Early Lennon years chronicled in NBC movie

Phillip McQuillan, left, as John Lennon and Daniel McGowan as Paul McCartney in NBC's "In His Life: The John Lennon Story"

(CNN) -- Nearly two decades to the day have passed since December 8, 1980, when Beatles founder and rock icon John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City. Yet fascination with his life and the lives of the Fab Four continues.

With that in mind, NBC is airing the "In His Life: The John Lennon Story," this Sunday at 9 p.m. EST.

The two-hour movie focuses on territory that may be less familiar to viewers: Lennon's life from age 16 to age 24. It begins when Lennon got his first guitar in Liverpool, England, and ends with the Beatles' first trip to the United States to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964.

Philip McQuillan, the 23-year-old Irish actor who plays Lennon, bested more than 300 people for the pivotal role. CNN Showbiz Today anchor Jim Moret asked the TV novice what made him stand out above all the others. "Maybe they liked the fact that I was very charismatic and they wanted to portray John like that!" he joked.

Phillip McQuillan beat out scores of John Lennon hopefuls to play the famed Beatle

College student Daniel McGowan, 21, plays Paul McCartney. He got the role after his mother, a lifelong McCartney fan, saw an audition ad for the film and encouraged him to read for a part.

The movie, filmed entirely in the Beatles' hometown of Liverpool, even features two Liverpudlians in the cast. Mark Rice-Oxley, whose uncle went to school with George Harrison and McCartney, plays Harrison. Kristian Ealey, who attended the same Liverpool Art College Lennon attended, plays Ringo Starr.

Many scenes were shot at actual Beatles landmarks -- the house where Lennon grew up, the cemetery where Eleanor Rigby is buried and St. Peter's Church Hall, where Lennon and McCartney met for the first time.

"It was incredible. You'd walk in ... and it was exactly how it was all those years ago," said McGowan. "You can still feel them around."

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