- Primary Subject: Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal in Gladiator II
- Key Update: Reports reveal Ridley Scott blamed Paul Mescal for the disappointing performance of Gladiator II.
- Status: Reported by media; Unconfirmed by parties involved
- Last Verified: September 1, 2026
- Quick Answer: A new report claims Ridley Scott blamed Paul Mescal for Gladiator II's tepid reception, leading to Mescal's recasting in Scott's movie The Dog Stars.
Ridley Scott is reportedly blaming Paul Mescal for the underwhelming reception of Gladiator II.
The highly anticipated sequel to the epic action drama classic was released in 2024 to tepid success. While its box office performance was solid, the critical reception did not reach the heights of the original, and it only received one Oscar nomination (contrary to the first film's multiple wins, including Best Picture).
Now, a new report suggests that the filmmaker was apparently unhappy with the lead actor's work in the sequel.
Ridley Scott Blames Paul Mescal for Gladiator II's Performance, According to Report
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A recent report from Puck News claimed that Ridley Scott has been blaming Paul Mescal for the underwhelming performance of Gladiator II.
The legendary filmmaker's new movie, The Dog Stars, was supposed to star Mescal in the lead role. However, he was eventually replaced by Jacob Elordi.
Back then, the scheduling conflict with the filming of the Beatles movies, where Mescal is set to star as Paul McCartney, was cited as the reason why he had to back out of the project. As it turns out, that may not be true after all.
The report claims that, according to insiders, Scott blamed Mescal for the disappointing reception of Gladiator II, and he felt that he was not "masculine" enough for the lead character.
Sam Mendes, the director of the Beatles movies, was reportedly annoyed when Scott revealed that Mescal would be playing Paul McCartney, and he "pressured" Mescal not to work on The Dog Stars and prepare instead for the Beatles movies.
So far, neither Scott nor Mescal has commented on the report's claims about their working relationship in Gladiator II.
In the end, the report noted that Mescal may have dodged a bullet given that The Dog Stars bombed at the box office in its opening weekend.
Is Gladiator 3 Already in the Works?
Ridley Scott is still developing a third Gladiator movie, despite the tepid reception of the sequel.
In a September 2024 interview, the filmmaker teased that there is "already an idea" for the third movie, and he will likely take inspiration from The Godfather Part II. It will likely continue the adventures of Lucius Verus.
However, nothing is concrete yet at the moment, since the project is still in early development and Scott is still focused on other projects that he is also developing.
If the report is true, it poses a question of whether Scott would want to bring back Mescal to star in the potential third installment. For now, let's wait for news and updates.
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