Tenerife Director's "Lennon Was Not Here" Explores Fictional Beatles Island Mystery

Tenerife director Juanma Villar Betancort has shared details about his new film, Lennon Was Not Here. This fictional movie explores a little-known part of The Beatles' history, set against the backdrop of the Canary Islands. It's expected to be released in 2027. The film has support from local groups like the Canary Islands Government, the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife), and Televisión Canaria. It aims to be an international film with strong local ties.

The movie isn't a biopic or a historical recreation. Instead, it's a modern story inspired by the time three Beatles members – Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr – spent in Tenerife. This happened between April 28 and May 9, 1963, while John Lennon and their manager Brian Epstein were in Torremolinos. This real event forms the core of a story set in the present day. The musicians stayed at a chalet in Los Realejos, La Montañeta, which belonged to German artist Klaus Voormann's family. Historian Nicolás González Lemus (1952-2024) wrote about this visit in his books Travelers for Sun, Beach… and Rest and The Beatles in Tenerife, Stay and Beatlemania.

The film's plot revolves around the search for Paul McCartney's famous Höfner 500/1 bass guitar. He bought it in 1961, it was stolen in 1972, and finally found in 2023 after fans worldwide campaigned for its return. Director Villar Betancort imagines that the bass might have gone missing on the island. This idea is linked to the closing of Hamburg's Beatlemania museum. The main character, who runs the museum, travels to Tenerife hoping to find the bass and save the museum. Her trip turns into a week-long adventure on the island. It features a 1960s-themed party in Puerto de la Cruz and a deep dive into mod culture, complete with its music, Vespas, and Lambrettas. The director calls the film a "pop Thelma & Louise," where both the main character and those against her are chasing the valuable instrument.

The film has already shot scenes in Liverpool. It's currently in pre-production, finalizing an international cast with actors from Spain, Germany, and the UK. It also celebrates the Orotava Valley. The movie aims to highlight the difference between the lush, tropical Orotava Valley and the cityscapes of Liverpool and Hamburg. A key visual will be a red Austin Healey Sprite MkI convertible. This is the same car, with a Gran Canaria license plate, that Voormann owned and that The Beatles used during their visit.

Music will be very important in the film. Barcelona mod bands like Brighton 64 and Los Negativos are creating original songs for it. The movie will also include readings of letters The Beatles supposedly wrote during their 1963 holiday. These are inspired by Tenerife writer Jorge Fonte's 2023 book, From me to you. The Beatles in Tenerife, which tells a fictional story of their visit through letters based on real events. Villar Betancort is known for documentaries like Playing Lecuona (2016), Seed of Son (2023), and the upcoming The Score of the Cosmos. This film marks his first time directing a fiction movie.