Beatles Biopic Casts Brian Epstein — The Jeffrey Epstein Question, Answered

James Norton will portray Beatles mastermind Brian Epstein in Sam Mendes’ The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event, a casting already stirring fan buzz — and a clarifier: Brian Epstein has no known relation to Jeffrey Epstein.
Sam Mendes is making four Beatles movies, and now we know who is playing the man who steered the ship behind the scenes: James Norton will star as Brian Epstein in 'The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event' (via Deadline). That casting makes all the sense in the world. It also kicked up a truly bizarre sidebar: people asking if Brian Epstein is related to Jeffrey Epstein. Quick answer: not that anyone credible has ever said. Epstein is a common Jewish surname, and there has never been a confirmed family connection. Same last name, end of story.
Why Brian Epstein matters here
Epstein is the manager who turned a scruffy, wildly talented Liverpool band into a global phenomenon. He first caught The Beatles at the Cavern Club in 1961, back when he was running his family’s record shop. He was floored by them immediately and, in his memoir, tried to put that feeling into words:
"Something tremendous came over... I was immediately struck by their music, their beat, and their sense of humour on stage. They were fresh and honest and had what I thought was a sort of presence - 'star quality.' Whatever that is, they had it - or I sensed that they had it."
Here is what he did next, despite having zero artist-management experience: he signed them, cleaned up the image, booked real gigs, and chased record deals until one finally hit. That persistence didn’t just get them a contract; it rewired the next decade of pop culture. He understood how to package showmanship and professionalism at a moment when the band’s energy was still charmingly unruly.
When Epstein died, the band felt the loss everywhere. In the 'Beatles Anthology' doc, George Harrison said Epstein’s absence left a 'huge void,' and admitted they didn’t know much about 'personal business and finances' because Brian had always handled it. Translation: he wasn’t just the manager; he was the infrastructure.
So what does Mendes show in four films?
Mendes is structuring this as four separate movies, one for each Beatle. Even so, you can’t tell their stories without the man who set the table. Epstein’s life is tailor-made for a layered arc (and yes, he has already been the subject of a biopic):
- Public visionary, private pain: Epstein was gay at a time when it was illegal in the UK (until 1967). He was targeted and arrested for it, which meant a lot of his life played out in secrecy and loneliness.
- The protector: Despite all that, he offered The Beatles something close to paternal protection, buffering them from chaos while sharpening their focus.
- The unraveling: By 1966 he was battling addiction. When the band stopped touring, the purpose that had driven him started to slip away.
- The end of an era: He died of an overdose at just 32. After that, the band’s world shifted for good.
The bottom line
Norton as Epstein is a smart, intriguing choice. If Mendes makes room for Brian across the four films, we might finally get the full portrait of the so-called fifth Beatle - the one who never took the stage but helped build it. Think James Norton can thread all that? I’m in. What about you?