The Beatles movies writer teases director Sam Mendes is doing “amazing work” on star-studded films

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Jack Thorne, the writer behind the recent hit series Adolescence, is currently very busy – which isn’t surprising given the show’s success and awards.

Thorne’s new TV series, based on the classic novel Lord of the Flies, is premiering soon on BBC and BBC iPlayer. He’s also working on several other exciting projects, like a four-film cinematic experience about The Beatles.

Thorne, along with Jez Butterworth and Peter Straughan, is writing four films, each spotlighting a different member of The Beatles. Sam Mendes is directing this large-scale project.

Currently, details about the films are scarce, except that they feature a famous cast and are all scheduled for release in the same month in 2028. It appears the filmmaker, Thorne, intends to maintain this secrecy.

During an exclusive interview for our video series, The TopMob Writers’ Room—where we explore the minds of screenwriters—the writer immediately stated he’d give very short answers whenever the topic of The Beatles films came up.

When asked about their progress, he just said everything was going well, but wouldn’t explain how things would work in reality.

After pointing out the films’ impressive cast, Thorne said, “Yes, and Sam is incredibly talented—it’s amazing what he’s accomplishing.”

Given his experience with projects like the single-take series Adolescence and the new, creatively made Beatles films, Thorne was asked if he was specifically attracted to opportunities that let him play with how movies and TV shows are made.

That’s true, but I think it’s really about figuring out what you need to be sure of and what you can experiment with. That’s something I’m still learning myself.

When I was younger, I believed we should always be rebellious and carefree. Now, I’m realizing that storytelling is about first making the audience feel safe and comfortable, and then you can start to take risks and be more experimental.

Lord of the Flies is a powerfully crafted novel, employing imagery, silence, and various other techniques to create a compelling experience, and I hope it continues to resonate with readers.

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Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Paul Mescal will be Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn will portray George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan will take on the role of Ringo Starr in the upcoming Beatles films.

I’m really excited about the new BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies. It’s a four-part series, and what’s particularly cool is that a lot of the actors are newcomers – many are making their screen debuts! It feels fresh and gives these young talents a fantastic opportunity.

Marc Munden’s film, Lord of the Flies, is based on William Golding’s famous novel. It tells the story of a group of boys stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, and their attempts to create a society – an effort that quickly descends into chaos and tragedy.

The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinema Experience is set to release as a quartet of movies in April 2028.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the TV production company Fremantle. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

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2026-02-04 14:34