Irish actor Rhys Mannion is stepping into the role of one of music’s most iconic figures after being cast as John Lennon in the new BBC drama series Hamburg Days.
The six-part series will follow The Beatles’ early years performing in Hamburg’s St Pauli district before becoming the biggest band in the world.
Inspired by the autobiography Hamburg Days by Beatles friends Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr, the drama explores the period that helped shape the band’s sound, style and identity.
For 23-year-old Mannion, the role marks a major breakthrough in an already promising career. The Kiltoom native previously appeared in It Is In Us All, Freud’s Last Session and BBC drama Titanic Sinks Tonight.
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His musical background is also expected to bring an added authenticity to the role.
At just 17, Mannion wrote and directed Famine-era musical Dawn na Dorcha at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre, and he now performs with Dublin indie-rock band Happy Daze.
The cast also includes Ellis Murphy as Paul McCartney, Harvey Brett as George Harrison, Patrick Gilmore as Pete Best and Louis Landau as Stu Sutcliffe.
According to the BBC, the series tells the story of “a raw young band from Liverpool” whose time in Hamburg transformed them from inexperienced teenagers into a polished live act.
The Crown director Christian Schwochow will serve as showrunner, while BAFTA-winning producer David Holmes will curate the music.
Filming on Hamburg Days is currently underway in Hamburg, Liverpool and Munich, with the series set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
We can’t wait for this one!