Anna Sawai is preparing to step into the role of Yoko Ono in the upcoming multi-film biopic project about The Beatles.
Directed by Sam Mendes, the four films each tell the band’s story from a different member’s perspective and will be released simultaneously in theaters in April 2028.
Speaking on the red carpet, Sawai described Ono as deeply misunderstood and said she feels honored to help present a more complete picture of the influential artist.
“It’s just exciting because [Ono’s] The story is so inspiring to me, and people really don’t know who she was,” she said People.
Sawai emphasized that Ono’s independence and artistic confidence made her an easy target during her relationship with John Lennon.
“She’s an incredible artist. And she was also just an independent woman and people didn’t like that. They wanted John [Lennon] for herself and she was an easy target. And I think it’s very meaningful for me to be able to tell her story,” she added.
She added that portraying Ono allows her to highlight the strength, daring and creative vision that defined Ono’s life and career beyond public perception.
The role comes during a major career surge for Sawai, who gained worldwide recognition for her award-winning performance in Shogun. “If I look back a few years ago, I would audition and only take the roles that I would be offered after the audition. But now I have choices that I can make, so I feel very, very lucky,” she explained.
