As continued from last time, Vivek Tiwary is really proud of his graphic novel
The Fifth Beatle, which he described as "a labour of love" in its 20-year journey. Published by Dark Horse Comics in late 2013, the story has received commercial success and critical acclaim from critics and journalists. It has won two Eisner Awards and is currently nominated for two Harvey Awards. However, Tiwary is preparing to adapt
The Fifth Beatle into a different medium- as a feature film.
The first person to come on board was Academy-Award winning producer Bruce Cohen, who has overseen such films as
American Beauty,
Big Fish, and
Silver Linings Playbook. He has also explored the themes of gay rights and outsiders in
Milk, which was directed by Gus Van Saint. "At last year’s New York Comic-Con, we did a panel together," says Tiwary. "Bruce told the audience- in his words, not mine- 'Well, I’m not from Liverpool, but I am gay and Jewish.' So the Brian Epstein story is very personal to Bruce."
Shortly after Cohen signed on as executive producer, Peyton Reed threw his hat into the ring, hoping to direct the film. Tiwary found a kindred spirit in Reed, who is currently directing Marvel Studios'
Ant-Man for a 2015 release. "When we put word out that Bruce had joined the project, Peyton called him and said, '"Hey, I don’t know if you know this, but I’m a huge Beatles fan. I know a little bit about Brian Epstein’s story, and I’m a big comic fan! I’d love to be considered for this,"’ Tiwary says. "So we sent him the book, and he loved the screenplay that I wrote for the film. Then we met and totally hit it off, sharing a vision and passion for the project. It became very clear that Peyton was the right guy for it."
Cohen and Reed are no strangers to the "Swinging Sixties" at all. In fact, they have explored it in the past. "Bruce had worked with Peyton before on a romantic comedy called
Down With Love, and that film is actually a 1960s period piece set in America," Tiwary explains. "It's not about the U.K, but it does show his command of the era and his love for that era as well."
Tiwary was also impressed with Reed's filmography, which includes movies like
Bring It On,
The Break Up and
Yes Man. Specifically, he identifies each of those films having a specific style and sharing certain themes. "I will say his past movies are whimsical films, not unlike the way the Beatles were light-hearted on their surface," says Tiwary. "They’re all films about outsiders- people who are struggling with accomplishments, trying to define what it means to love and be loved. That is the heart of Brian Epstein's story."
Perhaps most significantly, the film will have original Beatles recordings. According to Tiwary, this came after nearly four years of negotiating a deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. "We have the Beatles’ support, and that helped us with Sony/ATV in getting access to music for the film," he says. "We are literally the first and only film about the band in history to secure their approval. It’s a great responsibility and an honor, and the whole team is looking forward to embracing it."
As a result of the deal, the film will have between six to ten Beatles songs, which include "A Hard Days' Night," "Help!", "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts' Club Band," "A Day In The Life," and "All You Need Is Love." According to Tiwary, the producers also have the option to "swap out" certain songs for other ones, and they "...wanted to ensure Peyton is able to make his choices." “In the script, there are moments that are specific as to the song choices will be," he says. "One of the great things about Peyton is his vision for how he is going to make it uniquely his. As a director, he is able to chime in on what songs he thinks belong where. So yes, while I do have specific songs as a writer, we wanted to make sure the director to make thigns the way he wants them. We wanted a deal that allowed us to do it, and it took three and a half years to negotiate having access to the Beatles’ catalogue."
Tiwary says the film adaptation will follow the plot of graphic novel, but there will be changes to the final product. “It’s easy to call the film an adaptation of the graphic novel, because the graphic novel came out first,” he says. “To say ‘It’s an adaptation of the book’ is a real easy thing for readers and audiences to wrap their heads around." However, as he explains, a more accurate way of describing it would be an “expansion” of the book. "You know, there are a number of sequences in the screenplay that do not exist in the book, and there are many sequences in the book that don’t appear in the film.” For instance, the Beatles’ much-discussed sacking of their original drummer Pete Best was not featured in the graphic novel, but Tiwary says it will be included in the film.
Having adapted the screenplay from his graphic novel, Tiwary is adamant that the film will stand on its own.
“It would be pointless to rehash everything in the book, and that’s respect for the medium," he says." There are a number of things that wouldn’t work on the page but do work on the screen. Because we’ve secured Beatles songs, there are musical sequences in the film that wouldn’t have worked in the book. Well, with the film, you’re going to hear it."
Reflecting on
The Fifth Beatle as a graphic novel and film, Tiwary has nothing but gratitude for those who supported his vision. "Along with Peyton, Bruce, Andrew, and Kyle, we took this on as a labour of love," he says. "People who love the Beatles- yes. But it was also to get to the heart of Brian’s story and make others relate to it. I’m very proud of the team."
Tiwary states he is proud of the graphic novel and looks forward to the film adaptation, because he feels it will help acknowledge a man who played a major role in shaping popular music. "So I think of
The Fifth Beatle as a project whose mission to sing the story of Brian Epstein," he says. "If we can do that in a graphic novel, a film, or in this conversation, there are a number of ways we are fulfilling that. But the book and the film will be like two standalone parts of a greater mission."