Barry Keoghan talks “nervous” meeting with Ringo Starr ahead of Beatles biopic: “I couldn’t look at him”

Barry Keoghan has recalled how nervous he was meeting Ringo Starr as part of his research to play the drummer in the forthcoming biopics about The Beatles.

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Currently titled The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, the project was first announced in 2024, with Sam Mendes directing four movies that will tell the story of the world’s most famous band from the perspective of each member.

In March 2025, at the CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, Keoghan was announced as playing Starr alongside Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. All four films are scheduled to be released in April 2028.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Oscar nominee spoke about meeting the musician for the first time, and being daunted by his presence. “He played the drums for me” he said. “He asked me to play, but I wasn’t playing the drums for Ringo”.

He also recalled how Starr joked about the actor’s nerves. “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.”

Last November, Starr appeared to confirm Barry Keoghan’s involvement prior to the recent announcement, telling Entertainment Weekly: “Well, I think it’s great. I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many”.

This week (May 8), it was announced that a trio of writers will be working on the film, with the group including an Oscar winner and the co-creator of a recent Netflix hit.

The post Barry Keoghan talks “nervous” meeting with Ringo Starr ahead of Beatles biopic: “I couldn’t look at him” appeared first on NME.