(Image source: 20th Century Studios, Paramount Pictures)
Veteran director Ridley Scott has faced a string of critical and commercial disappointments in recent years, with many of his films failing to impress critics or draw audiences. "Gladiator II" stands as a prime example; with an estimated combined production and marketing budget of up to $400 million, the film reportedly grossed only around $460 million worldwide, effectively breaking even after the theatrical split.
(Image source: Los Angeles Times)
While "Gladiator II" garnered various criticisms, a frequently heard complaint centered on the casting of Paul Mescal, with many viewers feeling his screen presence wasn't strong enough for a major blockbuster or an action-oriented role. Surprisingly, two years after the film's release, reports now indicate that Scott himself shares this sentiment.
According to an exclusive report from Puck News, Scott allegedly found Mescal "not masculine enough" and was deeply dissatisfied with his performance in "Gladiator II." This dissatisfaction reportedly led Scott to remove Mescal from his upcoming film "The Dog Stars," replacing him with Jacob Elordi. While Mescal's team initially cited "scheduling conflicts" as the reason for his departure from "The Dog Stars," Puck News sarcastically dismissed this explanation as a fabrication.
However, "The Dog Stars," a film with a reported budget of at least $70 million, has also suffered a significant box office flop, with its North American opening weekend failing to reach even $10 million. Given that Elordi isn't widely considered a particularly "masculine" actor either, the question now arises: who will Scott blame for this latest financial disappointment?
via： Puck News