The search for the perfect Yoko Ono has officially ended: Anna Sawai has landed the iconic role in an upcoming series of Beatles biopics. The Japanese-New Zealander actress, known for her captivating performances in drama series Pachinko and Shogun, will portray the avant-garde artist whose relationship with John Lennon was a defining chapter in the history of The Beatles.
Directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes (1917, Skyfall), the Beatles biopic project consists of four films, each dedicated to a different band member — Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Still untitled, the films are expected to portray the legendary band’s career, focusing on their personal lives and the significant figures who influenced them.
The lead roles, which were officially announced in April, feature an all-star cast of young actors: Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. The casting choices have sparked some controversy among purists and critics, with concerns raised over the actors’ recognizable star status.
All four films are set to be released simultaneously in April 2028. The project is noteworthy not only for its scale but also for being the first fictional feature film series to receive full life story and music rights from the estates of all four Beatles.
Anna Sawai Leads Star-Studded Supporting Cast
Sawai, who has won an Emmy Award for her compelling lead role as Lady Mariko in the historical drama Shogun, will star opposite Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness) as the late John Lennon.
Sawai’s portrayal must navigate the significant controversy that surrounded Ono: Infamously blamed for breaking up The Beatles, the artist became a focal point for public hostility. Her artistic and political influence on Lennon also remains a subject of considerable discussion; it is often said that Ono, a radical conceptual artist from the 1960s avant-garde scene, pushed Lennon toward experimental sounds and activism.
The supporting cast also includes four-time Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, the groundbreaking photographer who married Paul McCartney in 1969 and became a creative collaborator and bandmate in Wings.
Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education, The White Lotus) will take on the role of Pattie Boyd, the iconic Swinging Sixties model who married George Harrison and later inspired some of the most famous love songs in rock history, like “Something.” Mia McKenna-Bruce will portray Maureen Starkey, the hairdresser and devoted early fan who became Ringo Starr’s first wife.
