Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood Eyed to Play Yoko Ono and Pattie Boyd in Sam Mendes’ Beatles Biopic
Actors Anna Sawai and Aimee Lou Wood are in talks to portray Yoko Ono and Pattie Boyd, respectively, in director Sam Mendes’ upcoming four-part biopic chronicling the lives of The Beatles.
Sawai, known for her roles in “Shogun” and “Pachinko,” is being considered to play Ono, the artist and singer-songwriter who married John Lennon in 1969 and remained with him until his death in 1980. Lennon will be portrayed by Harrison Dickinson. Wood, who gained recognition for her work in “Sex Education” and “The White Lotus,” is a potential fit for Boyd, a model who married George Harrison (to be played by Joseph Quinn) in 1966 and later married Eric Clapton. Boyd herself posted on social media today, calling the news “big” and expressing her hope to meet Wood.
The project, authorized by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison, will present each Beatle’s story through a separate film, culminating in a theatrical release in April 2028. This marks the first time the band has granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film, offering an unprecedented level of access to their history. Other cast members already confirmed include Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney; the films are designed to be a “binge-able theatrical experience,” a novel approach to film distribution.
Mendes stated earlier this year that he is “honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.” While deals for Sawai and Wood are not yet finalized, Sony Pictures has not commented on the casting negotiations. Rolling Stone provides additional details on the ambitious project.
