Beatles' biopic stars Barry Keoghan, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn and Harris Dickinson recreate Abbey Road album cover after local council tried to block filming at the iconic location

By CHARLOTTE DEAN, ASSOCIATE SHOWBIZ EDITOR Published: 16:25, 16 August 2026 | Updated: 17:06, 16 August 2026 It is one of the most iconic album covers in music history, taken just outside Abbey Road studios where the Beatles recorded almost all of their songs. So it is no surprise the memorable moment the four band members on the now  famous zebra crossing is being recreated in the upcoming Beatles biopic. Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn and Harris Dickinson step into the shoes of Paul, Ringo, George and John for Sam Mendes' hotly anticipated film. Harris's John, dressed in a striking white suit and shirt, led the way in the scene followed closely by Barry (Ringo), Paul (Paul), and Joseph (George). Sam Mendes, who is directing, had wanted to recreate the 1969 cover, but it was reported at the time Westminster council wouldn't allow filming to take place there. It was later confirmed to the Daily Mail by the council that filming would go ahead in the location and they were working closely with production teams to facilitate filming. Harris Dickson, dressed as John Lennon in a striking white suit and shirt, led the way in the scene followed closely by Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr), Paul Mescal (Paul McCarney), and George Harrison (Joseph Quinn) The original cover image shot by Iain MacMillan of the band crossing the road at Abbey Road Studios (pictured L-R George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon) The cover image was taken by Scottish photographer Iain Macmillan, a close friend of John, who balanced precariously on a ladder in the middle of the north London road. He had just ten minutes to get his shot so he got the Fab Four to walk back and forth continuously over the now famous zebra crossing.  Paul picked the shot to be used as the album cover – the rest were discarded.  Abbey Road was the penultimate album released by the Beatles, however Let It Be, their final album, had largely been recorded before the material on Abbey Road. Also on set was a replica of John's famous psychedelic Rolls-Royce Phantom V. Its hugely significant to the Beatles' story. He originally had it painted black, but in 1967 he had it completely transformed: bright yellow with elaborate red, blue, green and gold designs inspired by Romany decorative motifs. Daniel Hoffmann-Gill was also seen as his character Mal Evans, who was The Beatles' main roadie and formerly a bouncer at the Cavern Club. Brian Epstein hired Mal to assist the band, after which he became indispensable and present for all of The Beatles' tours and nearly all of their recording sessions. Daniel Hoffmann-Gill was also seen as his character Mal Evans, who was The Beatles' main roadie and formerly a bouncer at the Cavern Club Also on set was a replica of John's famous psychedelic Rolls-Royce Phantom V. It's hugely significant to the Beatles' story Entitled The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the project was announced last year. The movies will each take the perspective of one member of The Beatles as they evolve from unknowns in Liverpool in the early 1960s to becoming the biggest band in the world and then breaking up in 1970. It's the first time that surviving Beatles Paul and Ringo, and the families of the late John and George, have given the rights to feature films about them. Sam's project described as the first 'bingeable theatrical experience' also stars Aimee Lou Wood, 32, as George's model wife Pattie Boyd, Anna Sawai, 34, as Yoko Ono and James Norton, 41, as the band's manager, Brian Epstein. Mia McKenna-Bruce, 29, will appear as Ringo's first wife, Maureen Starkey, while Harry Lloyd, 42, plays George Martin, the producer who became known as the 'fifth Beatle'. In the ambitious four-film anthology, each instalment will tell the story of The Beatles from a different band member's perspective. All four films are due to be released simultaneously in 2028.