New Brian Epstein biopic, which will be part-filmed in Liverpool, has cast its lead role

StudioPOW and Trevor Beattie Films have announced that The Queen’s Gambit break-out star Jacob Fortune-Lloyd will play the lead role of Brian Epstein in Midas Man, the first feature film to tell the extraordinary true story of the visionary music manager and impresario.

MIDAS MAN will be directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker and multiple-Grammy winning music director JONAS ÅKERLUND.

Steeped both in music and film culture, Åkerlund is uniquely placed to bring this outstanding and human story to life. Åkerlund will also have creative input on the film’s iconic soundtrack.

Charting Brian Epstein’s (AKA Eppy) role in the cultural revolution and creative explosion of the 1960s, the film will highlight his unparalleled yet often unheralded influence on pop music, and its colossal impact worldwide.

JONAS ÅKERLUND

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd dazzled international audiences with his portrayal of chess prodigy-turned-journalist, Townes, starring alongside Anya Taylor-Joy in Netflix’s worldwide hit series The Queen’s Gambit. The rising British actor also starred in the BBC’s storied adaptation of Wolf Hall and Capri Award-winning historical drama series Medici.

His film credits include Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker and Agatha Christie adaptation Crooked House alongside Gillian Anderson and Glenn Close. Fortune-Lloyd has also performed on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Oxford educated actor trained at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Brian Epstein took the music industry by storm at the tender age of 25. What followed was a dazzling, tumultuous and ultimately tragically short career which saw him discover and guide to stratospheric fame a series of acts, from The Beatles and Gerry And The Pacemakers to Billy J Kramer and Cilla Black.

He opened his own theatre to promote and launch the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Cream and Pink Floyd, many of whom performed on the same bill.

Midas Man is an emotional, witty, honest portrait of the joy of success conflicted with inner personal heartache and unfulfilled desire. This is the first big-screen telling of the story of the man from Liverpool with the Midas touch, whose influence on popular music and culture resounds to this day.

Jonas Åkerlund said:

“It is a tall order to fill Brian’s shoes, and Jacob is the perfect performer. He is charismatic and dark at the same time, balancing that emotional range where you’re not sure if you’re in love with him or terribly empathetic with the inner turmoil of his character. No one could bring Brian to life better.”

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd said:

“It’s a huge privilege to play Brian Epstein, a man who made such an important and lasting cultural impact, but who struggled to find a secure place in a world he helped to shape. He was a fascinating person with great talent, ambition, and courage, and I’m so honoured to be given the opportunity to represent him. Jonas is the perfect person to bring this story to life, his work is visually stunning, visceral, and bold. I can’t wait to start working together.”

Midas Man is produced by Kevin Proctor and Perry Trevers at StudioPOW, Trevor Beattie and Jeremy Chatterton at Trevor Beattie Films and Peter Dunne and Mark Borkowski are executive producers. Twickenham Studios Chairman and co-owner Sunny Vohra and Managing Partner Jeremy Rainbird will also serve as executive producers. Midas Man is being produced in association with Er Dong Pictures, who will also be distributing the film in Greater China.

A new addition to the film’s producing party as Executive Producer, is Lionsgate’s ex-President UK and Europe, Nicola Pearcey of new media venture Picnic Entertainment, who is working in partnership with StudioPOW in optimising their entire Film and TV slate (scripted and non-scripted).

StudioPOW’s Perry Trevers stated:

“Brian Epstein was a man of immense charm; good looking, he was adored by men and women equally. Despite heavy workloads, high expectations and constant pressure, his staff that worked alongside him showed a loyalty and a love for Brian that endures to this day. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is one of those rare actors who has both great acting ability and film star quality. He has that difficult to define charisma, that simply leaps off the screen. Those qualities will be vital in portraying the remarkable Brian Epstein.”

Trevor Beattie said:

“We’ve found our Eppy, and I couldn’t be happier. Jacob is a class act. A next generation star. He has the intellect, charm and the acting chops to bring Brian Epstein back to life and place him where he always wanted to be: on the movie screen. And I think Eppy would approve of being portrayed by such a dashing dapper chap.”

Midas Man will be filming at Twickenham Studios and on location in London, Liverpool, and the US.

Find out more about the production here.