Ridley Scott reportedly blamed Paul Mescal for the underwhelming response to Gladiator II, claiming the Irish actor was not “masculine” enough for the role.
The claim comes from Puck’s What I’m Hearing newsletter, with writer Matthew Belloni reporting that Scott felt Mescal was partly responsible for the reaction to the 2024 sequel.
Mescal took over the leading role from Russell Crowe in Gladiator II, playing Lucius, a man who becomes a gladiator while seeking revenge in ancient Rome.
The film was a box office success, taking around $462 million worldwide, and currently holds an 80 per cent “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, Gladiator II was widely considered to have fallen short of the original 2000 film, which won five Oscars including Best Picture.
According to Belloni’s report, Scott’s alleged concerns about Mescal’s suitability for the role may have contributed to the actor being replaced in the director’s next film, The Dog Stars.
Jacob Elordi eventually took over the part.
The switch may have worked in Mescal’s favour, however, with The Dog Stars reportedly struggling at the box office following its release.
Mescal went on to receive further critical acclaim for Hamnet, which earned multiple awards, and he is now preparing for one of his biggest roles yet.
The Normal People star will play Paul McCartney in one of four upcoming Beatles films, with the four movies each focusing on a different member of the band.
Mescal has already been spotted filming alongside his co-stars, including recreating the iconic Abbey Road album cover.
Meanwhile, Gladiator II also faced criticism from the original film’s star, Russell Crowe.
Crowe has repeatedly spoken about his disappointment with the sequel, saying it lacked the “moral core” of the original and arguing that the filmmakers had failed to understand what made his character, Maximus, important.
Despite the mixed reaction, Gladiator II performed strongly at the box office and received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
Scott has not publicly confirmed the reported comments about Mescal’s masculinity.
