Paul McCartney says Beatles film casting makes him look shorter than John Lennon
On Amy Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast, Paul McCartney said Sam Mendes' four Beatles films show him as shorter than his bandmates, because Paul Mescal is shorter than Harris Dickinson. He said the band members were all about the same height.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Paul McCartney, 84, said on Amy Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast that he is bothered by how his height is shown in films about the Beatles, including Sam Mendes' upcoming four-film project. The IndependentLC “he recently admitted on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast that he has a “thing” about how his height is shown in Beatles movies.” Read at The Independent ↗ VarietyLC ““We were all the same height!” McCartney declared on the “Good Hang” podcast” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2McCartney said the band members were roughly the same height, with Ringo Starr a little smaller, yet he is often shown as the shortest. VarietyLC ““We were all the same height, and Ringo was a bit smaller. And if you look at photos, we’re all the same height.”” Read at Variety ↗ The IndependentLC “he was the same height as Lennon and Harrison, with Starr slightly shorter” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 2Mendes is directing four films, one for each band member, with Paul Mescal as McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. All four are due in cinemas in April 2028. The IndependentLC “The movies will star Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn and Barry Keoghan as McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, respectively.” Read at The Independent ↗ VarietyLC “All four movies will be released theatrically in April 2028.” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 2McCartney said Mescal is smaller than the actor playing Lennon, and that he told Mendes this. The Independent gives Mescal's height as 5ft 11in and Dickinson's as 6ft 2in. The IndependentLC “Mescal is five feet and 11 inches tall, while Dickinson is six feet and two inches tall.” Read at The Independent ↗ VarietyLC ““Guess what?” McCartney added about Mescal. “He is smaller than the guy who plays John.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2McCartney said Mendes sent him a still from filming, in which the four actors cross the Abbey Road zebra crossing, and that "the Paul character is markedly smaller". He said he texted Mendes: "Sam! Smaller? Don't do this! You said you wouldn't do it." VarietyLC “I texted him: ‘Sam! Smaller? Don’t do this! You said you wouldn’t do it.’”” Read at Variety ↗ The IndependentLC “And the Paul character is markedly smaller.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 2McCartney traced the concern to the 2009 film "Nowhere Boy", in which Thomas Brodie-Sangster played McCartney opposite Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Lennon. He said his character was "kind of wimpy", and that director Sam Taylor-Johnson told him "This is a movie, not a documentary", an answer he said he did not like. The IndependentLC ““My character is kind of wimpy, smaller than John,” McCartney recalled.” Read at The Independent ↗ VarietyLC “she said, ‘This is a movie, it’s not a documentary.’ And I thought, ‘Well, I don’t like that explanation.’” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1The Independent reports that McCartney supports the project and has granted full music rights for the films. The IndependentLC “McCartney, 84, has shown his support for the project and granted full music rights for the films” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1Variety says the project is officially titled "The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event", is backed by Sony Pictures and is midway through a year-long production. It quotes producer Pippa Harris, speaking at the BFI London Film Festival, as saying the aim is for audiences to see the films within the same month. VarietyLC “The project, officially titled “The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event,” has the backing of Sony Pictures and is currently in the middle of its year-long production.”““Within the same month — you might see one a week, or you might see one weekend and two the next and one the next.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1No response from Mendes, Mescal or the producers to McCartney's comments appears in the coverage, and it does not say whether the height difference will be changed. The IndependentLC ““I don’t know how Sam’s going to deal with it,” McCartney quipped.” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets treat the story as a light entertainment item about McCartney's height complaint, drawn from the podcast. The Independent uses a mild "short end of the stick" angle, and Variety uses a bolder headline with the text message.
- Emphasis
- McCartney's height remarks, the Abbey Road still, the Nowhere Boy anecdote. The Independent adds the actors' heights and McCartney's support for the project. Variety adds the film's title, the Sony backing and the producer's release comments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither reports any response from Mendes or Mescal. Neither says whether the casting or filming will change.
- Charged language
- “bone to pick”“short end of the stick”
- For example
-
“Paul McCartney is worried about getting the short end of the stick with the upcoming Beatles films.” — The Independent
“Paul McCartney has a bone to pick with Sam Mendes” — Variety
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- McCartney made the remarks on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast.
- Mendes is directing four Beatles films, to be released in April 2028.
- Paul Mescal plays McCartney and Harris Dickinson plays Lennon; McCartney says Mescal is the smaller.
- McCartney said he first noticed the issue with 2009's Nowhere Boy.
Paul McCartney person
Says the Beatles were all about the same height, objects to being shown as smaller, and told Mendes so. He jokes about it, and the Independent says he supports the project.
“I texted him: ‘Sam! Smaller? Don’t do this! You said you wouldn’t do it.’”” — Variety
“McCartney, 84, has shown his support for the project” — The Independent
Sam Mendes person
The coverage gives no direct comment from Mendes. McCartney says Mendes sent him a still from the Abbey Road shoot, and that he had earlier said he would not make McCartney shorter.
“Mendes had sent him a still from set on the day that the four actors were crossing Abbey Road” — The Independent
Paul Mescal person
Plays McCartney. He is cited only for his height, which the Independent gives as 5ft 11in, shorter than Dickinson, who plays Lennon. The coverage has no comment from him.
“Mescal is five feet and 11 inches tall, while Dickinson is six feet and two inches tall.” — The Independent
Left2 articles
-
Paul McCartney reveals his main issue with Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic
Neutral Light entertainment report on McCartney's podcast remarks, adding the actors' heights and noting his support for the project.
-
Mixed Playful, more emphatic headline built on the "Don't do this!" text, with production and release details.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 16:39 First The IndependentLC Paul McCartney reveals his main issue with Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic
- 14 Oct 15:24 +22h 45m VarietyLC Paul McCartney Calls Out Beatles Movies Because Paul Mescal Is Shorter Than John Lennon Actor; He Texted Director Sam Mendes: ‘Don’t Do This!’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…