Ridley Scott Allegedly Blamed Paul Mescal for Gladiator II Flop as Dog Stars Opened 5th
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 2
Ridley Scott Allegedly Blamed Paul Mescal for Gladiator II Flop as Dog Stars Opened 5th
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 2
Summary
Puck's Matthew Belloni reported that people close to The Dog Stars say Ridley Scott blamed Paul Mescal for Gladiator II's underperformance, allegedly calling him not "masculine enough."
The claim surfaced after The Dog Stars opened in fifth place, reviving scrutiny of why Mescal exited the lead role before Jacob Elordi took over.
Scott's representatives denied the allegation, saying he "loves Paul" and had been excited to work with him on The Dog Stars.
Another theory cited in the report is that Sam Mendes pushed Mescal to leave after Scott publicly linked him to the upcoming Beatles films in 2024.
The episode shifts attention from one film's weak box office to a broader industry debate over what kind of masculinity studios want from male leads.