Dueling Biopics in Words for the Fifth Beatle

Within the world of obsessive Beatles fans, a small but vocal group has long argued that the accomplishments of Brian Epstein, the band's visionary manager, have been underplayed in the many tellings of the Beatles' story. But suddenly, 45 years after Epstein's death from what was ruled an accidental drug overdose, Epstein will have his moment to shine on the silver screen. Not one but two biopics â€" one to be based on a graphic novel â€" are in the works.

So far, the starrier of them will feature the busy Benedict Cumberbatch as Epstein. Mr. Cumberbatch, whose roles have included the physicist Stephen Hawking as well as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC's “Sherlock” and Peter Guillam in the recent film version of “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” also has roles in Peter Jackson's forthcoming film version of “The Hobbit” and will be the villain in the next Star Trek film, “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

As Epstein, he will play a mild-mannered, dapper Jewish homosexual who had studied and failed at acting, and was running the record department at NEMS, his family's Liverpool furniture store, when he heard the Beatles perform a lunchtime show at the Cavern and decided â€" his lack of managerial experience notwithstanding â€" to become their manager. Within a year, he revamped their stage image, got them a recording contract and transformed them into England's hottest group. He also managed a handful more Liverpool performers â€" Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black and Billy J. Kramer, most notably â€" and shortly before his death in 1967, he began managing a London theater.

The as yet untitled film starring Mr. Cumberbatch will be produced by Tom Hanks's Playtone company, which was named for the record company in “That Thing You Do!,” in which Mr. Hanks played the Epstein-like manager of a decidedly Beatlesque band, the Wonders. The script, according to a report published on Wednesday in The Hollywood Reporter, is by Todd Graff. Paul McGuigan (“Lucky Number Slevin” and “Sherlock”) will direct.

Mr. Cumberbatch's film will compete with “The Fifth Beatle,” based on the forthcoming graphic novel by Vivek J. Tiwary. The book, which is drawn by Andrew Robinson, will be published in 2013 by M Press Books. Mr. Tiwary is also writing the screenplay, and although no casting has been announced, Mr. Tiwary has secured music rights to the Beatles songs.

These are not actually the first biographical films to depict Epstein. Brian Jameson played him in “The Birth of the Beatles,” in 1979, and David Angus portrayed him in “The Hours and Times,” a 1992 fantasy about vacation in Spain that Epstein and John Lennon took together in 1963.