'Universe' downplaying Beatles

Studio barred from using band in ad campaign

By TATIANA SIEGEL

As "Across the Universe" wends its way across the nation, Beatles fans are getting the chance to sample their favorite tunes reinterpreted by the film's Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Eddie Izzard and Bono.

But any mention of the Fab Four has been conspicuously absent from the studio's marketing push.

Despite Revolution Studios paying Sony/ATV Publishing $8.25 million for the right to record the film's 33 songs -- at $250K a pop -- the studio is barred from invoking the Beatles in its campaign.

Sony marketing prexy Valerie Van Galder insists that was hardly a limitation.

"Everyone in the world knows that the Beatles wrote this music," she says. "It's the most famous music in the world. We're not hiding it. We're just not overtly saying it because (the Beatles) don't sing these songs."

Couldn't it help to remind potential audiences of the film's connection to one of the most venerable brands in the history of entertainment?

Van Galder says they "don't need to."

"When we got our exit polls back, 97% of the people came because the music was written by the Beatles."

There's one loophole in the Beatles-free ad campaign. Van Galder says as of Sept. 21, marketing materials included critics' reviews, which naturally made mention of the Beatles.