Richard Linklater’s adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Merrily We Roll Along is not the first time the director has taken on a monumental task of producing a movie over a long period of years. His first effort in this style, Boyhood, was filmed over 12 years. For this latest production, he’s going even longer, as filming is planned to take 20 years, with 15 more years or so to go after production officially began in 2019. Boyhood was a monumental achievement, but I have to wonder if trying it again will work again. There has already been a major issue, which I’ll address.

Two Decades Is A Long Time

I completely appreciate that Linklater pulled this trick off with Boyhood, but there are some differences here. Notably, it’s almost twice as long a shooting schedule. A lot can happen over two decades. Like Boyhood, Merrily We Roll Along has a small cast that includes Paul Mescal, Beanie Feldstein, Ben Platt, Mallory Bechtel, Hannah Cruz and Lin-Manuel Miranda. This works in favor of the director, as there are fewer chances for something to happen to one of the cast members.

However, that very thing has already happened. When filming began in 2019, Blake Jenner, who previously worked with Linklater in Everybody Wants Some!!, was cast to play the lead, Franklin Shepard. After wrapping the initial production, Jenner was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife (and Glee co-star) Melissa Benoist. In the fallout from that, Paul Mescal replaced Jenner in the cast, forcing reshoots to happen in 2021. Not to make light of the situation by any means, but it’s a stark example of something happening that is out of Linklater's control.

I don’t expect anything like that to happen again, but that doesn’t mean that something won’t happen to a cast member. People get into disagreements, people’s priorities change, God forbid someone gets sick… There are just so many variables. Think about where you were in 2006 and where you are today. It’s been a long time. This time, it meant reshoots early in the process, so what if something happens at the end of the full production?

If Linklater And Company Pull It Off, It Could Be Epic

If you don’t know the story of Merrily We Roll Along, it’s perfect for this kind of ambitious project. It takes place over 20 years and is presented in reverse chronological order, so presumably, the first part of the production in 2019 and 2021 was covering the end of the movie, when the cast is at their youngest. Shooting it in “real time” is very cool, and it means there won’t be a need for heavy makeup or weird CGI de-aging.

It’s also a well-known property, but it wasn’t an immediate hit. In fact, the original Broadway production, which opened in 1981, flopped almost immediately. It was panned by critics and audiences alike, and though its reputation has been re-examined over the years, it’s still a divisive entry in Sondheim’s canon. The movie, and the production style, could solve the biggest complaint critics have had over the years, that the story is a bit confusing and hard to follow because of the reverse chronology. Having family actors playing the roles across the entire two decades would make it much easier to follow.

I have no idea if Linklater and the cast will pulls this off, but if they do, they will deserve a huge amount of praise for the ambition alone.

If you were to ask us at CinemaBlend, but also elsewhere all over the Internet, there are some 98th Oscars categories that feel like a lock and some others that feel wide open. Really, the most intriguing conversation – outside of who will ultimately land the Best Picture award – probably has to do with the Supporting Actor category. A lot of people are all over Sean Penn, Delroy Lindo and Stellan Skarsgård, but with all due apologies to Mr. Penn, I don’t know how Paul Mescal was left off the ballot.

Now before we begin, let’s take a look at the Best Supporting Actor category from the 2026 Academy Awards nominations:

• Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
• Delroy Lindo, Sinners
• Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
• Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

There are some excellent performances on this list. Sinners has been at the forefront of the awards conversation in recent weeks, and Delroy Lindo put in a crowd-pleasing performance in the movie; some think he’s had the Supporting Oscar locked in recent days. I personally would have said prior to watching Hamnet that Benicio del Toro deserved to take home the Oscar, especially after finding out he was the mastermind behind one of the best scenes in One Battle After Another. Stellan Skarsgard and Sean Penn feel very much in the conversation, as well, and who didn't like Elordi's take on Frankenstein

But where the heck is Paul Mescal? If I had to slot him in anywhere, I’d probably slot him into the space occupied by Sean Penn. (I promise this is really not intended to be a negative on the work the actor put into One Battle After Another, but I stand by my statement.)

Hot Take: Paul Mescal Deserved The Nomination Over Sean Penn

Given all the talk I’ve seen about Col. Lockjaw online, and given the fact Penn landed the actual Oscar nom, I know I must be in the minority, here. Penn's been a notable tour de force in Hollywood for decades, which the Academy likes, and I do think he puts in a solid performance in what was already a pretty meaty role written by PT Anderson. His work is made even more noticeable by some not-so-subtle character traits Penn added, like walking in a way that physically looked uncomfortable.

Yet, he gets to play a weird, menacing bad guy, an obviously flashy character (CinemaBlend's review called him "Unstoppable") in an already fast-paced movie. Was it better than the contributions Benicio del Toro was bringing to the table? I’d say no, and I’d also say it’s concerning the two men competing against one another could split that vote. Was it better than all of the subtle weirdness Mescal put into Hamnet? I’d say no again.

Paul Mescal Truly Deserved An Oscar Nod

Meanwhile, there was no role that was more discomfiting to me than watching Paul Mescal go through stages of ambition and grief in Hamnet. That movie absolutely rocked my world, and I’m so happy Chloe Zhao landed a Best Director nom and Jessie Buckley seems to be at the forefront of most Best Actress predictions. I cried for over an hour after it ended, and I’m not over-exaggerating how it affected me emotionally. It wrecked me. I was wrecketh.

I'm glad Jessie Buckley earned a nod for her raw and bewitching performance. Yet, a large swathe of the movie works because of Paul Mescal’s restless energy and emoting opposite his co-star, particularly during the scene where her character Agnes goes to see Hamlet for the first time and the two reconcile over their shared grief. To me it's a truly perfect supporting performance, adding to the film in a way that supplements Buckley's performance without stealing any of its shine. I'm not saying the Academy should have just handed him the trophy, but I'm still shocked he didn't make the shortlist.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention some people have stood up and paid attention to Paul Mescal this awards season. He was nominated for Hamnet at the Golden Globe Awards, The Critics Choice Awards, The BAFTAs, The Actor Awards and several other high-profile shindigs this season. But when it comes to the big gold statue, it was not to be. He was decidedly locked out of that Top 5, and I think it’s a shame.

If you haven’t watched Hamnet yet, you can catch it with a Peacock subscription. One Battle After Another can be viewed with an HBO Max subscription. Also, watch the 2026 Oscars, which air tonight, Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m.ET on ABC.

I'm a huge Beatles fan. I'm also a huge fan of when filmmakers take big, crazy swings and try to do things that seem equal parts crazy and impossible. As such, when it was announced that director Sam Mendes was going to make not one, but four movies about the lives of The Beatles, I was intrigued. Now that I've seen what the cast is going to look like, I'm absolutely astounded.

A variety of Instagram images have begun to drop on various accounts that reveal that a set of four postcards has been hidden around the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and students have been encouraged to go hunting for them. Each one reveals a member of the cast, including Barry Keoghan, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and Harris Dickinson. Check some of the images out below.

It's a pretty interesting way to drum up interest in the films. LIPA was co-founded by Paul McCartney and has a studio named for George Harrison, so it's a fitting place for this little stunt. Still, it's a surprisingly limited way to start the buzz. Most people certainly won't be able to find these postcards themselves, but the images from those who are finding and posting them on Instagram are already gathering traction.

Sam Mendes' Beatles project will see four different movies shot simultaneously. As we understand it, each movie will tell, more or less, the same story of The Beatles, of their formation, success, and ending, but each will be shot from the perspective of a different member. One expects that events may not happen entirely identically in each film, as each person may see the events from a different point of view.

Barry Keoghan's Ringo looks amazing and like something right out of The Beatles' latter era. As a big Paul McCartney fan personally, I've been waiting to see how Paul Mescal pulled off the character. He looks like he's standing in the Cavern Club and about to break into an early Beatles performance.

A lot of fans are going to be most interested in how John Lennon is portrayed in the films. Harris Dickinson certainly appears to have nailed the look.

Finally, we have the unsung hero of The Beatles, George Harrison. Joseph Quinn is set to play Harrison, and I can just hear the opening notes of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" coming off this picture.

Beatlemania began in the 1960s and, to a certain extent, it's never really ended. We just recently saw the streaming debut of The Beatles Anthology, and Peter Jackson has spent about as much time working on Beatles documentaries for the last few years as he did on The Lord of the Rings. Needless to say, people are going to be excited when these movies all come out in quick succession, currently slated for early 2028.

