Midas Man
- Brigit Grant
- Jonathan Wakeham
- Trevor Beattie
- Tom Reeve
- Jeremy Chatterton
- Tom Ortenberg
- Peter Dunne
- Mark Borkowski
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd
- Emily Watson
- Eddie Marsan
- Bill Milner
- Charley Palmer Rothwell
- Jay Leno
- Milo Parker
- Darci Shaw
companies
- Studio POW
- Trevor Beattie Films
- Signature Entertainment (United Kingdom)
- Transmission Films (Australia & New Zealand)
- 30 May 2024 (2024-05-30) (Toronto Jewish Film Festival)
- 29 August 2024 (2024-08-29) (Australia & New Zealand)
Midas Man is a 2024 British biographical film about the life of music entrepreneur Brian Epstein, who managed The Beatles. Based on a screenplay by Brigit Grant and Jonathan Wakeham, the film is directed by Joe Stephenson, after previous directors Sara Sugarman and Jonas Åkerlund moved on from the project. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd stars in the lead role, alongside Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Omari Douglas, Darci Shaw, Ed Speleers, Charley Palmer Rothwell, Bill Milner, Jay Leno, and Blake Richardson.
After starting filming in October 2021, there were various hold-ups until it resumed in 2023, finishing that June. The film premiered at the 32nd Toronto Jewish Film Festival on 30 May 2024.[1]
Premise
The film tracks how Brian Epstein rose to prominence by managing a series of popular artists including The Beatles, Cilla Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers before his sudden death in 1967 at the age of 32.
Cast
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Brian Epstein
- Emily Watson as Malka, Epstein's mother
- Eddie Marsan as Harry, Epstein's father
- Omari Douglas as Lonnie Trimble
- Darci Shaw as Cilla Black
- Ed Speleers as Tex Ellington
- Charley Palmer Rothwell as George Martin
- Bill Milner as Clive, Epstein's brother
- Jay Leno as Ed Sullivan
- Eddie Izzard as Allan Williams
- Jonah Lees as John Lennon
- Blake Richardson as Paul McCartney
- Leo Harvey Elledge as George Harrison
- Campbell Wallace as Ringo Starr
- Adam Lawrence as Pete Best
- Jordan Kelly as Gerry Marsden
- Milo Parker as Alistair Taylor
- Shaun Fagan as Bob Wooler
- Anthony Dowling as Taxi Driver
- Alice Merivale as Patricia Davies
Production
Development
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Aankomst_Brian_Epstein_%28manager_Beatles%29_op_Schiphol_%28Grand_Gala_du_Disque_1965%29%2C_Bestanddeelnr_918-2516_ShiftN.jpg/170px-Aankomst_Brian_Epstein_%28manager_Beatles%29_op_Schiphol_%28Grand_Gala_du_Disque_1965%29%2C_Bestanddeelnr_918-2516_ShiftN.jpg)
Midas Man is a biographical film about Brian Epstein based on a story and screenplay by Brigit Grant. It is a British co-production between Studio POW and Trevor Beattie Films. It is also produced by Er Dong Pictures, who will distribute the film in China. In July 2020, Jonas Åkerlund was announced to direct.[2] In an interview with The Guardian, Åkerlund said he had been researching Epstein for almost two years. He also said he had talked with people who knew Epstein, including Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers: "He told me stories that haven't been printed yet and that we'll introduce into our film."[3] In April 2021, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd was cast in the lead role as Brian Epstein.[4] In July, the film's distribution rights in the U.K. and Ireland were sold to Signature Entertainment.[5] In the following months, Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan and Omari Douglas were cast in September,[6] and Rosie Day, Lukas Gage, Charley Palmer Rothwell and Bill Milner were cast in October.[7][8]
Filming
The planned 12-week shoot began in Liverpool on 11 October 2021.[9] Principal photography, however, was put on hiatus for three weeks after Åkerlund left the production in November. An issued statement made the claim that filming would continue that same month in London and move to Los Angeles, California, in early January.[10] Sara Sugarman was hired as Åkerlund's replacement, with no reshoots expected to take place, and filming scheduled to start again soon.[11][12] In late November, Jay Leno, Jonah Lees, Blake Richardson, Leo Harvey Elledge, Campbell Wallace and Adam Lawrence joined the cast and a first-look image was released featuring several cast members at Abbey Road Studios.[13][12] An issued statement said that after a three month break, filming would begin in the U.S. in late January 2022 before returning to the U.K.[14]
