Comedian Peter Serafinowicz will provide the voice of Paul McCartney in Robert Zemeckis’ new version of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine film.
Serafinowicz has performed as McCartney before, notably in ‘I’ll Kill’, his pastiche of the White Album song ‘I Will’, and impersonated each of The Beatles on the BBC’s The Peter Serafinowicz show.
He is perhaps best known for his appearances alongside Simon Pegg in Shaun Of The Dead and Spaced, and for voicing Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
The other leading cast members in the Yellow Submarine remake are Dean Lennox Kelly, who played Kev Ball in the Channel 4 TV show Shameless, as John Lennon; Cary Elwes, who previously worked with Zemeckis on A Christmas Carol, as George Harrison; and Epic Movie’s Adam Campbell as Ringo Starr.
California-based Beatles tribute band The Fab Four will provide motion-captured performances of the musical sequences, though 16 of The Beatles’ original recordings will be used.
The film will be a computer-animated remake of the 1968 original, using performance capture and 3D technology. Disney hopes to release the film in time for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Also on this day...
- 2021: Mary McCartney to direct Abbey Road Studios documentary
- 2010: Album release: Y Not by Ringo Starr
- 1981: US single release: Woman by John Lennon
- 1969: The Beatles meet at Ringo Starr’s house
- 1968: Recording: The Inner Light, Wonderwall Music
- 1967: Recording, mixing: Penny Lane
- 1967: Joe Orton is asked to write a film script for The Beatles
- 1966: John Lennon and Ringo Starr holiday in Trinidad
- 1965: Live: Another Beatles Christmas Show
- 1964: Sunday Night At The London Palladium
- 1963: The Beatles live: Invicta Ballroom, Chatham
- 1962: The Beatles live: Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
So the original Beatles songs aren’t going to be used?
I’m glad to here all the actors are English. Hopefully they learnt a long time ago from Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins that Americans can’t do other accents (although I’m open to rebuttal).
I think that’s a little unfair. Have you seen This Is Spinal Tap? The English accents in that are excellent.
From what I gather, the Beatles’ songs will be used, just not the recordings. I guess the film might be too similar to the original if the same recordings were used. By using a tribute act they can be a bit more creative with the music, by reworking certain parts etc. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not this is a good thing.
My mistake – The Beatles’ music will be used in the film, but the Fab 4 will provide motion capture for the group (ie you’ll see a representation of them on-screen during the musical performances).
im glad that the music is being used but I think that there should be some kind of “update” on the fim the entertainment world has changed and along with it not just paul and ringo(or does he prefer richard now? i think i heard something about that)
also john and george had began to use different types of sound and influences (not just the experimental stuff john was on) i couldn’t begin to imagine the kinds of things the two left could release if they had the chance to go in and just mess around with new effects and techniques i think they need to do another album together to just get things rolling.let me know what you think its just an opinion.
-DC
I Just hope that the Fab 4 do a excellent performance acting of the original songs (lip-sync and performance only on screen). That will be great. Just also hope that don’t exaggerate a lot the british accents like the original because it was a little hard to understand the dialogue on the movie but it’s a great film.
My brother and cousins hate it because the look of the characters and people on Pepper Land and the Blue Meanies and…well all who is a human (and not) being.
For me, it’s an excellent film.
I can’t wait that 2012 come.
Come on Zemeckis you can do it!
I’ll have 20 on that time but i’ll see it.
Oh! The parody ”I’ll Kill” it’s so funny!
The tribute band that is doing the motions isn’t called ‘Fab 4’. It’s called ‘The Fab Four: The Ultimate Beatles Tribute’. There is a difference, you know. The is a different Beatles tribute band called ‘Fab 4’ and I wouldn’t want to start hearing rumors that they are doing it & getting all the credit when they really aren’t.
Anyway, I’m VERY excited!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Thanks for the clarification Bexx. I’ve amended the article and added a link to the group’s site.
The Fab Four IS indeed the ultimate tribute band to The Beatles! Watch their tribute performances to The Beatles and you’ll be amazed! Specially on Paul’s part! Their Paul McCartney which is Ardy is a right-handed but he taught himself to play left-handed (They also have this other tribute band called ‘Wingsband’ for WINGS!)
Ron McNeil as John Lennon
Gavin Pring as George Harrison (he’s from Liverpool too! and an awesome tribute to George!)
Erik Fidel as Ringo Starr
You’re going to love them I swear. Unfortunately, the film remake of Yellow Submarine will never happen 🙁
2012 that year already passed , maybe your thinking 2020 sounds more likely , anybody else know anything about this new movie of The Beatles Yellow Submarine Cartoon
Disney properly killed and buried it back in 2011, and Zemeckis has since acknowledged it as a “bad idea”.