Ringo Starr has commented on reports that Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) will play him in an upcoming biopic about The Beatles. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer discussed the speculation in a recent interview with “Entertainment Tonight’s” Kevin Frazier.
“I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons,” he said. “I hope not too many!” When asked if he had any advice for the actor, Starr showed off his basic drumming tutorial and added, “I’m not asking you to play like me, but you have to have the movement to do this stuff. A lot of people come to the gigs we’re doing and say, ‘My son is taking drum lessons,’ and I say, ‘Not too many I hope.’ You’ve got to let them get their own feel.”
It’s been 60 years since The Beatles first landed in the United States and Beatlemania is still going strong. The band is up for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance at the 2025 Grammys and a documentary produced by Martin Scorsese titled “Beatles ’64” will stream on Disney+ on Nov. 29.
SEE ‘Beatles ’64’ trailer: Never-before-seen footage shows the band’s first visit to America
Reports state that Oscar winner Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”) will direct the four-part biopic, and although nothing’s been confirmed, rumors are swirling that Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Paul Mescal will star as Paul McCartney, and Charlie Rowe will take on the role of George Harrison. There is no word on when the project will begin filming.
Starr said of his departed bandmates, “I miss them both, George and John. We were friends. We looked out for each other. It was great.” When discussing the band’s latest Grammy-nominated single, “Now and Then,” he revealed, “Peter Jackson has this machine that took John’s voice off a cassette tape and it’s like he was in the room. It was very moving. Paul put a lot of work into this. He called me and said, ‘Hey, you know that song? You want to play drums?'” The song brings the band back together for one last song.
The 84-year-old Beatle is dropping his own album, “Look Up,” on Jan. 10. It’s a country music collaboration with music producer T Bone Burnett. “I love his style,” Starr said. “It’s emotional. Country has always been emotional.”