Well, nobody can claim they don't look like The Beatles. They are as close to perfect as they'll need to be. Now I just need to hear the accents.

It’s not a shocker that Jessie Buckley found herself among 2026’s Oscar nominees for her role in the critically acclaimed Hamnet; in fact, she’s a frontrunner in the Best Actress category. It’s also not surprising that the film received lots of other nominations, too. However, what is shocking is the fact that Paul Mescal did not get a nod in the Supporting Actor category. Now, his co-star has shared her thoughts on the snub.

Following the announcement of this year’s Academy Award nominees, many shared their feelings about being named. However, while Jessie Buckley spoke about getting a nod herself, she was also asked about her co-star, Paul Mescal, not getting one. That’s a huge snub, considering he was among the 2026 Golden Globe nominees and he’s up for an Actors' Award. Speaking to THR about this situation, the Agnes actress said:

Paul Mescal really is brilliant in Hamnet, and he and Jessie Buckley play out this tragic story beautifully. And while he wasn’t among this year’s Oscar nominees, his co-star made it clear that she couldn’t have played Agnes without Mescal’s William. In her words:

For context, the nominees in the Best Supporting Actor category are Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn for Once Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value and Delroy Lindo for Sinners. The surprise among this group was Lindo for Sinners. Don’t get it twisted, I’m thrilled he got nominated; however, his name being in this group wasn’t predicted. I had assumed Mescal would get in.

So, it’s a double-edged sword here. While I’m happy for all the men who did get nominated, it sucks to realize who didn’t make it in, too. This year, sadly, Paul Mescal falls in that second category alongside Adam Sandler (who was snubbed for Jay Kelly) and Ariana Grande (who didn’t get nominated for Wicked: For Good).

However, thankfully, Hamnet did receive lots of nominations. Alongside Buckley’s nod, the film also got nominated for Best Picture and Best Director for Chloé Zhao. It received several nods in other categories too, including Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Casting, Costume Design and Production Design. So, while it’s sad Mescal didn’t get a nomination, there is still so much to celebrate.

Now, to see if Hamnet takes home any gold, you can watch this year’s Oscars when the ceremony airs on the 2026 TV schedule on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.

If you’re following all the award shows airing on the 2026 TV schedule, you know that Hamnet has been one of the most-acclaimed films to come out from this past year. It’s also back in theaters for a second run this week. What a better way to celebrate than with a Rihanna dance party?! No, really.

As Hamnet continues to get a lot of love from audiences and the Hollywood awards circuit five months after its world premiere, Focus Features shared a joyous video of the cast and the crew dancing to “We Found Love” by Rihanna on the set. Check it out:

SPOILER ALERT: Hamnet is about the death of William Shakespeare and his wife’s only son, Hamnet, who passed at the age of 11 and ended up inspiring Hamlet. The video above shows everyone on The Globe Theater set all busting moves to the Rihanna hit. It’s really sweet and emotional to see Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley dancing carefree alongside the Hamnet actor, Jacobi Jupe, after witnessing them acting out the complete tragedy of losing their young son.

At the end of Hamnet, Buckley’s Agnes finally makes it out to her husband’s play, Hamlet. She has a really transformative experience seeing how her husband has used his grief to create a beautiful piece of art, which is widely thought of as the most famous play of all time.

A vision of the late Hamnet comes to her as she watches the play. Obviously we know it’s a movie and all, but seeing everyone in their costumes having a moment of levity all together on the same set where Hamnet had us busting up in tears is really cathartic, and must have been as such for all in the video. I’m also loving these comments from the TikTok:

• “going to pretend this is the real ending” - @gogosrh
• “What a happy movie this must be” - @thesamuelbeez
• “Should have played this like a marvel post credit scene” - @ianjoeee
• “This is exactly what we needed after the HEARTBREAK we endured with this movie 😅😅❤️❤️” - @shotbysary
• “I cried my eyes out just for them to be acting like THIS huh?” - @ellaonfilm

In the video, you can also see director Chloé Zhao among the crowd dancing along with everyone. The Hamnet filmmaker notably made Eternals prior to Hamnet and became the second (of three) women to win an Oscar for Best Director for Nomadland, along with the movie winning Best Picture in 2020.

CinemaBlend named Hamnet one of the best movies of 2025, specifically in the high position of No. 4 after critics also said nothing but good things about it upon its release. You can see Hamnet in theaters now.

While it has been suggested that the era of the movie star is largely over, it’s still the case that there are certain actors people love to see. Since studios will do whatever they can to make their movies successful, that often means casting names people know and love. This frequently results in certain stars becoming “hot” at different times. Paul Mescal is definitely one of those actors right now, but he’s not looking to overexpose himself anytime soon.

Mescal can currently be seen in Hamnet, a movie with serious awards buzz, but he was also in The History of Sound in 2025. That’s a lot of Paul Mescal, but following his leading turn in Gladiator II, he seems to be an actor a lot of people want to see. He told The Guardian that despite that, he's planning on taking a break. While he understands the downside of taking time away, as people may cool on him, the alternative is worse. He says…

Honestly, that is a little bold. While some stars who have been around a while could take time off and still come back and remain big stars, Mescal seems to only be just entering his “star era,” so it’s less clear that he would be in the same position if he took time off. Still, he clearly understands this and thinks that it’s better for him to take the time.

As things stand, Paul Mescal’s next movies aren’t expected for two years, but that’s not to say he won’t be working between now and then. Mescal is set to play Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' massive Beatles biopic project. But the actor thinks it will be good for him to disappear for a couple of years. He continued…

Considering that when Paul Mescal does hit screens again, he'll be part of not one, but four movies, he may be on to something. Sam Mendes is filming four Beatles biopics simultaneously. Each one will be told from the perspective of a different member of the Fab Four. We're going to get a lot of Mescal and his co-stars Joseph Quinn, Barry Keoghan and Harris Dickinson in 2028.

It’s been suggested before that other “It” actors, like Glen Powell, are being forced on audiences, which has caused some to revolt against them. Perhaps Mescal will avoid that feeling, and when the four Beatles movies come out in a couple of years, fans will be excited to see him return.

A new year is upon us, with lots of exciting things to come over the next 365 days — and I’m not just talking about the 20+ sequels that are set for release on the 2026 movie calendar. We’ve got Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding date reportedly in June, and Zendaya will turn the big 3-0 in September, as she and Tom Holland plan their own nuptials.

In fact, there are quite a few former child stars who were born in 1996 and will celebrate a milestone birthday this year. Let’s take a look at some of the celebrities who will be “30, flirty and thriving” in 2026:

Zendaya

After working as a fashion model in commercials and singing for KidzBop, Zendaya kicked off her career on the Disney Channel, starring in the 2010 sitcom Shake It Up. That has blossomed into a career that’s won her two Emmys and a Golden Globe for the HBO drama Euphoria, and as she approaches her birthday on September 1, she’s got a number of projects in the works, including Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey.

Tom Holland

Also celebrating a full three decades is Zendaya’s fiancé, Tom Holland, who will have his big day on June 1. Holland transitioned to film from dance and theater in 2012, when he starred in The Impossible with Naomi Watts. He then broke big in 2016 when he made his first appearance as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. This year, he will star in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and will be reprising his role as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld had her breakthrough performance in 2010, when she starred in the Coen brothers’ True Grit and earned an Academy Award nomination. In addition to turning 30 on December 11, the Sinners star will welcome her first child with husband Josh Allen this year. The NFL star will also celebrate the big 3-0 on May 21.

Hailey Bieber

I can only imagine that self-proclaimed nepo baby Hailey Bieber (of Baldwin family fame) will do it big when she marks her 30th trip around the sun on November 22. The model, who shares a son with husband Justin Bieber, began modeling as a teenager and has become quite a successful influencer and skin care mogul.

Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal’s career has really taken off over the past few years, including his latest role in Hamnet, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for the upcoming awards show. He’ll know whether or not he won by the time he turns 30 on February 2.

Mescal got his start in the theater before transitioning to TV in 2020 for Normal People. He will star as Paul McCartney in the upcoming Beatles movies, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event.

Normani

After coming to fame as part of Fifth Harmony, Normani will celebrate her big day on May 31, nearly a year after the release of her first solo studio album, Dopamine.

