The Beatles have had many biopics made about them, but now their manager, Brian Epstein, is finally receiving one of his own. Many people have been dubbed the fifth Beatle, but no other is deserving of the title than Epstein.
He was the first person who looked at The Beatles and saw something no one else saw. He cleaned up their act, put them in suits, and got them a recording contract and on British television. Epstein had virtually no experience, yet he worked tirelessly to make The Beatles pop stars. He died at age 32 in 1967.
The upcoming Midas Man will show Epstein’s side of the story many are familiar with. Here’s who will play him and the boys.
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd plays The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, in ‘Midas Man’
According to Deadline, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (The Queen’s Gambit) will play Epstein in Midas Man.
Meanwhile, Jonah Lees (The Letter For The King) will play John Lennon, musician Blake Richardson (of band New Hope Club) will play Paul McCartney, Leo Harvey Elledge (Creation Stories) will be George Harrison, and Campbell Wallace will play Ringo Starr.
Adam Lawrence (Peaky Blinders) will also join the cast as Pete Best, The Beatles’ first drummer, alongside Jay Leno (The Tonight Show) as Ed Sullivan. The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show helped bolster their presence in the U.S.
Emily Watson is Epstein’s mother, Malka “Queenie” Epstein, Eddie Marsan is Epstein’s father, Harry. Also, Omari Douglas is Lonnie Trimble, Epstein’s ever-trusted confidant, and Rosie Day is Merseybeat star Cilla Black, who Epstein also managed.
Other cast members include Lukas Gage (Love, Victor) as Tex Ellington and Charley Palmer Rothwell (Jack Ryan) as The Beatles’ producer George Martin.
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Production stopped to find a new director
In Nov. 2021, Deadline wrote that the movie was back in production. Producers had enforced a three-week hiatus while seeking a replacement for director Jonas Akerlund. Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen) has jumped aboard to direct.
Filming began in October in Liverpool, The Beatles, and their manager’s home. In November, they planned to move shooting to the U.S. at the start of 2022.
In June 2021, the official Twitter account for Midas Man tweeted, “MIDAS MAN will shoot in Abbey Road Studios, including Studio2, in November. It is a privilege to be allowed into the iconic space that played such a big part in Brian’s story. Recording of the score will also take place at the world-famous studio.”
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Sugarman thinks they’ve found the right actors to play The Beatles and Epstein
The newly appointed director thinks they’ve found the right actors to play The Beatles and their manager.
Sugarman told Deadline, “The actors playing the Beatles are an extraordinary group they ooze that very visceral feeling of the 60’s, are charming, playful, and so authentic and I have no doubt that Jay Leno will capture the essence of Ed Sullivan perfectly.
“His own experience as an American television host will bring forward a natural, and accurate portrayal and add an incredible element of modern showbiz to the story.”
According to the film’s Twitter,Fortune-Lloyd said Estein’s style is “key to understanding his character. It reveals his flair, sensitivity & good taste. It was his armour against a challenging and dangerous world.”
Midas Man does not have a release date yet. However, the film will undoubtedly shed some light on a different side of The Beatles’ story.