Here’s What Ringo Starr Has to Say About Rumors Barry Keoghan Will Play Him in Beatles Biopic

Barry Keoghan is already an Oscar nominee, thanks to his work in 2022’s The Banshees of Inisherin, but could he return to the Academy Awards stage for his turn in an upcoming Beatles biopic? Well, he appears to have the part, according to Ringo Starr.

During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, the drummer addressed reports that Keoghan would play him in the upcoming four-part Beatles biopic.

“I think it’s great,” Starr said of the casting rumor. “I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons. I hope not too many!”

While Starr’s response isn’t stone-cold confirmation, it’s only intensified the rumor mill around the project. In addition to Keoghan, other actors rumored to be circling the films include Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney and Charlie Rowe as George Harrison.

No official casting announcements have been made at press time.

At the top of the year, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced four separate Beatles biopics — one focusing on each member of music’s most iconic band. Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director whose credits include American Beauty (1999), Skyfall (2012) and 1917 (2019), will helm all four films and produce them through his Neal Street Productions.

“I’m 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,” Mendes said in a statement earlier this year.

Keoghan, of course, has remained a fixture in pop culture since picking up his first Oscar nod. Last winter, he starred opposite Jacob Elordi in the Golden Globe- and BAFTA-nominated Saltburn, and his relationship with Grammy-nominated Billboard 200 chart-topper Sabrina Carpenter has kept him in the headlines all year. He attended several stops on Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour and starred in her music video for “Please Please Please,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and picked up a Grammy nod for song of the year.

Interestingly, Carpenter will be facing off against The Beatles at the 2025 Grammys. “Espresso,” Carpenter’s global pop smash, is competing in record of the year against The Beatles’ “Now and Then,” which reached the Hot 100 top 10 (No. 7) and made headlines for its use of A.I. and its status as “the last Beatles song.” “Now and Then” is also nominated for best rock performance, while Carpenter boasts additional nods for best new artist, best pop solo performance (“Espresso”) and best pop vocal album and album of the year (Short n’ Sweet).

The Beatles have the most No. 1 singles in Hot 100 history (20), ranging from 1964’s “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (seven weeks) to 1970’s “The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue” (two weeks). On the Billboard 200, the legendary band has earned 19 chart-toppers, including 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (15 weeks).