Lili Reinhart

We likely know Lili Reinhart best for portraying Betty Cooper in the teen drama Riverdale, but the actress, who will turn 30 on September 13, had roles in movies like The Good Neighbor, The Kings of Summer and even an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit before that.

Abigail Breslin

It’s crazy to think Abigail Breslin is only 30 years old, since she’s been on our screens forever. Or, maybe I should just feel incredibly old since the little girl from Signs will have a big birthday come April 14. Breslin’s career since then has included Oscar and BAFTA nominations for Little Miss Sunshine and roles in Zombieland, Scream Queens and even an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

Dove Cameron

Another former Disney kid will celebrate three decades of life, as Dove Cameron — who got her start playing the titular dual roles on Liv and Maddie before starring in the Descendants movies as Mal — turns 30 on January 15.

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid, who has been modeling since she was 16, will mark her 30th birthday on October 9, undoubtedly surrounded by her famous family members — including fellow model Gigi Hadid — and celebrity friends.

Skyler Gisondo

Known most recently for his role as Jimmy Olsen in 2025’s Superman, Skyler Gisondo may be best recognized as the nerdy neighbor Eric from Santa Clarita Diet. He’s compiled around 75 credits as he turns 30 on July 22, dating all the way back to episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond in 2005. This year he’ll star opposite Ariana Grande in Focker In-Law, the latest in Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro’s Meet the Parents franchise.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Getting her acting start in her late teens, Anya Taylor-Joy has starred in projects like The Queen's Gambit — for which she won a Golden Globe — and The Menu. This year, in addition to turning 30 on April 16, she’ll reprise her role as Alia Atreides in Dune: Part Three.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh has become quite the celebrated actress since making her debut in 2014. At 30 years old (as of January 3), Pugh has been nominated for an Oscar for Little Women with other credits including Midsommar, Don’t Worry Darling, Oppenheimer, We Live in Time, and the second and third Dune movies, to name a few. She also managed to find time to terrify people with her nipples.

Sophie Turner

It’s kind of hard to believe Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones is hitting the big 3-0 in 2026 on February 21. The HBO epic was her first screen credit, but she’s gone on to other projects and is set to star as Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider series.

Noah Centineo

Noah Centineo’s recurring role as Dallas on Austin & Ally kicked off his career with the Disney Channel in 2011. He continued with small roles with the House of Mouse until joining The Fosters in 2015 and ultimately landed the role of Peter Kavinsky in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies and the XO, Kitty spinoff. He’s also recently starred in The Recruit and has a couple of projects in the works for 2026, not including whatever is in store for his 30th birthday celebration on May 9.

There are a surprising number of celebrities hitting their milestone three-decade birthday this year. We may have known a lot of them from work they did as a child actor or teenager, but their careers will continue into their 30s. In addition to keeping your eye out for them on the big screen, be sure to also check out the 2026 TV schedule to find some of the thirty-somethings there.

There are plenty of 2025 movies that critics have been touting as possible awards contenders, and before it even hit theaters, Hamnet was one of them. In fact, with the book-to-screen adaptation about William Shakespeare's family getting its wide release on Friday, December 12, the film has already acquired six Golden Globe nominations. So what’s all the buzz about? Let’s see what critics are saying.

The story is a fictionalized version of the famous playwright and his wife Agnes’ lives following the death of their 11-year-old son. Directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao and starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, this adaptation of Hamnet is inspiring emotional reactions in audiences, including Moira Macdonald of the Seattle Times. The critic gives the movie a perfect 4 out of 4 stars for its portrayal of how grief can be transformed into art. The review reads:

Many who have already seen the movie are calling out Jessie Buckley’s standout performance. Justin Chang of NPR says her character is “the heart of the movie,” and Buckley is “extraordinary.” The critic continues:

Odie Henderson of the Boston Globe acknowledges how tough Hamnet will be for some moviegoers, as he witnessed eight people walking out of his showing (several other critics reported the same thing). Jessie Buckley’s grief-filled howl of pain as Agnes grieves could be seen “as either humanly genuine or over-the-top.” Henderson picks the former, rating the movie 4 out of 4 stars and writing:

Christy Lemire of RogerEbert — as the mother of a son — braced herself for an emotionally wrecking experience after hearing others talk about Jessie Buckley’s portrayal. However, she felt the performance was more excessive than raw. She still recognizes the artfulness of the film overall, rating it 2.5 out of 4 stars. Lemire says:

Peter Travers of the Travers Take writes that he had also heard these complaints ahead of his screening, with others apparently calling Hamnet “grief porn.” While he warns that the film will destroy you, he also says he found it “one of the best and most emotionally engulfing movies of the year.” You can’t take your eyes off of Agnes in the final scene, the critic says. From his review:

Here at CinemaBlend, Hamnet is getting high marks from those who have seen it, even if some did find it too emotional for their tastes, and the movie is a Certified Fresh 86% on Rotten Tomatoes (92% from the audience’s Popcornmeter). If you haven’t been able to catch this one yet in theaters and want to get a start on movies you’ll see on awards ballots, find the latest from Chloé Zhao when it goes wide December 12.

We may be in the final stretch of 2025 movie releases, but there’s quite a few great films to seek out, like Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. The adaptation of the novel of the same name imagines what it was like for William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, to lose their son, Hamnet, and how it influenced the creation of his famed tragedy, Hamlet. During CinemaBlend’s Hamnet interviews, Paul Mescal shared his perspective of the film. While it’s not what I expected him to highlight, it has me seeing the film in an even greater light.

Paul Mescal gives an especially great performance as William Shakespeare when he was first getting his start as a playwright. While talking to our own Hannah Saulic, here’s what he said about his favorite part of the role:

Mescal went out of his way to bring up the romantic aspect of Hamnet, which is most prominent early in the movie. While I’d imagine Mescal might talk about what went into portraying the iconic figure, or exploring the themes of grief and sadness, and how he translated that through his art, the 29-year-old actor is quick to bring up how much he adores “playing love.” As someone who’s seen it, he’s absolutely right, it’s a love story perhaps more than anything else.

Given Paul Mescal’s career thus far, I guess I shouldn’t be incredibly surprised, from the actor being in Normal People with Daisy Edgar-Jones, to his upcoming role as master of ballads and love songs, Paul McCartney, in the Beatles movies. As he continues:

It’s true the start of the film somewhat plays out like a love story between two young people living in Stratford-upon-Avon in the late 1500s. There’s a sweetness to it that helps the audience get invested into their characters for the more emotional second half of the movie. William and Agnes’ relationship feels a lot smaller and pedestrian than we’d expect after the playwright has been so famous in pop culture, and there’s been loads of William Shakespeare adaptations from Hollywood.

These words from Paul Mescal definitely will have me looking closely at the love between William and Agnes as depicted in the Hamnet movie. There’s certainly a lot of affection between the couple throughout the movie, but it’s also fraught with some more complex emotions from them, such as William dividing his time between his family and his passion to be an artist.

You can see Hamnet in select theaters now, with it coming to more theaters on Friday, December 5.

Paul Mescal is an example of a young Irish actor who's found big success in Hollywood. With all of the impressive wins and nominations he's scored, he'll find himself among the ranks of Irish actors like Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy and more. After being in the business for only the past eight years, though, Mescal has also already seen the best and worst parts of the acting game. He recently opened up about that, mentioning Daisy Edgar-Jones as well as "mistakes" while doing so.

After Paul Mescal beautifully portrayed grief, anxiety, and depression in the series Normal People, he’s continued to take on powerful performances that blow critics and audiences away. During Mescal’s interview with Vanity Fair, the talented star recalled speaking to his Hamnet co-star, Jessie Buckley, about his favorite part of acting, and I can’t blame him when it comes to this take:

It's very true that actors can indeed befriend fellow performers as they work on different projects and navigate the business as a whole. Like Mescal said, hanging out with co-stars when the cameras are off allows them to be in each other’s company as people and not simply as thespians. Honestly, it wouldn't be all that surprising to me if the Aftersun actor’s friends feel just as “inspired” to be in his presence.

However, Mescal humorously gave History of Sound co-star and pal Josh O’Connor some not-so-helpful advice ahead of his first SNL hosting gig. Yet Mescal still seems to have a good relationship with O'Connor as well as Normal People co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, who's essentially worked with “basically all of the internet’s boyfriends.” I imagine Mescal will have the chance to befriend other great actors as time goes on. After all, he is also starring in those four, star-studded Beatles movies as well..

