Filming has commenced in Liverpool for the BBC's upcoming drama series, "Hamburg Days," which chronicles the formative years of The Beatles. The six-part series will delve into the band's early experiences in Germany and their evolution from Liverpool teenagers into a globally recognized phenomenon.
The drama's narrative will feature the band during the era when Stuart Sutcliffe served as bassist and Pete Best was the drummer. The cast includes Rhys Mannion as John Lennon, Harvey Brett as George Harrison, Ellis Murphy as Paul McCartney, Louis Landau as Stuart Sutcliffe, and Patrick Gilmore as Pete Best. Ryan Sampson is set to portray Alan Williams, the Beatles' original booking agent and first manager.
The series draws inspiration from the memoirs of Klaus Voormann, an artist who befriended the band in Hamburg and later designed the cover for their 1966 album "Revolver." Voormann also collaborated on solo projects with John, Ringo, and George. Producers indicated that "Hamburg Days" will depict the band's interactions with Voormann and photographer Astrid Kirchherr.
The Beatles' journey in Hamburg and Liverpool began in 1960. By 1962, John, Paul, and George had asked Best to leave the group due to concerns about his drumming and his compatibility with the band, subsequently recruiting Ringo Starr to finalize the lineup that achieved worldwide fame.
Meanwhile, a separate cinematic project, "The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event," directed by Sam Mendes, is also in production. This ambitious anthology will consist of four films, each offering a perspective from one of the band members as they navigated their rise from obscurity in Liverpool in the early 1960s to global superstardom and their eventual breakup in 1970. This marks the first time surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison, have granted film rights for such a project.
The film project stars Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn, and Harris Dickinson. Aimee Lou Wood is cast as Pattie Boyd, Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono, and James Norton as manager Brian Epstein. Mia McKenna-Bruce will portray Ringo's first wife, Maureen Starkey, and Harry Lloyd will play producer George Martin.
The four films are slated for a simultaneous release in 2028, promising what is described as the first 'bingeable theatrical experience.'
"Hamburg Days" is scripted by Jamie Carragher and is expected to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, though a release date has not yet been announced.