Joseph Quinn may be the least-known actor in Sam Mendes’ ambitious Fab Four biopic project, but that won’t be the case for long. With his career on a meteoric rise and a knack for playing enigmatic characters, his portrayal of George Harrison might just end up being the most compelling of the lot.
A bold vision for The Beatles’ story
Mendes’ upcoming project, officially titled The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, will be an unprecedented cinematic experiment, dedicating an entire feature to each band member. The films are scheduled to be released simultaneously in April 2028, a move that might test audiences’ appetite for Beatles lore.
While the casting has already created immense buzz, with Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn’s role as George Harrison has initially drawn less excitement. Historically, Harrison has been viewed as the “quiet” Beatle, overshadowed by the Lennon-McCartney songwriting powerhouse. However, Quinn’s recent career trajectory suggests that his film might end up being the sleeper hit of the series.
The rise of Joseph Quinn
Quinn’s name exploded into mainstream consciousness after his breakout role as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things, where he won fans over with his charisma, musical talent, and emotional depth. And while (spoiler alert!) Eddie met his end in the latest season, there are whispers that he might be making a surprise return in the show’s final season.
Beyond Stranger Things, Quinn is proving himself to be a serious dramatic actor. His upcoming film Warfare, an intense, real-time war thriller set in Iraq in 2006, is already generating critical acclaim. Starring alongside Cosmo Jarvis and Will Poulter, Quinn plays Sam, a Navy SEAL caught in an ambush, and early reviews suggest his performance is one of the film’s standout moments. Bulked up, shaven-headed, and radiating a raw intensity, Quinn’s transformation in Warfare shows his ability to embody complex, conflicted characters—exactly the kind of depth needed to play George Harrison.
If that weren’t enough, Quinn is also set to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which will pave the way for him to appear in the next wave of Avengers films. By 2028, when Mendes’ Beatles biopics are released, Joseph Quinn will likely be a household name.
Why George’s film could be the most intriguing
Despite his reputation as the quiet, introspective Beatle, George Harrison had arguably the most fascinating arc of the Fab Four. He joined The Beatles when he was just 15 years old, the youngest of the group, and initially struggled to get his voice heard amongst Lennon and McCartney’s dominance. But over time, he evolved into a songwriting force, responsible for some of the band’s most beloved songs, including Something, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and Here Comes the Sun.
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Harrison was also a spiritual seeker, leading the band to India to study meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and helping to introduce Indian music and culture to the Western mainstream. His journey post-Beatles was equally compelling, with his triple album All Things Must Pass standing as arguably the best solo album of any former Beatle.
Unlike Lennon and McCartney, whose stories have been repeatedly told in films, books, and documentaries, Harrison remains something of an enigma. His wry wit, dazzling musical talent, and complex personality make him the perfect subject for a fresh, character-driven biopic.
Could this be Quinn’s defining role?
Quinn has already shown he can play intense, deeply emotional characters, but his portrayal of Harrison will require a delicate balance—capturing both his inner turmoil and quiet genius.
And if Mendes and his team get the script right, the George film could end up being the hidden gem of the entire project. While casual viewers might initially overlook it in favour of the Lennon and McCartney stories, it has the potential to be the most emotionally resonant of the four films.
As for Quinn’s future? With his career skyrocketing, don’t be surprised if he’s being considered for James Bond next.