Acting may be a rewarding experience for Paul Mescal to work with other inspiring, talented people. But like any career, acting has its drawbacks, and Mescal laid out a personal one:

Stars seemingly handle fame in a myriad of ways, as celebrity can cause aspects of one's life to be “magnified,” as Mescal said. As the Oscar nominee expressed to Vanity Fair, it’s hard for him to pretend he doesn’t care about the public’s perception. At the same time, though, Mescal said he cares more about the people in his life who do appreciate his work. That's a level-headed take to have, in my humble opinion.

If Mescal can balance the best and worst parts of acting throughout his career, I'm confident he’ll be just fine. Here's hoping he continues to thrive and that he forges strong relationships with other actors like he's done with Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jessie Buckley and Josh O'Connor.

Be sure to watch Paul Mescal in the 2025 movie release Hamnet, which opens in theaters on November 26th.

On the heels of Glen Powell’s hosting debut on Saturday Night Live, the remaining hosts and musical guests for Season 51 on the 2025 TV schedule have been announced. Among those is another first, actor Josh O’Connor. He will be taking on Studio 8H on December 13 with musical guest Lilly Allen and not surprisingly, he’s nervous. But he got some interesting advice from Paul Mescal.

O’Connor’s hosting gig comes in anticipation of the latest Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which releases on Netflix the day before he hosts. Despite starring in the movie alongside an A-list cast that includes Daniel Craig, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, and Jeremy Renner, O’Connor is still as nervous as ever taking a gig as big as SNL. He told Variety just how quickly he agreed to do it, even though he’s freaking out on the inside:

Being nervous about hosting Saturday Night Live is definitely normal, considering it’s Saturday Night Live. Even the cast, both past and present, gets nerves and anxiety. Luckily, Mescal is not going in alone. He’s been able to talk to some friends about hosting, including Mescal. The two actors recently starred in the Oliver Hermanus-directed period romance drama The History of Sound and have remained close since filming. So close that O’Connor reached out to Mescal, who hosted on December 7, 2024, to see if he had anything of use to share, and it didn’t exactly go as O’Connor had planned:

It is pretty funny knowing just how unhelpful Mescal’s advice was, but at the very least, he was encouraging and hyped that O’Connor was hosting. Plus he was honest. It’s better just to let him know right away that he may or may not have a full-blown breakdown. Besides, it might have been nice to know that Mescal was feeling the same way as O’Connor about hosting, even if it wasn’t the best way to show it.

Since O’Connor most recently worked with Steven Spielberg on his upcoming movie in 2026, there’s nothing he can’t handle. Fans will be excited to see how he will do, especially since he’s done plenty of comedy, so they know what he’s capable of. Hopefully, he’s been able to get actual and helpful advice from other SNL host veterans, and that Mescal was able to give him some wise words.

Meanwhile, other December hosts include Melissa McCarthy on December 6 for the sixth time. Wicked: For Good star Ariana Grande will be rounding out the year with the fan-favorite Christmas episode on December 20, and it will be her third time as host. These final episodes of 2025 will be exciting to watch, and fans won’t want to miss them.

Compared to what we’ve seen in the best music biopics out there, where the attention is focused on a singer or a band as a whole, Sam Mendes plans to change the biopic narrative. What we know so far about his Beatles biopics is that they'll be comprised of four movies, with each centered on one Beatle’s point of view. As Paul Mescal will star in the four Beatles movies as Paul McCartney, he was quick to answer whether he would be giving his vocal talent to the movies.

Paul Mescal was asked by Indiewire if he’d be doing his own singing while portraying Paul McCartney, and he answered without missing a beat:

Music biopics can work both ways, where a film’s lead will either lip-sync or provide their genuine singing voice. In Selena, J. Lo lip-synced to the real Selena Quintanilla, which was a genuine tribute to the late singer’s talent. But when Joaquin Phoenix sang as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, we witnessed the actor embodying the musician with his own musical talent.

So it was good to hear Paul Mescal's answer! As a Beatles fan, it’s not that I wouldn’t have loved to hear the real Paul McCartney’s voice make its way to Sam Mendes’ movies. However, getting to hear Paul Mescal’s interpretations of the most famed Beatles tunes would thrill me all the more. I can picture him putting strength and soul into each number the way he has in every acting role he’s achieved.

It’s like when I first heard Jim Sturgess sing “Girl” in the must-watch offbeat musical Across the Universe, or Ewan McGregor sing “All You Need is Love” in Moulin Rouge! Having actors of our generation sing the songs of the “Fab Four” can create a new generation of fans.

Paul Mescal has proven his musical talent when he sang in the 2022 musical drama Carmen. He’ll also be taking on the lead role of Franklin Shepard in Richard Linklater’s upcoming musical adaptation Merrily We Roll Along. With these musical roles, the Academy Award nominee is showing that he’s a man of many talents. Given what a talent Paul McCartney is, there’s no better actor out there to portray him than someone as equally dedicated to their craft.

With Sam Mendes’ Beatles movies being split into four, that means four movies of Paul Mescal belting out songs that have captured the hearts of many generations. While there’s been no confirmation of what songs will be covered, I’d love to hear the Aftersun actor sing hits like “Hey Jude” and “Yesterday.” We’ll all have to wait for the upcoming music biopics to hit theaters in 2028 to see Mescal bring his voice and charm to his legendary new role.

Much like Harrison Ford in the 1980s, Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal are both having movie star moments. They made a splash last fall as part of the Gladiator 2 cast, Pascal is set to lead the upcoming Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Mescal is starring in films like The History of Sound and Hamnet. Also, like Ford, they know how to put together a great outfit, and they proved that again by paying homage to the legendary actor at Cannes in the same way.

However, what I really love about all of this is that it happened not long after the Indiana Jones star shared his on-brand thoughts about this exact image and outfit.

Pedro Pascal And Paul Mescal Both Paid Tribute To Harrison Ford At Cannes

Now, before we dive into Mescal and Pascal’s looks, you need a brief history lesson. Back in 1982, Harrison Ford was featured in a photo taken in front of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes. He was at the Cannes Film Festival, and for decades now, folks have fawned over his effortless swagger and simple yet cool look, which you can see below:

Now, as both Pascal and Mescal attended Cannes to promote projects on the 2025 movie schedule, they each paid homage to this exact image of Ford in fabulous ways.

The Last of Us star was going viral for wearing a black tank top and black trousers (as shown in an image via @pascalarchive), and the image of him posing in front of the hotel, with his sunglasses on and hands in his pockets, was the cherry on top. He was there for his upcoming A24 flick Eddington, and when you mix that with the truly stellar lineup he has in 2025, all of this is giving big Harrison Ford, movie star energy.

A few days later, the Normal People actor also posed for an image in front of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc as his film The History of Sound premiered at the festival. Like Ford, he was wearing a blue sweater, sunglasses, and putting a hand in his pocket, as you can see in his stylist Felicity Kay's Instagram post:

Without the Harrison Ford reference, these two looks would be noteworthy, because both men look so chic and cool. However, considering Ford’s iconic characters, his best films, and that old viral image, these fashion moments become even better.

However, honestly, the best part of all this is how the Star Wars actor feels about his now-legendary look from the ‘80s.

I’m Obsessed With Harrison Ford’s Feelings About This Image And Being A Fashion Icon

Now, months before all this, in October 2024, to be exact, this image was brought up to Harrison Ford. In an interview with GQ, Gabriella Paiella asked the actor if he was “aware” of the fact that this 1982 look was a “sort of shining-star inspirational outfit for menswear enthusiasts.” In response, and in true Harrison Ford fashion, I might add, he responded with:

Truly, what an incredible answer. However, it only got better after that. When asked if he remembered anything about this fit, the Shrinking star simply stated:

And when asked if he’s “not a fan” of the look, he simply replied:

And that was the end of that conversation.

It’s no secret that Harrison Ford has a hilarious history of roasting interviewers (like Jimmy Kimmel) and providing short, yet iconic, responses. This is another example of that, and truly, I love it.

Ford has such a good sense of humor, and this exemplifies that. On top of that, I also loved that the interviewer asked him about this wonderful photo that has clearly inspired so many actors (as proven above).

This man is an icon on screen and off, and honestly, in the world of menswear too, thanks to looks like this. So, he deserves his flowers…whether they make him feel “ill” or not.

