A new drama series, 'Hamburg Days,' focusing on The Beatles' foundational period in the German city, has expanded its cast with the additions of Asa Butterfield, Jonny Lee Miller, and Christine Tremarco. This six-part production, conceived by showrunner Christian Schwochow and head writer Jamie Carragher, draws inspiration from German artist Klaus Voormann's personal story and is presently being filmed on location in Hamburg.
Butterfield will portray Brian Epstein, the band's manager, while Miller takes on the role of Paul McCartney's father, Jim McCartney. Tremarco is cast as John Lennon's aunt, Mimi. The ensemble also includes Darci Shaw as Cynthia Lennon, Ryan Sampson as promoter Alan Williams, Archie George as singer Tony Sheridan, Jorden Myrie as Lord Woodbine, Lea Drinda as Astrid Kirchherr, and Tash Major as Dot Rhone. Louis McCartney will appear as Ringo Starr, joining previously announced actors Rhys Mannion as John Lennon, Ellis Murphy as Paul McCartney, Harvey Brett as George Harrison, Louis Landau as Stu Sutcliffe, Patrick Gilmore as Pete Best, and Casper von Bülow as Klaus Voormann. The narrative is set in the early 1960s, depicting the vibrant St. Pauli red-light district of Hamburg, where the burgeoning Liverpool rock 'n' roll group encountered Voormann and Kirchherr, leading to their pivotal metamorphosis into the global music sensation we know today.
AGC International is managing global sales for the series, excluding the U.K., where the BBC holds broadcasting rights, and Germany, where ZDF will air the show. Produced by W&B Television and Turbine Studios, with music overseen by David Holmes, 'Hamburg Days' was developed by Benjamin Benedict. Carragher also serves as an executive producer, alongside Schwochow, who directs with Laura Lackmann. Frank Lamm is the director of photography, and Voormann acts as an exclusive consultant. Executive producers include Benedict, Quirin Berg, Max Wiedemann, Andrew Eaton, Justin Thomson, and AGC's Stuart Ford, Lourdes Diaz, and Miguel A. Palos Jr., with Isabel Haug and Charles Breitkreuz as producers. The project also has the support of several German film funds and is being filmed in Hamburg, Munich, and Liverpool. This ambitious series promises to shed new light on a crucial chapter in music history, showcasing the transformative power of art and collaboration.