Woon-Mo Sung

October 15, 2026, 2:20 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

Paul McCartney Cares About Size

The highly prominent cast for the upcoming Beatles films is set: Paul Mescal (“Gladiator 2”) plays McCartney, Harris Dickinson (“Babygirl”) is seen as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn (“Stranger Things”) portrays George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan (“Saltburn”) takes on the role of Ringo Starr. All four are among the most well-known actors of their young generation.

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But that apparently isn’t enough for the songwriter. In the “Good Hang” podcast with Amy Poehler, he emphasized that the Beatles were all the same height. Only Ringo was supposed to be a bit shorter. However, it has happened that McCartney was portrayed as shorter in films. And with Paul Mescal in his role, this would happen again: “He is shorter than the guy playing John.”

McCartney Pleaded with Director

Sam Mendes, who directed Oscar-winning milestones like “American Beauty” and “1917,” is at the helm for all four films. He received some agitated messages from McCartney due to the height difference. When the filmmaker sent him a shot of the famous Abbey Road crossing one day, the ex-Beatle wrote: “Sam! Shorter? Don’t do it! You said you wouldn’t.”

It’s not the first time McCartney has complained about the incorrect portrayal of height. In the 2009 film “Nowhere Boy” about a young John Lennon, he already complained that the actor playing Paul was shorter than John and appeared quite weak when John knocked him to the ground in the film. He told director Sam Taylor-Johnson that it wasn’t true. The response that it wasn’t a documentary didn’t please him.

Also interesting: How the new Beatles song was created using AI

Will Mescal just get some lifts in his shoes? Probably not. Whether with or without a height difference, all four new Beatles films are set to hit theaters in April 2028.