Syco Entertainment to Co-Produce Brian Epstein Biopic The Fifth Beatle – 15 May 2015
Friday 15 May 2015 | Film and Video
On 15 May 2015, at the Cannes Film Festival, Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment production company announced it would co-produce a feature film adaptation of The Fifth Beatle — Vivek J. Tiwary’s acclaimed graphic novel about the life of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The announcement was made in partnership with independent studio IM Global, with Tiwary writing the screenplay and serving as producer alongside Cowell and IM Global founder Stuart Ford. The production had already secured an unprecedented agreement with Sony/ATV Publishing for the use of twelve Beatles songs in the film.
The Fifth Beatle: The Graphic Novel
The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story was written by Vivek J. Tiwary and published by Dark Horse Comics in November 2013, with artwork by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker. It recounts the story of Brian Epstein — the Liverpool record shop manager who discovered The Beatles at the Cavern Club in November 1961 and guided them to worldwide success — and the personal demons and societal obstacles he faced along the way.
The book was a significant commercial and critical success. It reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list and won numerous major literary awards, including the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award (the comics industry’s equivalent of the Academy Award) and two Harvey Awards (Best Original Graphic Album among them). It was named a Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best LGBT Graphic Novel — a recognition of the book’s treatment of Epstein’s homosexuality, which was illegal in Britain until 1967 and which he was forced to conceal throughout his life. The book was also added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Library and Archives Permanent Collection.
Paul McCartney’s assessment of Epstein — “if anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian” — provided the book’s title and its central argument: that Epstein’s contribution to The Beatles’ success was as significant as that of any member of the group.
The Film Announcement: Cannes, 15 May 2015
The announcement was made at the Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2015. The three producing partners were Vivek J. Tiwary, Simon Cowell (Syco Entertainment), and Stuart Ford (IM Global). Executive producers included IM Global’s Matt Jackson and David Schulhof, and Syco Entertainment’s Adam Milano.
The official press release was issued jointly by Syco Entertainment and IM Global:
“SYCO ENTERTAINMENT AND IM GLOBAL PARTNER ON VIVEK J. TIWARY’S ‘THE FIFTH BEATLE’. Film To Adapt Acclaimed Graphic Novel Biography Of The Beatles’ Manager Brian Epstein. Cannes, May 15 – Prolific independent entertainment studio IM Global, acclaimed writer Vivek J. Tiwary and Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment have announced they will partner to co-produce the feature film version of THE FIFTH BEATLE. The screenplay, written by Tiwary, is an adaptation of his acclaimed graphic novel based on the life of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein.”
The Beatles Music: An Unprecedented Agreement
One of the most significant elements of the announcement was the confirmation that the production had secured agreement from Sony/ATV Publishing — and, separately, from Apple Corps — for the use of twelve Lennon-McCartney songs in the film. Obtaining rights to use Beatles music in a dramatic production is notoriously difficult, and the agreement was described in the press release as “unprecedented”.
The twelve songs cleared for use were:
- ‘Help!’
- ‘You Never Give Me Your Money’
- ‘Girl’
- ‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’
- ‘All You Need Is Love’
- ‘A Day in the Life’
- ‘A Hard Day’s Night’
- ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’
- ‘Yesterday’
- ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
- ‘Eleanor Rigby’
- ‘Come Together’
The selection spans the full arc of The Beatles’ career under Epstein’s management — from the early Parlophone singles era through to the psychedelic period of 1967, the year Epstein died. ‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’ and ‘A Day in the Life’ are particularly resonant choices given the book’s treatment of Epstein’s concealed homosexuality and his inner life.
The Producers: Their Own Words
All three principal producers commented on the announcement.
Vivek J. Tiwary said: “The mission of ‘The Fifth Beatle’ has always been to sing the unsung story of Brian Epstein – the brilliant and inspiring visionary behind the Beatles – so I am thrilled to expand his legacy into film. And to be partnering with a brilliant self-made boy from Liverpool and a game-changing music impresario – I’m certain Brian would be pleased!”
Stuart Ford said: “Vivek has written a powerful, vibrant screenplay about one of the most colorful and heartbreaking stories in rock’n’roll history. I am proud and incredibly excited to launch into putting the film together with Vivek, Simon and the rest of the team.”
Simon Cowell said: “I have always been fascinated by Brian Epstein – and his story. He played a huge role in The Beatles’ incredible success – and, I believe, remains the most talented manager ever. Yet his story has never been fully told. Also, like everyone across the world, I have so much respect for The Beatles and their music. So to be given the chance to be involved in this project was one I just could not pass up.”
Brian Epstein: Who He Was
Brian Epstein was born on 19 September 1934 in Liverpool. He managed the record department of his family’s NEMS (North End Music Stores) business before going to see The Beatles at the Cavern Club on 9 November 1961, following customer enquiries about their record ‘My Bonnie’. He became their manager in January 1962 and secured their contract with EMI’s Parlophone label in June of that year.
Epstein managed The Beatles throughout their entire career as a performing group, from their first EMI recording session in June 1962 to their final concert in August 1966. He also managed a number of other acts, including Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, and Billy J. Kramer. He died on 27 August 1967, aged 32, from an accidental overdose of sleeping tablets. His death came just weeks after The Beatles had returned from Bangor, Wales, where they had been studying Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
McCartney’s assessment — “if anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian” — reflects the group’s genuine recognition of what Epstein had done for them. John Lennon was characteristically more blunt: “We were in a daydream until he came along.”
Key Facts: 15 May 2015
- Date announced: 15 May 2015, Cannes Film Festival
- Project: The Fifth Beatle (feature film)
- Based on: The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story by Vivek J. Tiwary (Dark Horse Comics, November 2013)
- Screenplay: Vivek J. Tiwary
- Producers: Vivek J. Tiwary, Simon Cowell (Syco Entertainment), Stuart Ford (IM Global)
- Music rights: 12 Lennon-McCartney songs cleared via Sony/ATV and Apple Corps
- Graphic novel awards: Will Eisner Award, two Harvey Awards, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame collection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Fifth Beatle film?
The Fifth Beatle is a planned feature film adaptation of Vivek J. Tiwary’s graphic novel about Beatles manager Brian Epstein. The film was announced at the Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2015, with Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and IM Global as co-producers.
Who wrote The Fifth Beatle graphic novel?
Vivek J. Tiwary wrote The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, published by Dark Horse Comics in November 2013 with artwork by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker. It reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list and won the Will Eisner Award and two Harvey Awards.
Which Beatles songs were cleared for The Fifth Beatle film?
Twelve songs were cleared via Sony/ATV and Apple Corps: ‘Help!’, ‘You Never Give Me Your Money’, ‘Girl’, ‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’, ‘All You Need Is Love’, ‘A Day in the Life’, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, ‘Yesterday’, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, ‘Eleanor Rigby’, and ‘Come Together’.
Why is Brian Epstein called the fifth Beatle?
Paul McCartney said of Epstein: “if anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian.” Epstein discovered The Beatles at the Cavern Club in November 1961, secured their EMI contract in 1962, and managed them throughout their entire career as a performing group until his death in August 1967, aged 32.
Who is Simon Cowell’s involvement in The Fifth Beatle?
Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment production company is a co-producer of the film. Cowell has described Epstein as “the most talented manager ever” and said the opportunity to be involved in the project was “one I just could not pass up.”
→ John Lennon | Paul McCartney | George Harrison | Ringo Starr
Shop Beatles Merch: The Beatles: Beatlemania Collection | Shop by Era
0 comments