Anna Sawai stars as Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles films, aiming to reshape her legacy and challenge the myth of her role in the band’s breakup.

Actress Anna Sawai, cast as Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ four-film Beatles series, says the project aims to offer a more balanced portrayal of Ono, challenging the long-held belief that she caused the band’s breakup. Sawai, researching Ono’s life, art, and writings, hopes audiences will gain a deeper understanding of her legacy. The films, each told from one Beatle’s perspective, are set to debut in April 2028. Sawai noted her co-stars—Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn, and Barry Keoghan—have mastered the band’s music so authentically that they now perform without sheet music, creating lifelike renditions.