Daisy Edgar-Jones has worked with the internet’s most sought-after boyfriends. From Paul Mescal to Glen Powell, to Andrew Garfield and more, her list of co-stars is very impressive. Now, she’s adding another handsome actor to that list, and this might be her most exciting collaboration yet.

Not long after the release of her project on the 2025 movie schedule, On Swift Horses, which starred the swoon-worthy actors Jacob Elordi and Will Poulter alongside Edgar-Jones, her next project and set of co-stars were revealed. The film is called Here Comes the Flood, and the Normal People actress is set to star in it alongside Robert Pattinson and Denzel Washington, per THR.

Honestly, Edgar-Jones collaborating with one of the internet’s finest boyfriends (and an OG BF if you ask me, thanks to Twilight) is so exciting. I might even be more excited for this collaboration than I was to watch Twisters (you can stream it with an Amazon Prime subscription), which is saying a lot, because I am a very proud member of the Glen Powell fan club.

However, some important information to know about me is that I love a heist movie, which Here Comes the Flood is, and I have been obsessed with the unique choices Robert Pattinson has made with his career in recent years.

While plot details about this flick are being kept under wraps, the logline describes it as “an unconventional heist movie about a bank guard, a teller and a master thief in a deadly game of cons and double crosses.” It’s unclear who Edgar-Jones, Pattinson and Denzel Washington will be playing within this bunch. However, overall, they are a trio I never expected to work together, and I can’t wait to see how they tell this “non-linear” story by Simon Kinberg.

The film is also set to be directed by Fernando Meirelles, who was nominated for Best Director at the Oscars in 2002 for his film City of God and helmed the Oscar-nominated Netflix film The Two Popes. So, with talent like Pattinson, Edgar-Jones and Washington as well as an acclaimed director, this film feels like it could be an extra special (and possibly award-worthy) feather in all their caps.

Bringing Washington, a legend, Edgar-Jones, an up-and-coming star, and Pattinson, one of the most fascinating actors working right now (in my opinion, thanks to a run of films that include The Batman, The Boy and the Heron and Mickey 17) together is genius, and I can’t wait to watch them.

Not to mention, it also adds to the Normal People star’s ever-growing list of seriously impressive co-stars. Of course, Daisy Edgar-Jones’ breakout role came with Normal People and Paul Mescal (which you can watch with a Hulu subscription). Then, she worked with Sebastian Stan on Fresh, Andrew Garfield on Under the Banner of Heaven, Harris Dickinson on Where the Crawdads Sing, Jacob Elordi on On Swift Horses, and, of course, Glen Powell on the fantastic Twister sequel.

Now, she’s adding Robert Pattinson to that list, as well as Denzel Washington, and I quite literally cannot wait to see it! At the moment, though, this film that will eventually be available with a Netflix subscription does not have a release date. So, for now, you can go back and watch Daisy Edgar-Jones in all her wonderful projects that also happen to feature some of the internet’s favorite boyfriends.

In March 2024, an exceptionally ambitious project was announced. It was revealed that Sam Mendes was going to tell the story of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison a.k.a. The Beatles, but rather than just making a single film, the filmmaker's plan is to make four separate feature that will each have a unique perspective from one of the bandmates. That's a hell of a lot for any director to take on – but a little over one year later, we have new updates about the movies, and the idea is even crazier than originally thought.

CinemaCon, the annual Las Vegas-based convention for movie theater owners, kicked off this evening at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with a slate presentation from Sony Pictures, and the big capstone was a massive update about the upcoming Beatles movies. Sam Mendes took to the stage with Sony Pictures chairman/CEO Tom Rothman, and they not only announced the actors who will be playing the Fab Four, but they also unveiled plans to have all of the films in theaters in the same month.

You can check out the first official look at the movie's ensemble above, but for those of you who don't recognize the faces...

• Paul Mescal is playing Paul McCartney
• Joseph Quinn is playing George Harrison
• Barry Keoghan is playing Ringo Starr
• Harris Dickinson is playing John Lennon

It was previously announced that all of the Beatles movies would get a theatrical rollout at some point in 2027, but the dates were pushed back so that Sony could release what they are dubbing the "first bingable theatrical experience." Rather than coming out months apart, all four of the films will be arriving on the big screen in April 2028. It should go without saying that while we've seen plenty of productions begin with multi-picture plans, from Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings to Avengers: Infinity War/Avengers: Endgame, we've never seen a distribution strategy like this before. It's unclear at this point if they will all be coming out the same day or will debut one week apart (and in the latter case, we don't know in what order they will premiere).

That cast is also ripe with extreme talent and buzz, as all four actors have been earning great acclaim for their work in recent years and are considered prime up-and-comers. Paul Mescal is coming off of his first blockbuster in Gladiator II; Joseph Quinn, following standout work on Stranger Things, is playing Johnny Storm a.k.a. The Human Torch in Fantastic Four: First Steps; Barry Keoghan earned an Academy Award nomination for The Banshees Of Inisherin (not to mention that he's playing The Joker in Matt Reeves' The Batman films); and Harris Dickinson has earned high marks for titles like Babygirl and Triangle Of Sadness.

Per Sam Mendes, all four of the movies about Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison will feature specific points of view and will crossover at certain moments in their stories. That's a special and tremendously exciting idea, and I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

We'll surely hear a lot more about these movies very soon as principal photography starts (it's totally wild that Sam Mendes is planning to make four distinct features in about three years). Be on the look out for more news about The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event in the coming weeks and months, but also be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for all of our exciting reporting from on the ground at CinemaCon.

Being somebody who writes about movie news on the internet, I get a very close look at which actors and actresses social media tends to blow up over. Interestingly, it’s usually men who get talked about the most, with whoever is on top being dubbed the “internet’s boyfriend.” From Glen Powell to Paul Mescal to Jacob Elordi, they’ve all set social media hearts fluttering. Perhaps Daisy Edgar-Jones should be dubbed the “internet’s girlfriend” because she’s been with them all, at least on screen.

Looking at Daisy Edgar-Jones's filmography is fairly dazzling as it contains a who’s who of the internet’s favorite male stars. Last summer, it was with Glen Powell in Twisters. Her next film, On Swift Horses, includes Jacob Elordi. Andrew Garfield, Paul Mescal, and Sebastian Stan have all also performed alongside her in the last few years. However, what’s perhaps more impressive is that she’s been the top-billed actor in the credits against nearly all of them. As she recently told Elle…

We’ve certainly heard stories about how some actors may tend to let ego get in their way, occasionally causing conflicts with the other actors on set. Being number one on the call sheet is often seen as a status symbol, and those who are in that spot have been known to throw their weight around. Rebecca Ferguson recently discussed an unnamedtop star (who may not have even been male) who made her cry on set.

Daisy Edgar-Jones hasn’t had to deal with that with these other actors, which is wonderful to hear. It’s nice to know that all of the internet’s various boyfriends are also decent people behind the scenes. They would likely lose that status with fans if it turned out they were a bunch of jerks.

Hopefully, Daisy Edgar-Jones never has to deal with the egos that she fears. Especially since, as she points out, she has at least a couple more of the “internet’s boyfriends” that she hasn’t yet appeared against. Daisy-Jones jokes…

Considering the co-stars Daisy Edgar-Jones has had in the past and the fact that her star is not fading, it almost seems like a given that she’ll appear opposite Dune: Part Two castmates Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler at some point. Of course, by then, there may be some brand new internet boyfriends who need to be added to the list. Hopefully, they won’t mind getting second billing.

It’s been a few months since the release of Gladiator II, and I have to say, I’m still thinking about how much I want a director’s cut. Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel recently became available to watch at home and to stream for those with a Paramount+ subscription, and while I liked the movie (as detailed in my Gladiator II review), I really wish my at-home rewatch could be through an extended version of the film.

Look, Gladiator II’s theatrical cut is two hours and 28 minutes long. That is honestly more than long enough for me when it comes to a blockbuster movie, but when I saw it in theaters in November, I couldn’t help but feel like there were some story aspects that were removed in order to make it under two and a half hours. While Scott has claimed this is the movie he wanted to make and his cut already, I’m curious about seeing a much longer version that doesn’t feel as rushed and disheveled as it does to me.

