Ridley Scott’s Brutal Post-Mortem: Did Paul Mescal Lack the “Masculinity” for *Gladiator 2*?

The fallout from Gladiator 2’s less-than-stellar performance continues, and now director Ridley Scott is throwing some serious shade. In a surprising revelation, reports suggest that Scott blamed lead actor Paul Mescal for the film’s shortcomings, claiming he wasn’t “masculine enough” for the role.

The Mescal Exit: Více Than Just Scheduling?

According to Puck Zprávy’ Matt Belloni (via World of Reel), this alleged critique is reportedly why Mescal exited Ridley Scott’s upcoming film, The Dog Stars, and was replaced by Jacob Elordi. While initial reports pointed to scheduling conflicts with Sam Mendes’ Beatles project as the reason for Mescal’s departure from The Dog Stars, it seems there might have been more at play.

A Mixed Hodnocení for Gladiator 2

Despite earning $462 million worldwide, Gladiator 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 Best Picture winner, also carried a hefty price tag, reportedly costing between $250 million and over $300 million. IGN’s Tom Jorgensen, while generally positive in his review, acknowledged Mescal’s performance, noting that he “is adept in the belabored-hero role.” He also praised the performances of Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, as well as Denzel Washington.

The Dog Stars: A Box Office Bomb?

The Dog Stars, already facing an uphill battle, is now reportedly shaping up to be one of Ridley Scott’s biggest box office disappointments. With a reported $89 million budget and only $19 million earned worldwide so far, the film’s future looks uncertain.

Scott’s Next Move: Alien Reboot?

In other news from the world of Ridley Scott, the director recently announced that he is developing an Alien sequel with Michael Fassbender. This move comes after Scott reportedly felt that Fede Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus was “OK” and that the franchise “needs some help.”

For a broader look at Scott’s filmography, be sure to check out IGN’s list of Ridley Scott’s 10 best movies. Interestingly, this list doesn’t include Gladiator II, The Dog Stars, or Alien: Covenant.