­Tom Hanks to produce Beatles’ manager biopic starring Cumberbatch

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Published time: November 20, 2012 11:23
Edited time: November 20, 2012 16:23

The man who was dubbed “the fifth Beatle”, the iconic manager of the Fab Four Brian Epstein is to be the subject of a new biopic. Tom Hanks will produce the picture, while BBC’s Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch will play Epstein.

According to the producers, the new movie will mainly focus on Epstein’s personal life, while his professional activity and relationship with the Beatles will be left aside.

Brian Epstein signed The Beatles in 1961 at the very dawn of the band’s musical career. He was the one who forged the band into a professional music act. "If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian," Paul McCartney said of Epstein.

Apart from being a talented professional Epstein was also a troubled soul. He developed a drug addiction, had problems with gambling and was also homosexual during the years when it was illegal in Britain. Six years after he met the Beatles, Epstein died of what is believed to be an accidental drug overdose at his London home at the age of 32.

The new movie has no official title yet. Speaking about it the producers said it is the story of “the man who threw the biggest party of the 1960s but ultimately forgot to invite himself,” The Daily Telegraph reports.

The casting news arrives as another Brian Epstein film, The Fifth Beatle, comes together.

Hank’s picture will face competition from another Epstein film in the making. The other film titled will be based on a new graphic novel by the author Vivek Tiwary. Little is know of this project so far. The cast has yet to be announced; however music rights to use Beatles songs are reported to have been secured.