I’m Not Usually Into Director’s Cuts

I know there’s a whole market out there regarding epic movies like this and director’s cuts being released to provide a longer runtime, but I just want to say, I’m usually not the person first in line for that. I think it’s certainly interesting when a filmmaker is allowed to share more of their vision when the first version was nudged by a studio to be shorter, but ultimately I think if what you’re making is turning out to be three+ hours, maybe you should rethink it as a miniseries.

Sometimes I’m wrong. For example, I absolutely loved my experience seeing all three and a half hours of Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon in theaters. And I love the fact that Best Picture nominee The Brutalist brought back the intermission. Ultimately though, director’s cuts are not my thing, but I want one for Gladiator II.

But Immediately After Watching Gladiator II, I Wanted To See A Longer Version

When I went to see Gladiator II in theaters back in November, I was very much anticipating it after Scott’s original Gladiator was one of the best 2000s movies. While it definitely delivered on a lot of fronts, particularly with Denzel Washington’s devious villain, I also felt like there were a lot of story elements that just weren’t given enough attention and time, oddly enough. I don’t know why the movie felt rushed to me considering its runtime, but I figure it has to do with what was filmed just being a lot longer than the final cut could provide.

I would have liked more scenes that fleshed out Macrinus’ backstory and helped me understand his character better. I also think a popular complaint was the lack of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla, whether that be between her and Pedro Pascal’s Acacius or Lucius. She felt like somewhat of an afterthought to the movie, when I think she should have been one of the main leads. It also felt like some of the scenes in the Colosseum just breezed by when I wanted them to offer more tension and nail-biting action.

There’s Been A Lot Of Chatter About What Was Removed For The Theatrical Cut

Though I have my own hopes for a Gladiator II director’s cut, there’s also been quite a lot of talk about scenes that were shot for the movie that were cut. For example, an entire character was removed from the movie! May Calamawy, who I loved in Ramy and Moon Knight, was originally going to play an “important” character in Gladiator II, but was reduced to having a background role. While actors being cut out of movies certainly happens sometimes in big movies like this, she didn’t deserve to be completely omitted.

There’s also been talk of wild deleted scenes in Gladiator II, like the twin kings asking to be adopted by Lucilla, and Washington claimed there was a scene where Macrinus kissed another man that was cut from the movie. There’s also apparently footage of Mescal kissing Pascal in a cut scene. Kissing aside, all this talk seems to hint there was more story to the flick, and I want to see what a director’s cut of this movie would look like.

Scott has also spoken on the topic. He shared with The Hollywood Reporter in November that there’s a three hour and 40 minute cut that he’s contemplating putting out in the world. I very much want to see that! I think having an extra hour could possibly change my mind on the movie and offer me the pace I wish it had given me on the first go around.

At The End Of The Day, I Think I Just Wish I Liked Gladiator II Better

Now, while I’m totally rooting for a Gladiator II director’s cut, I also just wish the original movie was just better, if I’m being honest. Plenty of filmmakers have made masterpieces with the runtime of a typical movie under three hours, and my hopes for a longer movie more so comes from my disappointment in what I've seen than me loving it so much I just need a longer version.

I totally get that movies are basically impossible to make as good as some of Scott’s others, like Alien and Blade Runner. But I definitely think with perhaps more work on the script, the movie could have been incredible with the runtime it was given.

Considering it's a sequel, sure, it’s easy to compare it to the original, but I get peeved when filmmakers make movies long just because they don’t have the self control to cut the scenes that need to be cut. In the instance of Gladiator II, it feels like Scott had a lot of fun ideas to go around, but he never fully committed to making them all fit together in a cooperative way. Would an extra hour help that? I don’t know, but I’m sure I’d be entertained by seeing what it would look like.

When it comes to sequels of iconic films, few projects have generated as much buzz as Ridley Scott’s 2024 epic Gladiator II. The original 2000 film left a legacy that is hard to match, and stepping into that world again is no small feat. However Paul Mescal, who was cast to lead the film as Lucius, took the challenge in stride. He was determined to carve his own path, and for him, this meant not discussing the role with Russell Crowe. Interestingly, Ridley Scott had a fitting James Bond comparison when addressing Mescal’s decision, which just might put this bold move into perspective.

Paul Mescal’s Decision Not To Speak to Russell Crowe

Of course, it's not surprising that people would want to know if the “gladiators” ever had a meeting of the minds. The original Gladiator is a beloved movie, and Crowe’s performance in the film earned him an Oscar for playing Maximus. One naturally would wonder if Mescal wanted some tips before stepping into his shoes. Ultimately however, the Aftersun actor decided to approach Gladiator II without his predecessor’s guidance, as he wanted to find the character independently. He told Esquire:

He echoed the sentiment when asked again by ExtraTV. Clearly Mescal isn’t averse to meeting Crowe, but would want the occasion to be focused more about their similar experiences, rather than acting and character advice. He elaborated:

This decision makes complete sense. At the end of the day, the sequel film came out 24 years after the original film featuring new characters and a new story at the center. Mescal wasn’t even playing the same character that Crowe did, and the intrigue of Gladiator II was the unique spin the 28-year-old actor would put on the source material for a new audience. Mescal certainly didn’t want to copy what Crowe did, as that wouldn't be constructive to the process. However, now that filming is done, the two Gladiator stars would likely enjoy grabbing a pint together and talking about their shared experiences, as they have a lot in common.

Ridley Scott’s Take On Paul Mescal’s Decision

Director Ridley Scott, who also helmed the original Gladiator in 2000, was supportive of Mescal’s decision not to reach out to Crowe. The filmmaker understood that his new leading man had to carve out his own path. He actually found the notion to be silly, and compared it to different James Bond actors discussing the part together. Those movies, like the Gladiator sequel, prioritize reinvention, hoping audiences will get something different from each portrayal rather than rehashing the same thing. Scott said to ExtraTV:

Just like new iterations of Bond, Paul Mescal’s portrayal of Lucius in Gladiator II was an opportunity to expand the franchise rather than recreate it. Scott’s remarks also underscored his confidence in Mescal, who’s rapidly becoming one of Hollywood’s most promising talents and received praise from critics for his performance in the sequel. Comparisons to the first Gladiator are inevitable but this analogy shows that the 2024 film wasn’t about chasing the shadow of Maximus. It was about forging a new legacy, and one that Mescal and the rest of the Gladiator II cast were poised to deliver.

You can see Paul Mescal in Gladiator II, which is still playing in theaters nationwide. Fans can also revisit Russell Crowe’s performance in 2000’s Gladiator, which is currently available to stream now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Learning that Mike Flanagan is writing a movie about Clayface is, personally, one of the most exciting updates to the slate of upcoming DC movies I have heard in a long time (especially when considering how slow progress for Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II appears to be going). The announcement of the Clayface movie has brought up some questions, such as who is directing and whether or not Batman will appear, but what I am most curious about at the moment is who will take on the title role.

According to Variety, Flanagan (the mind behind some of the best horror movies in recent memory) previously pitched the idea to DC Studios as a “horror/thriller tragedy,” which suggests to me that portraying this villain – basically a humanoid blob who can imitate any person he wishes – is going to take some heavy lifting. Below, I have a few ideas of what actors could handle the weight of playing Clayface in what is technically an upcoming Batman movie. Who might be in the best shape to mold the character into perfection?

Christopher Abbott

Clayface has taken on many different iterations in the pages of DC Comics and in adaptations but two of the most definitive aspects to the criminal’s story are elements similar to a body horror movie and themes of identity loss. Christopher Abbott – who recently played a villiain in a the new superhero movie, Kraven the Hunter – is an actor who has tackled both, as a man who loses control of his body in 2020’s Possessor and a husband and father undergoing a grotesque transformation in Blumhouse’s Wolf Man movie, which is due in 2025.

Brad Pitt

The first and most famous version of Clayface is Basil Karlo – a 1940s B-movie actor who takes on the eponymous moniker, based on a character he once played, after being passed for the opportunity to reprise another famous role drives him to madness. Despite the homicidal tendencies, the character reminds me a bit of Brad Pitt’s tragic role in Babylon as Jack Conrad – an aging actor longing to reclaim his glory days – which is why I believe the Academy Award winner, who is also lacking in many comic book roles, would be a great fit for the part.

Brendan Fraser

An Academy Award winner who has real-life experience with the struggle of fading in and out of the spotlight is Brendan Fraser, who has already dipped his feet in the world of DC as Robotman on Doom Patrol. However, he came oh so close to shining in a DC villain role (Firefly) before the nearly finished Batgirl movie was cancelled, and I think leading Clayface would be a wonderful consolation.

