Lensing will begin next year on Brian Epstein biopic “The Fifth Beatle,” with Peyton Reed on board to direct.
Producers are touting “The Fifth Beatle” as the first-ever film about the Beatles to secure music rights to the Lennon/McCartney music catalog.
Story is based on the Vivek J. Tiwary graphic novel chronicling the final years of the Beatles’ founder and manager, who passed away in 1967 at the age of 32. Bruce Cohen is producing with Tiwary.
Reed’s credits include “Yes Man,” “The Break-Up,” “Down With Love” and “Bring It On.”
“From the moment I read Vivek’s graphic novel, I knew I wanted to be the person to bring Brian’s story to the bigscreen,” Reed said. “I’m a lifelong Beatles fan, obviously, but it’s Brian’s fascinating life that really blew me away and drew me to this project. He’s the ultimate outsider who, against all odds, became the ultimate insider.”
Epstein discovered the Beatles in late 1961 at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and became their manager, boasting, “The Beatles will be bigger than Elvis!”
Tiwary’s Broadway credits include “The Addams Family,” Green Day’s “American Idiot,” Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein,” “A Raisin in the Sun” and “A Little Night Music.”
Cohen’s producing credits include “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Milk” and “American Beauty.”
News was first reported by the Deadline.com site.