Filming ended up being on hiatus for over a year, before finally taking place in May 2023 in Blackpool.[15] The following month, it was reported that Joe Stephenson had taken over as director from Sugarman, who reportedly left due to scheduling issues and creative differences.[16] Principal photography was completed by Stephenson. It was also reported that Eddie Izzard, Ed Speleers, Darci Shaw, and Milo Parker had joined the cast; Speleers and Shaw replaced Lukas Gage and Rosie Day, respectively.[17]
Release
On 30 May 2024, Midas Man held its Canadian premier at the 32nd Toronto Jewish Film Festival. It was shown as the opening night film.[1] Studio POW and American Entertainment Investors sold North American distribution rights to Briarcliff Entertainment.[18] It is scheduled to release in Australia and New Zealand on 29 August 2024.
Notes
- ^ Original director Jonas Åkerlund left the project after disagreements with producers, and his replacement Sara Sugarman also left the film due to creative differences and scheduling conflicts following production delays.
References
- ^ a b "Toronto Jewish Film Festival - Midas Man, Opening Night Film, Canadian Premier". Toronto Jewish Film Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (2 July 2020). "Jonas Akerlund to Direct Brian Epstein Biopic Midas Man". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Alberge, Dalya (2 July 2020). "Top director to shoot biopic about Beatles manager Brian Epstein". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (16 April 2021). "The Queen's Gambit Star Jacob Fortune-Lloyd To Star As Beatles Manager Brian Epstein In Midas Man". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Grater, Tom; Wiseman, Andreas (29 July 2021). "Brian Epstein Pic Midas Man Pre-Sells To Signature In UK & Ireland; Deals Also Struck For Aus, France, More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Grater, Tom (9 September 2021). "Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan & Omari Douglas Join Beatles Manager Biopic Midas Man". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Grater, Tom (21 October 2021). "Rosie Day To Play Cilla Black In Beatles Manager Biopic Midas Man; First Look At Jacob Fortune-Lloyd As Brian Epstein". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (28 October 2021). "Son Of Rambow & X-Men: First Class Star Bill Milner Joins Midas Man As Clive Epstein". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Daniels, Nia (11 October 2021). "Filming begins on Brian Epstein biopic, Midas Man". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 November 2021). "Help! Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man Shuts Down Mid-Shoot With Director Jonas Akerlund Unlikely To Continue". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (18 November 2021). "Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man Hires New Director Mid-Shoot; Filmmaker Jonas Akerlund Issues Statement". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (24 November 2021). "Beatles Actors Revealed For Brian Epstein Movie Midas Man, First Look Images". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (22 November 2021). "Jay Leno To Play Ed Sullivan In Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (13 December 2021). "Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man Won't Restart Filming Until Late January". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Calderbank, Matthew (11 May 2023). "Beatles movie Midas Man filming in Blackpool with Hollywood and Netflix stars". Blackpool Gazette.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (9 June 2023). "We Can Work It Out: Beatles Manager Movie 'Midas Man' Gets Third Director To Finish Up Turbulent Production". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (14 June 2023). "Beatles Manager Movie 'Midas Man' Adds Suzy Eddie Izzard And Ed Speleers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ Lang, Brent (3 June 2024). "'Midas Man,' Drama About Beatles Manager Brian Epstein, Sells to Briarcliff Entertainment From Studio POW and American Entertainment Investors". Variety. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
External links
- Midas Man at IMDb