Zach Gilford

An actor whom I believe would also be a great choice to portray the vain and self-destructive tendencies of Clayface is Zach Gilford, based on his performance as a younger Roderick Usher in the great Netflix horror TV show, The Fall of the House of Usher. The miniseries is actually just one of a few acclaimed Mike Flanagan TV shows he has starred in (also including Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club), which could also increase his chances of landing the gig.

Oliver Jackson-Cohen

Another alum of the Flanagan Family whom I really admire is Oliver Jackson-Cohen, whose performance in 2018’s The Haunting of Hill House as recovering addict Luke Crain shows he has also mastered playing self-destructive characters. However, it is his performance as the ghostly Peter in The Haunting of Bly Manor that convinces me he is even better at portraying characters who are sinister but somewhat sympathetic, which would be key to playing Clayface.

Paul Mescal

Taking the necessity of making Clayface sympathetic into account, a performer who especially comes to mind as a perfect fit in that regard would be Paul Mescal. The Irish actor and Gladiator II star pours raw emotion in every role he plays and someone with his skills would make this strange comic book villain more real than ever.

Bill Skarsgård

For some, Bill Skarsgård’s attempt at playing a comic book hero with the 2024 reboot of The Crow serves as further proof that the star of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu especially shines as a villain. Perhaps, by channeling the shapeshifting entity he previously played in the creepy clown movies, It and It Chapter Two, he could make an astounding DC movie debut as the most intimidating Clayface ever.

Ron Perlman

Most fans might agree that the absolute strongest performance as Clayface in an adaptation yet was voiced by Ron Perlman in one of the best episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, “Feats of Clay.” Combining both elements of Basil Karlo’s Silver Age and Post-Crisis iterations, the portrayal is recognized as one of the most definitive versions of the villain. Thus, the former Hellboy actor understands the role on a deeper level than just about anyone else, making him deserving of the chance to bring him to life in live-action.

Christian Bale

Since appearing in one of the recent Marvel movies (Thor: Love and Thunder) as Gorr the God-butcher, people have been curious if one of the best Batman actors, Christian Bale, could return to the world of DC Comics in another role one day. Would it not be amazing to see the chameleonic Academy Award winner make his return to the DC movies by leading Clayface as a, literally, chameleonic actor?

As noted in one of Adam Holmes’ own questions about Clayface, it is possible that Alan Tudyk already has the role, because the beloved actor already voices him for both Harley Quinn and James Gunn’s new DC TV show, Creature Commandos. Of course, that would depend on the continuity followed by this new DCU movie, which could be another Elseworlds story set in Matt Reeves’ Batman Epic Crime Saga. Until we know for sure, any of the actors above have my vote to play Clayface.

November was a big month for the box office, thanks in great part to Wicked (Part 1) and Gladiator II. Both films released the same day on the 2024 movie schedule. Aside from memes on the Internet, "Glicked" was not commercially pushed as much as "Barbenheimer." Yet both films did spectacular pre-Thanksgiving numbers and are still crushing. Glinda actress Ariana Grande seems to be in support of the double feature, and she also recently explained to Paul Mescal how their two films are "strangely similar" -- and I can totally see it.

While both actors have have weighed in on "Glicked," it’s definitely fun to see Grande and Gladiator II's Lucius actor, Mescal, discuss the trend together. The two were brought together, thanks to Variety’s Actors on Actors series, and they had a very entertaining and informative chat. During the conversation, the Eternal Sunshine songstress threw the Aftersun actor for a loop when she claimed their movies have more in common than meets the eye:

The All Of Us Strangers actor initially seemed dubious (as was I) but, upon hearing Grande’s reasoning, her initially wild statement is understandable. Underneath all the glitter and magic of Wicked and the blood sweat and tears of Gladiator II, the overall structures follow similar plot points, what with the themes the Scream Queens actress mentioned.

Both films ask the question, “Are people truly all good or all evil?” As for the government corruption, nothing has really changed in Rome since the events of the first Gladiator film. Wicked’s corruption, for people unfamiliar with the play, takes the audience by surprise, and the betrayal cuts to the core. Unfortunately, we won’t see how that all resolves until Part 2 is released amid the 2025 movie schedule.

Overall, I totally see what she’s saying. However, I also think those are very common themes in cinema, and it’s a broad statement to make. To that point, Mescal acknowledged Grande’s idea, while also pointing out the obvious, saying:

While they might share some broad themes, these two movies could not be more different, much like Barbie and Oppenheimer. Yet that’s part of the appeal, right? Watching a heavy drama followed by a more light-hearted musical comedy (or vise-versa) is cinematic whiplash, but that’s what makes it so fun. While I don’t think any two movies could capture the same attention and devotion as Barbenheimer, it certainly has created a ripple effect, planting the seed of absurd double features in everyone’s heads.

That’s not to discredit the films that are crushing right now. Both Gladiator II and Wicked have critics raving and are must-see movies as awards season heats up. Both even just received multiple Golden Globes nominations. We might as well throw Moana 2 in the mix, as the island Disney princess has also joined the duo, setting the highest domestic Thanksgiving box office numbers. (I can’t even try to pronounce what the trio name would have been for the three movies had they all released together.)

I certainly look forward to seeing what wild combination of film releases we see next but, as for right now, it is not too late to experience "Glicked" for yourself. Also, when you do, make note of the similarities and/or differences between the fantastic Wizard of Oz prequel and the blood, action-packed legacy sequel.

The following contains minor spoilers for Gladiator II.

The fact that a sequel to Gladiator got made nearly a quarter century after the first film is a testament to the fact that this was clearly a movie that audiences wanted to see. Gladiator II’s solid box office shows that there are a lot of people who wanted to see this story, but apparently there’s actually a lot of Gladiator II that we have yet to see.

Gladiator II producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher recently spoke with THR about what was cut from the film to get the movie down to a significant length for a theatrical release. At two and a half hours in length, Gladiator II is pushing the limits of what’s considered viable for a theatrical release, so a lot had to be trimmed, including a scene with Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal that sounds like it would have been amazing. Wick explained…

Pedro Pascal’s General Acacius dies in the Colosseum following a battle with Paul Mescal’s Lucius. The event is a turning point for both Mescal’s character and Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla. A farewell scene between the couple would have put some closure on the character and the relationship. From the sound of it, even the producer wishes the scene was still there, but some sacrifices needed to be made.

This scene with Nielsen certainly wasn’t the only thing lost when cuts had to be made to Gladiator II. Actress May Calamawy was set to be in the Gladiator II cast, but anybody who has seen the film can tell you she’s not in the final cut. It appears that, like this other scene, her entire character was cut from the film to trim down the story.

Apparently Ridley Scott’s first cut of Gladiator II was more than an hour longer than the final version we got, and that’s simply a non-starter. We rarely see movies that are three hours or longer and that’s in large part due to theaters having to limit the number of showings a movie can have in a day if the runtime is too long.

Considering how much of Gladiator II had to be cut, hopefully we'll see it all in a Director’s Cut of Gladiator II. Ridley Scott certainly hasn’t been against such things, and he's indicated a Director's Cut of Gladiator II will likely happen. His additional cuts of both Blade Runner and Kingdom of Heaven are generally considered to be superior to their theatrical versions. Perhaps the same will happen with Gladiator II.

Scott has called Gladiator II some of his best work, and while the movie is generally well-regarded, it's not necessarily seen at quite that level. Maybe that's because we haven't seen all of it yet.

In the world of cinematic espionage, one name has still on people’s minds during the 2024 movie schedule. As we’re poised to add to what we know about James Bond 26, there’s a lot of competitors being hotly tipped as the next face of 007. While Aaron Taylor-Johnson is still sky high on the list, Gladiator II’s theatrical release has seen another actor gaining momentum.

The Current Bond 26 Odds Field, Now Including Gladiator II’s Paul Mescal

Per a new update from betting firm Ladbrokes, it appears strength and honor have come to Paul Mescal’s door. After learning how Mescal convinced Ridley Scott to cast him in the current legacy-quel hit, it appears the Normal People vet may have convinced bettors that he should be the new Commander Bond.

