Award-winning director Danny Boyle (“127 Hours,” “Slumdog Millionaire”) is teaming up with fellow award-winning writer Richard Curtis (“Love Actually,” “About Time”) to create, if not an award-winning musical comedy, at least an entertaining one. Now titled “Yesterday,” a nod to one of Paul McCartney’s most famous songs, the new Universal Studios picture seems to be something of a gear shift for Boyle. The film will center around the life of a down-on-his-luck musician in the 1960s/70s who believes that he is the only person in the world that remembers the Beatles existed. The personality that the “Yesterday” idea brings to mind is enough to keep us interested. Hey, at least it promises good music in the film, in more ways than one.
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To cover the musical part of this musical comedy, the cast will include the one and only Ed Sheeran. The chart-topping, guitar-playing redhead has made music for films before, most notably with his hit “I See Fire” made for the second installment of “The Hobbit” franchise. The heartthrob has also dipped his toes into acting before with an appearance on “Game of Thrones,” so he has at least some experience in both regards. With his musical talent and fame to back him up, though, his association will draw a crowd. Beatles songs are also said to center into the film, so presumably, we’ll at least hear the title track played in the movie somewhere.
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Now, when you think modern comedy, one of the first names that should come to mind is Kate McKinnon. The actress/comedian skyrocketed to stardom with her hilarious skits on “Saturday Night Live.” Her fame only continues to rise since she started to take on movie roles, like the 2016 hit remake “Ghostbusters,” 2018’s “The Spy Who Dumped Me,” and now with “Yesterday.”
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Lily James, of “Cinderella” and “Baby Driver” fame, also star as the movie’s second lead. After her main role in “Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again,” we know she’s got the cred for a musical like this. As for the lead himself, Himesh Patel is a British soap opera star, known mainly for his role in the BBC show “EastEnders.”
This jumble of different actors from different backgrounds makes us wonder how they are all going to work together. Will the musical be just be one big mush or the biggest blockbuster of the year? On the plus side, director Danny Boyle has been aching to do a musical for years and it’s finally here. Another plus? The “Yesterday” release date was moved up from September to June, suggesting the studio thinks it can be a summer hit so who knows we might just have a diamond in the rough here. Get cautiously hopeful for an actual good original musical due out June 28, 2019.
Yesterday, everyone knew The Beatles. Today, only Jack remembers their songs. Watch the new trailer for #YesterdayMovie. pic.twitter.com/0tvdAwkMRm
— Yesterday (@yesterdaymovie) February 12, 2019
