Ridley Scott Denies Report of Feud With Paul Mescal Over The Dog Stars

Ridley Scott has denied a report claiming that Paul Mescal was replaced in The Dog Stars because the director blamed him for the underperformance of Gladiator II.

Mescal was originally set to reunite with Scott for the post-apocalyptic thriller but left the project before filming. Jacob Elordi ultimately took over the lead role.

A report by Puck’s Matt Belloni claimed Scott was responsible for Mescal’s replacement and believed the actor was not “masculine” enough for Gladiator II. Scott’s representative rejected the allegation.

“Not true,” the spokesperson said, adding that Scott “loves Paul” and had been excited to work with him again. According to the representative, Mescal’s rehearsal schedule for another film prevented him from making The Dog Stars. Scott was disappointed to lose him but was pleased to cast Elordi, who the director considered “excellent” in the role.

Mescal’s departure had previously been linked to his commitment to Sam Mendes’ upcoming four-part Beatles film series, in which he will play Paul McCartney. Scott had already acknowledged the scheduling conflict during a 2024 Directors Guild of America screening, saying Mescal was “stacked up” with the Beatles project.

Gladiator II earned about $462 million worldwide but reportedly cost more than $300 million to produce, excluding marketing. Mescal’s performance drew mixed reactions, particularly because it marked his first major blockbuster lead role.

Despite the criticism, Scott has publicly defended Mescal. Before Gladiator II was released, he said the actor could “stand shoulder to shoulder” with Russell Crowe, who won an Oscar for his performance in the original 2000 film.

With The Dog Stars now in theaters, Scott’s representatives maintain that Mescal’s departure was a scheduling issue rather than the result of a dispute between the filmmaker and actor.