Unique: It̵7;s been a long and winding road but the Beatles manager movie midas man It has finally reached post-production after recently taking on a third director to bring it on line.
UK director Joe Stephenson (doctor jekyll) quietly signed off earlier this year with previous filmmaker Sarah Sugarman (vinyl) who left us after what sources described as creative differences and scheduling issues.
Sugarman has tied the knot in late 2021 with filmmaker Jonas Ekerlund (polar) who walked away even after not making eye contact with the producers during the shoot.
queen’s trick Actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd plays The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein in the biopic. Also starring are Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Lucas Gage, Bill Milner, Rosie Day as Cilla Black and Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan.
Depicting the Fab Four are newcomers Jonah Lees as John Lennon, musician Blake Richardson as Paul McCartney, Leo Harvey Elledge as George Harrison, and Campbell Wallace as drummer Ringo Starr.
It took some time for the production to get back on its feet after Ekerlund’s exit as Sugarman picked up the pace and had a planned hiatus for Christmas 2021. But the project was again delayed due to previous shooting commitments for lead actor Fortune-Lloyd and the producers had to raise more funds to make up for lost time. Several sources who worked on the film complained to us about the lack of funds during production.
As is often the case with independent films, it hasn’t been smooth sailing, but the film is now under threat and producers are bullish about the project, its exposure, new director and festival prospects.
midas man (pictured above) charts Epstein’s role in the cultural revolution and creative explosion of the 1960s, and his largely often-underappreciated influence on pop music. He was the Beatles’ manager from 1962 until his untimely death in 1967 at the age of 32. He also played with British Invasion acts Gerry and the Pacemakers and Billy J. Also managed Kramer and Dakota.
Pic is being produced by StudioPOW and Trevor Beatty Films. It has been sold to a group of distributors by Mr. Smith Entertainment.
Producer Perry Travers told us today: “Unfortunately the delay in starting principal photography meant that changes to key members of our team were inevitable. In this process we were pleased to be able to secure the services of Joe Stephenson, who that we have seen from afar for a while. With principal photography now complete we are incredibly pleased with what has been shot and look forward with excitement to being able to share it with the world.
Stephenson said: “When I was approached to take over midas man, I didn’t have to think twice. The past twelve weeks have been an epic journey and I cannot thank my cast and crew enough. Brian Epstein’s story needed to be told for years and I am honored to bring it to the big screen.
Sugarman declined to comment.
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Brian Epstein
Netflix; AP