Hamburg Days Brings The Beatles’ Early Years to the Screen

(L-R) Ellis Murphy at Paul McCartney, Patrick Gilmore as Pete Best, Rhys Mannion as John Lennon, Harvey Brett as George Harrison, Louis Landau as Stu Sutcliffe (Image: Gordon Timpen/ Hamburg Films Ltd)

By Jon Donnis

A new television drama exploring the early rise of The Beatles has officially begun filming, with casting now revealed for the six-part series Hamburg Days. Production is underway across Hamburg, Munich and Liverpool, with the story focusing on the band’s turbulent and transformative years performing in Germany during the early 1960s.

Produced by W&B Television and Turbine Studios, the series is inspired by the autobiography of German artist Klaus Voormann. The drama examines how the young Liverpool musicians evolved while playing the crowded clubs of Hamburg’s St. Pauli district, long before worldwide fame arrived. The project has already been picked up by BBC iPlayer and BBC One for UK audiences.

The cast includes Rhys Mannion as John Lennon, Ellis Murphy as Paul McCartney, and Harvey Brett portraying George Harrison. Louis Landau takes on the role of Stu Sutcliffe, while Patrick Gilmore appears as Pete Best.

German actors also play a central role in the story, with Luna Jordan cast as photographer Astrid Kirchherr and Casper von Bülow portraying Klaus Voormann. Laura Tonke will appear as Nielsa Kirchherr.

Set against the backdrop of smoky clubs and late-night performances, Hamburg Days follows the meeting between the young band and artists Kirchherr and Voormann, whose influence helped shape the group’s image and creative direction. The series aims to capture the point where an ambitious but rough-edged rock and roll act began transforming into one of the most influential music groups in history.

The project has been developed by Benjamin Benedict, known for Generation War, with scripts written by Jamie Carragher. Direction is shared between Christian Schwochow, whose previous credits include The Crown and Munich: The Edge of War, alongside Laura Lackmann.

Music for the series is being curated by BAFTA-winning producer David Holmes, recognised for work on Killing Eve and the Ocean’s franchise. Klaus Voormann is also attached as an exclusive consultant, giving the production a direct link to the era it recreates.

Worldwide sales outside the UK and Germany will be handled by AGC International.