In May, Mescal’s cast mate, Barry Keoghan, discussed meeting Ringo Starr prior to playing the drummer in the films. Describing his nerves at meeting the legend, the Irishman said: “When I was talking to him, I couldn’t look at him. I was nervous, like right now. But he’s like, ‘You can look at me,’” he recalled. “My job is to observe and kinda take in mannerisms and study him. I want to humanise him and bring feelings to it and not just sort of imitate.”
In July, Ringo confirmed that he had asked Sam Mendes to rework and rewrite several parts of the forthcoming biopics: “He had a writer — very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I. That’s not how we were. I’d say, ‘We would never do that.’” Ringo is reportedly happy with the edits made after his suggestions.
However, not every casting has been met with approval. Lennon’s sister Julia Baird spoke in April about Dickinson playing her late brother, saying she believed a Liverpudlian actor should play him. “No one else can get that Liverpool intonation,” she said, “nobody”.