One of the most recognisable images in music history is being recreated for Sam Mendes’ ambitious Beatles film project, with four actors stepping onto the famous Abbey Road zebra crossing in London.
Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn and Harris Dickinson were photographed recreating the legendary Beatles album-cover scene, taking on the roles of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon respectively.
Dickinson, portraying Lennon, appeared in a distinctive white suit and shirt as he led the group across the road.
Keoghan followed as Starr, with Mescal portraying McCartney and Quinn playing Harrison.
A photograph that became a cultural landmark
The original image was captured by Scottish photographer Iain Macmillan outside Abbey Road Studios in 1969.
A close friend of Lennon, Macmillan famously stood on a ladder in the middle of the road to photograph the four musicians as they repeatedly crossed the zebra crossing.
With only around 10 minutes available to complete the shoot, the photographer took several images of the band walking back and forth.
McCartney ultimately selected the photograph that would become the cover of Abbey Road.
The image went on to become one of the most instantly recognisable album covers ever produced.
Filming plans faced a London location hurdle
Mendes had reportedly wanted to recreate the scene at the original location, although production plans initially encountered uncertainty over whether Westminster council would permit filming on the famous crossing.
The council later confirmed that filming would proceed at the location and said it was working with the production team to facilitate the shoot.
The decision allowed the filmmakers to reproduce one of the most important visual moments associated with the Beatles as authentically as possible.
John Lennon’s extraordinary car also appears
The Abbey Road sequence was not the only Beatles landmark recreated for the production.
A replica of Lennon’s famous psychedelic Rolls-Royce Phantom V was also present on set, paying tribute to one of the singer’s most distinctive possessions.
Lennon originally had the luxury car painted black before having it transformed in 1967.
Its new appearance featured a bright yellow finish decorated with elaborate red, blue, green and gold patterns influenced by Romany decorative designs.
The vehicle became closely associated with Lennon during one of the Beatles’ most culturally significant periods.
Mal Evans’ contribution is being remembered
Daniel Hoffmann-Gill was also seen portraying Mal Evans, the Beatles’ trusted roadie and close aide.
Evans had previously worked as a bouncer at Liverpool’s Cavern Club before being recruited by Beatles manager Brian Epstein to help the group.
He quickly became an important member of the band’s inner circle, accompanying them on tours and being present for much of their recording career.
His inclusion in the film reflects the wider network of people who played important roles behind the scenes during the Beatles’ rise.
Four films will tell one extraordinary story
The project, titled The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, was announced as an unusually expansive portrayal of the band.
Rather than telling the Beatles’ story through a single conventional biopic, Mendes is directing four connected films, with each instalment presenting events from the perspective of a different band member.
The films will chart the group’s journey from their early days in Liverpool during the 1960s through their transformation into a global phenomenon and ultimately their breakup in 1970.
Major cast brings Beatles’ world to life
The production features an extensive ensemble cast alongside the four actors playing the band.
Aimee Lou Wood portrays George Harrison’s model wife Pattie Boyd, while Anna Sawai plays Yoko Ono.
James Norton takes on the role of Brian Epstein, the manager who helped guide the Beatles’ rise.
Mia McKenna-Bruce appears as Ringo Starr’s first wife, Maureen Starkey, while Harry Lloyd portrays George Martin, the influential producer often described as the band’s “fifth Beatle”.
An unprecedented level of access
The project represents a major milestone in Beatles filmmaking because surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with the families of Lennon and Harrison, have granted rights for feature films about the band.
The unusual arrangement has enabled Mendes and his team to construct a cinematic anthology focused individually on all four musicians.
The production has been described as a new kind of “bingeable theatrical experience”, reflecting its plan to present four interconnected films rather than a single release.
The Beatles return to cinemas in 2028
All four films are scheduled to arrive simultaneously in 2028, giving audiences the chance to experience the Beatles’ story through four different perspectives.
For fans, the recreation of the Abbey Road crossing offers an early glimpse of the project’s ambition, bringing one of the defining images of the band’s career back to the very location where it was created.
