One of the most popular bands in the history of all modern music will once again enter the world of animation.

The Tracking Board recently reported that Warner Bros. (and Warner Animation Group) will step into the realm of the animated musical with Meet The Beatles.

Paul King, fresh off a critical and commercial hit with Paddington, will direct the film from a screenplay by Jared Stern (Mr. Popper’s Penguins, ABC’s Dr. Ken), a member of WAG. King will also be joined by his Paddington producer David Heyman, who will produce though his Heyday Films production banner with Jeffrey Clifford. Courtenay Valenti and Racheline Benveniste will oversee the project for Warner Bros.

Plot details are thin for the moment, but sources familiar with the project tell The Tracking Board that the film will focus on the story of an original member of The Beatles (“the one that got away”). The film will also utilize actual songs from The Beatles’ discography.

This wouldn’t be the only time The Beatles are the subject of an animated project. No doubt everyone of a certain generation remembers the classic 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine, which also featured songs composed and performed by the actual Beatles. Much lesser known (but no less notable) is the hit animated series that ran from 1965 to 1969 on ABC. It was the first weekly television series to feature animated versions of real-life characters and, as with Yellow Submarine, all the songs were performed by the real-life band.

(The Beatles as they appeared in the 1965 animated series.)

Thanks to his post-Paddington rise in demand, Paul King will likely attend to one of a few projects that are currently on his plate before tackling Meet the Beatles. He will direct an adaptation of R.J. Palacio’s novel Wonder for Lionsgate. He is also currently in talks to return to the director’s chair for a Paddington sequel.

Do you have any thoughts on this development? If you are familiar with The Beatles, do you think an animated musical is the way to go?

Edited by: Hannah Wilkes