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Stars spotted as Beatles biopic filming begins

Jenny ColemanNorth West
News imageBBC Paul Mescal is dressed in a blue jacket black trousers on a film set outside a beige coloured semi detached house.BBC
Paul Mescal, who is playing Paul McCartney, was spotted filming outside John Lennon's childhood home

Actors Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan have been spotted in Liverpool as filming for a new Beatles biopic is under way.

A series of roads across the city and landmarks including Crosby Plaza Cinema have had a 1950s and 60s makeover for the shooting of the production, directed by Sir Sam Mendes.

Four films are planned for simultaneous release in 2028, with each telling the story of the individual Fab Four band members.

Mescal is set to star as Sir Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.

News imageActor Paul Mescal in character as Paul McCartney riding a bike with a guitar on his back past a brick wall
Filming has taken place at a number of locations across the city

Classic cars, buses and film posters from the 1950s alongside people dressed in fashions of the era have been spotted across the city in recent days.

Mescal has been photographed in character at various locations in south Liverpool including McCartney's famous childhood home on Forthlin Road and Lennon's on Menlove Avenue.

Pictures of Barry Keoghan visiting a coffee shop on Lark Lane have also been shared on social media.

News imageCara D Photography Classic cars typical of the late 1950s and early 1960s are parked on the road in front of terraced housesCara D Photography
Rodney Street in Liverpool has also been given a period makeover
News imageCara D Photography A dark green retro car with the registration GAS 348 is parked on Rodney Street in LiverpoolCara D Photography
Vehicles typical of the 1950s and 1960s have appeared in the city

The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd and The Beatles – McCartney, Starr, and the families of Lennon and Harrison – have granted full rights for a scripted film.

Ron Walker, who has lived in Forthlin Road for 34 years, said that while residents were used to seeing filming in the road over the years this was "another level".

"This has been a scale I've not seen before," he said.

"I thought it's basically going to be another documentary drama film but I was mistaken.

"When the wagons turned up ahead of filming I thought 'wow, this has got serious Hollywood bucks backing it'."

Ron said he had spotted Mendes and Mescal on the road and the filming took two days.

News imageBlack screens outside a property in Forthlin Road and a large group of film crew workers at the scene
Parts of Forthlin Road were screened off while filming took place
News imageDanielle Twig A green and yellow bus with a retro advert which says Freemans at Wavertree Road & County RoadDanielle Twig
Retro vehicles were seen at filming locations near Crosby Plaza cinema

"The preparation takes the longest," he said, explaining how residents were first told of the filming plans in November.

He said they were then given time to park their cars elsewhere last week.

"After all the preparation it was two days filming basically and then everything was put back to normal, as though it had never happened," he added.

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