An ordinary Liverpool street was transported back to the early 1960s on Monday as acclaimed director Sam Mendes commenced filming for his highly anticipated anthology of Beatles films. The location chosen was the childhood home of Sir Paul McCartney at 20 Forthlin Road in Allerton, a site now preserved by the National Trust and often referred to as 'the birthplace of The Beatles.'
Recreating Beatlemania in Liverpool
Mendes is currently working on an ambitious collection of four separate films, each focusing on one member of the legendary pop group. The project traces their journey from Liverpool's underground Cavern Club to becoming the most influential band in global music history. After filming energetic scenes in central London, the production team has now relocated to McCartney's modest terraced home, where he lived for several years before signing his first record deal with The Beatles in 1962.
Historical Setting and Period Details
The property at 20 Forthlin Road was originally built in 1949 and purchased by McCartney's father, Jim, in 1955. The family resided there for a decade until Paul, by then an international star, bought his father a new house in Heswall on the Wirral. For the filming, the street was closed off with traffic cones and diversions, while black tents and vintage cars lined the road to establish an authentic early-sixties atmosphere.
Production assistants were observed wheeling period-appropriate props and clothing onto the exterior set. These included early-sixties-era bicycles, boxes, bags, and various musical instruments. Notably, a replica of Sir Paul McCartney's very first guitar, the Framus Zenith (Model 17) acoustic, was carried onto the set. The original German-made guitar was purchased by McCartney from Liverpool's Rushworth Music shop in 1956 when he was just fourteen years old, and he still owns it today.
Cast and Crew in Action
Extras dressed in period costume mingled with the crew as preparations were made to shoot scenes outside the historic home. However, there was no sign of Paul Mescal, the actor portraying the young McCartney, as he had attended the 79th annual BAFTA Awards in London the previous evening. Mescal received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao's biographical drama Hamnet, which won Outstanding British Film at the ceremony.
Mescal will star alongside Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr in the four new films. The supporting cast includes Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd, Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono, and James Norton as manager Brian Epstein. Additional appearances feature Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Starkey and Harry Lloyd as producer George Martin.
Production Insights and Future Plans
The Daily Mail previously revealed that the Beatles biopics will also be filmed at London's iconic Abbey Road Studios, with production having begun in November last year. Contrary to earlier reports, Westminster Council has confirmed that filming will proceed at the famous zebra crossing, with the council working closely with production teams to facilitate road closures. Mendes aims to recreate the Beatles' 1969 album cover at this location.
Speaking at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas last April, Mendes described the films as the 'first binge-able theatrical experience.' This project marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time Apple Corps Ltd and The Beatles—Sir Paul, Sir Ringo, and the families of Lennon and Harrison—have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
Behind the Scenes Anecdotes
Ringo Starr previously hinted that Saltburn star Barry Keoghan had taken on the role of the drummer, mentioning that Keoghan was 'somewhere taking drum lessons.' Meanwhile, Sir Ridley Scott revealed that Mescal was 'stacked up, doing the Beatles next' during the promotion of Gladiator II.
In a recent interview, Keoghan admitted to being starstruck during his first meeting with Ringo Starr, confessing he couldn't look the Beatles legend in the eye due to nerves. He recalled Starr playing drums for him and encouraging him to make eye contact, describing the encounter as 'lovely' despite his anxiety.
Titled The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the anthology was announced last year. Each film will adopt the perspective of one band member, chronicling their evolution from unknowns in Liverpool to global superstars and their eventual breakup in 1970. This unprecedented access to the Beatles' story and music promises to deliver a unique cinematic experience for fans worldwide.
