Ridley Scott Reportedly Blamed 'Gladiator 2' Failure on Paul Mescal

According to Puck News, director Ridley Scott reportedly blamed Paul Mescal for Gladiator 2 underperforming at the box office, claiming the actor was not "masculine enough" for the role.

The allegation would explain Mescal being replaced by Jacob Elordi in The Dog Stars, Scott’s next film—although the official explanation was scheduling conflicts with the Beatles movies directed by Sam Mendes, in which Mescal would play Paul McCartney.

Gladiator 2 grossed $462 million worldwide, but its budget was between $250 million and $300 million, making the result fall short of Paramount’s expectations.

Meanwhile, The Dog Stars opened with just $19 million globally against a $89 million budget, making it one of the biggest flops of Scott’s career.

Mescal’s departure from The Dog Stars remains controversial. Sources close to the film claim Scott said the actor was not "masculine" enough, while others insist Mendes pressured Mescal to prioritize the Beatles films after Scott publicly revealed his casting as McCartney.