Irish actor joins cast of major new Beatles TV drama ‘Hamburg Days’ – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Flickr)
A 23-year-old Irish performer with a background in both acting and music has been selected to play John Lennon in an upcoming BBC series that examines the band’s formative time in Hamburg. The six-part drama, titled Hamburg Days, centers on the period when The Beatles honed their craft in the city’s St Pauli district before achieving global fame. The project draws directly from the autobiography of the same name written by the band’s close associates Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr.
A Breakthrough Casting Choice
Rhys Mannion, who grew up in Kiltoom, brings a distinctive combination of screen experience and hands-on musical involvement to the role. His previous credits include appearances in the films It Is In Us All and Freud’s Last Session, as well as the BBC drama Titanic Sinks Tonight. At age 17 he wrote and directed the Famine-era musical Dawn na Dorcha for Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre, and he continues to perform with the indie-rock band Happy Daze.
That musical foundation is expected to lend particular authenticity to scenes depicting the raw energy of the early Beatles performances. The casting announcement highlights how the production sought an actor capable of conveying both the youthful intensity and the emerging songwriting talent that defined Lennon during those Hamburg nights.
The Story the Series Will Tell
Hamburg Days follows a group of inexperienced teenagers from Liverpool who arrive in the German port city and gradually transform into a tight, professional live act. The narrative explores the long nights in clubs, the friendships formed with local artists, and the personal growth that shaped the band’s distinctive sound and image. According to the BBC, the drama captures “a raw young band from Liverpool” whose time abroad proved decisive in their development.
The six episodes will draw on firsthand accounts from Voormann and Kirchherr, offering viewers an intimate look at the environment that influenced everything from the group’s stage presence to their later songwriting approach. This focus on the pre-fame years distinguishes the project from more familiar Beatles stories centered on their later success.
Supporting Roles and Creative Team
The ensemble includes Ellis Murphy as Paul McCartney, Harvey Brett as George Harrison, Patrick Gilmore as Pete Best, and Louis Landau as Stu Sutcliffe. Together the cast will portray the friendships and rivalries that defined the band’s earliest lineup during its Hamburg residency.
Christian Schwochow, known for directing episodes of The Crown, serves as showrunner. BAFTA-winning producer David Holmes is overseeing the music, ensuring the soundtrack reflects the period’s influences while remaining true to the band’s evolving style. Filming is already underway across locations in Hamburg, Liverpool, and Munich.
Part of a Wider Beatles Resurgence
The BBC series arrives as interest in the band continues to grow across multiple formats. Director Sam Mendes is separately developing four feature films, each focusing on a different member and starring Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Harris Dickinson, and Joseph Quinn. This parallel wave of projects underscores how the group’s early history still resonates with new audiences and creators.
By concentrating on the Hamburg chapter, Hamburg Days offers a contained yet revealing window into the experiences that prepared The Beatles for worldwide stardom. The production is scheduled to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer once filming concludes.
