverpool to the center of world culture, culminating in their breakup in 1970. To paraphrase the tagline: “Each person has a unique story, but together they become a legend.” All four films will hit the big screen in April 2028, and Sony Pictures is calling it “the first bingeable theatrical experience.” However, the exact release plan is unknown.
McCartney, Starr, and the families of the late Lennon and Harrison have licensed full rights to the Life story and music for the scripted film, making it the first production licensed by the band.
Ronan broke out in 2007’s “The Secret” and went on to receive Academy Award nominations for her performances in “Brooklyn,” Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” and “Little Women.” The Irish actor most recently starred in and produced the 2024 indie drama Outrun and helmed Steve McQueen’s Blitz.
Deadline first reported the news of Ronan’s casting.
