Ridley Scott has pushed back against reports about Paul Mescal’s exit from The Dog Stars.
Mescal was originally expected to lead the upcoming film. Jacob Elordi later took over the role.
A recent report from Puck claimed that Scott blamed Mescal for the response to Gladiator II.
The report also suggested that Scott did not think Mescal looked “masculine” enough for the role.
Scott’s representative has now denied those claims.
Why Paul Mescal Left The Dog Stars
Scott’s representative told Entertainment Weekly that the report was not true.
The representative said Scott enjoyed working with Mescal on Gladiator II. The director also wanted to work with the actor again on The Dog Stars.
However, Mescal had rehearsal work for another film. His schedule eventually made it impossible for him to join Scott’s movie.
Scott was reportedly disappointed by the change. However, he was happy to work with Elordi instead.
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Mescal’s Beatles Role Created a Clash
Earlier reports linked Mescal’s exit to Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles films.
Mescal will play Paul McCartney in the four-part movie project.
The actor’s role requires a major time commitment. His rehearsal schedule reportedly clashed with production plans for The Dog Stars.
The Beatles films are currently scheduled to arrive in April 2028.
You can also learn more about upcoming films from Sony Pictures.
Paul Mescal and Ridley Scott Worked Together Before
The situation comes after Mescal and Scott worked together on Gladiator II.
Mescal played Lucius in the 2024 sequel to Scott’s Oscar-winning Gladiator.
The movie performed well at the global box office. It earned around $462 million worldwide and received an 80 percent “Fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
However, some viewers and critics still preferred the original film.
Jacob Elordi Takes Over the Role
With Mescal unavailable, Scott moved forward with Jacob Elordi.
The actor is now set to play the lead role in The Dog Stars.
The latest statement from Scott’s representative puts a different light on the casting change.
According to the director’s team, Paul Mescal The Dog Stars situation came down to timing rather than a disagreement between the actor and filmmaker.
Scott remains positive about Mescal. The director also praised Elordi for his work on the project.
For now, fans will have to wait and see how Elordi approaches the role when The Dog Stars reaches audiences.