In the past few years, many notable musician biopics have hit the big screen. From Elvis to Amy Winehouse, singers both past and present are getting their stories produced. In early 2024, director Sam Mendes announced his plans to direct four separate but interconnected films on each of the Beatles, which will all be released on the same day.

As a self-proclaimed Beatles connoisseur, I can only wonder - are 4 known Hollywood actors and a multimillion-dollar budget going to encapsulate the story of four working class boys from Liverpool’s rise to success? Biopics made of musicians have had their fair share of criticisms - Bohemian Rhapsody, the biopic of iconic band Queen was said to have ‘played it safe’ in the events covered, and placed too much focus on Freddie Mercury himself, rather than the whole band (though the casting was exceptional). Whereas last year’s,‘Back to Black’, Amy Winehouse biopic was targeted as too superficial and lacking the depth and nuance to properly reflect Amy and her legacy.

So, the question stands - is Mendes going to play it safe and give us a watered-down version of the Fab Four? Or will he take a risk and give us the raw authenticity and controversy that made the band so timeless in the first place? Making movies about notable musicians is a risk in itself, never mind four who are so universally known and have already been portrayed and referenced in film and television.

There is a particular sensitivity that must be had when dealing with real people and their lived experiences - ranging from drug misuse to adultery, and the inevitable gun violence that led to the murder of John Lennon. It will be interesting to see how Mendes can illustrate these delicate moments alongside the more joyful aspects of the Beatles’ career - if he touches on them at all, that is. The Beatles and their legacy have lasted generations since their formation in 1960.

Despite only being together as a band for a decade, their music and their artistry have inspired generations of performers and formulated pop culture that is still around today. Though it does make sense to capture this integral part of the music industry in a biopic-style movie (or in this case, four), I am curious as to how well a modern-day production will portray the distinctiveness that was Beatlemania in the 1960s, and even more to how a Gen-Z audience will receive it. The creation of musician biopics in the past decade has skyrocketed with upcoming features, including Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen alone debuting in the upcoming months.

In many ways it can be seen as a ‘Hollywood cop-out’ - why bother coming up with original ideas when you can make a film about a dead singer? Not only are the excessive releases of these films creatively risky, but it also sets an interesting precedent for the future of moviemaking and whether this is an attempt at making a tribute to musical icons, or a lazy cash-grab that requires no real thinking. ies with some not being able to continue to defend her whereas others defend her strongly. This division can be compared to everyday life in politics, a divide over a political figure or view.

It also demonstrates the state of the music and other creative industries where copying seems to be rife in the race to stay relevant, sacrificing originality. No matter how hard Swift tries, this character of the showgirl seems out of touch and inauthentic, perhaps a mirror of people in power today.