• Aaron Taylor-Johnson - 1/1 (50%)
• Paul Mescal - 2/1 (33.3%)
• Theo James - 7/2 (22.2%)
• James Norton - 7/1 (12.5%)
• Callum Turner / Lucien Laviscount - 8/1 (11.1%)
• Jack Lowden - 9/1 (10%)

Personally, I think Jack Lowden, James Norton and Callum Turner are all owed a bottle of Bollinger champagne. Those men have consistently cropped up in the James Bond betting odds for the past couple of years, and have outlasted even the hottest of tips from the past.

It makes me happy to see such results, especially after personally stumping for Lowden’s James Bond chances in the past. The same could be said for James Norton, who’s another person that’s been one of the 007 actors you can bet on for the past couple years. So there's still a chance than Paul Mescal's new found bump in the polls may see him to the way of such past front runners as Henry Cavill and Regé-Jean Page.

However, that hasn’t swayed the crowd too much as of late, as Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s chances to become the next Commander Bond have been the hottest ticket at the moment. With Paul Mescal now seeming to challenge his spot, as well as the rest of the James Bond candidate pool, I think it’s time to take sides.

Why I’m Still On Team Aaron Taylor-Johnson In This Hypothetical Matchup

If we’re down to Paul Mescal and Aaron Taylor-Johnson at this point in the James Bond movies life cycle, then I’d still call myself on the side of Team ATJ. I’m not saying that the All of Us Strangers star should totally be counted out. On the contrary: the reason I’d still push for Kraven the Hunter’s lead is because Mr. Mescal needs to get some more action under his belt.

Admittedly, his physique and stunt prowess in Gladiator II is pretty impressive, especially for what’s considered as his action movie debut. But looking at his filmography, and considering the Daniel Craig James Bond movies showing us a run of super serious action-dramas, I think it’s fair to say that we need to see some more of Paul Mescal’s more kinetic abilities.

That’s also keeping in mind that if this new long term minded era of 007 movies is going to play to a less serious degree, an action-comedy is what the Aftersun heartbreaker should sign on for in the near future. But to put a lighthearted spin on that tragic phrase from the James Bond lexicon, we have all the time in the world to consider who the next 00-heartthrob will actually be.

With Bond 26 still in development, we probably won’t hear anything official for some time. So take that as your sign to either revisit, or make your way through your first viewing of the Bond movies, as almost all of them are available to watch with a Prime Video subscription. Also, Paul Mescal fans can currently see the actor in theaters through screenings of Gladiator II, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson stans having Kraven the Hunter to look forward to on December 13th.

One thing we should all be able to agree on is that the cast of Gladiator II is totally insane. Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen lead what Ridley Scott himself is calling the best thing he’s ever made. While these are some of the biggest actors in the industry, the real standouts of the film aren’t exactly household names. And, during their chat with CinemaBlend, Scott and Mescal heaped serious praise on one particular actor for having blown them away with their abilities.

I recently spoke with Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal in celebration of Gladiator II's release and asked if there were any actors in particular who caught them off guard and shined amongst the star-studded cast. Paul Mescal said this:

Norwegian actor Alexander Karim is 48 years of age and has 74 credits to his name, according to IMDb. So, while we may not be completely familiar with him stateside, he is by no means an industry newcomer. In the historical drama, his character, Ravi, develops a unique relationship with Paul Mescal’s Lucious. It was a bond that Ridley Scott was also a fan of, as he explained to me:

Let's hope this 2024 movie release sparks a career surge Mr. Karim. Meanwhile, during our interviews with the Gladiator II cast, they gushed about one another quite a bit. As previously mentioned, there are a ton of surprise standouts. My personal favorites are Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn as the film’s psychotic, antagonistic twin emperors.

You could say that they have a lot in common with Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus from the original film, but they made an effort to do their own thing, even though they may have taken a few notes from the Oscar winner. Hechinger’s character, Caracalla, is usually seen with his trained primate companion, played by the monkey actress Sherry, who he says delivered the real standout performance of the film, and I think I might agree with him.

Gladiator II just hit the theaters and, so far, things are looking good. The film is tracking well at the box office, and audiences can rest assured that Ridley Scott's film received critics’ stamp of approval. After 24 years of waiting, it's finally time to head to the theater and be entertained again, and it's so exciting! And, as you go see it, be sure to keep an eye on the talents of Alexander Karim as well as the other outstanding supporting actors that round out the ensemble.

It’s become exceptionally rare for more than one major movie to be released on the same weekend. No studio wants to split their potential box office receipts, so a great deal of work is done to build a release calendar where every weekend has one major release, but no weekend has more than one. And yet it does happen, as it is this weekend with Wicked: Part One and Gladiator II.

Last year we had the famous Barbenheimer scenario when both Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer were released on the same day. This year we have Wickediator, or Glicked, depending on your preference. For his part, Gladiator II star Paul Mescal thinks that like Barbie and Oppenheimer, both movies can be successful because they largely play to different audiences. Speaking to Variety Mescal said…

Both Barbie and Oppenheimer were box office hits, and the same is certainly possible for Wicked and Gladiator II. One of the reasons that the studios involved didn’t move one of these films is very likely for the reason that Mescal says here. The movies are so different that there probably isn’t a lot of concern that one movie will lose business to the other.

Certainly, one film is a bright and colorful musical based on a Broadway show and one is a bloody and violent action/drama. While there may certainly be audiences that want to see both films eventually, it’s likely that one or the other appeals to most people significantly more.

Wicked actually moved up its release date, so the movie ultimately chose to compete with Gladiator II. That likely made more sense than its original plan, which was to open on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving along with the upcoming Disney movie Moana 2. Since both of those films are musicals, they likely would have cannibalized each other’s box office much more significantly.

Of course, there were those people who turned Barbenheimer into a double feature and watched both films, and that could certainly happen here as well. Mescal hopes that people do support both movies if for no other reason than to support theatrical distribution, which is still largely suffering compared to where box office numbers were pre-pandemic.

While both movies could, and likely will, do quite well at the box office, eyes will be on which one performs better, both at the box office and during awards season. While Barbie became the box office king last time it was Oppenheimer that took home the awards.

Gladiator II has a star-studded cast with the likes of Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, and Pedro Pascal barely making up a fraction of the talent the film is offering. So, when the movie’s own Denzel Washington is singing the praise of one cast member in particular that he believes to be the standout, we should listen, right? Well, said performance came from none other than Sherry, the monkey who played Dundas in the Gladiator II sequel, and her costar Fred Hechinger will not rest until she gets her flowers in show business.

I recently spoke with the cast ahead of the 2024 movie release, and when the subject of Dundas came up, Hechinger told me about his extensive “monkey training” that allowed him to portray eccentric leader Caracalla:

Dundas is Caracalla’s pet and best friend who is frequently seen jumping around on his shoulders in Gladiator II. This is not a surprising trait for a character that has been compared to Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, but Hechinger has made it clear that he didn’t want to soil Phoenix’s performance with an imitation. Instead, he and his brother Geta (played by Joseph Quinn) opted for doing their own thing, and although it doesn’t involve blockbuster heroism like riding a rhinoceros, they found a path that is delightfully bonkers.

It’s not just Fred Hechinger who developed a relationship with Sherry, as the monkey can also be seen crawling around on Denzel Washington’s back and shoulders in the film. When I asked Washington which performance stood out to him as being particularly impressive, he praised Sherry, while also implying that she was smart enough to pick up on Caracalla’s psychopathy and tried to leave with Washington instead:

That’s high praise from Denzel, who is already receiving Oscar buzz for his performance in the film. Our own Sarah El-Mahmoud also confirmed that his performance is worth the price of admission in her official Gladiator II review. He’s obviously a worthy addition to the legacy of the now-franchise, as is Sherry the monkey, and although it took a considerable amount of time for the sequel to come our way, the talent involved alone makes it worth the wait.

You can see Gladiator II in theaters on November 22! Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, and Sherry the monkey will all be in attendance. Critics are giving Gladiator II their stamp of approval, so it’s time to see what all of the fuss is about.

If you look at the critics' responses to Gladiator II, one common refrain you will see, which is also in our own Gladiator II review, is that the 2024 movie release's action is impressive. In the era of social media, we have often seen the work actors have to put in to get in shape in order to look superhuman. This film was no exception. A lot of the action revolves around cast members Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal. However, while the duo likely went through very similar training, they had very different reactions to it.

What Paul Mescal Thought Of Gladiator II Training

One would expect that as the lead of Gladiator II cast, Paul Mescal went through a lot to get into shape, and hearing him tell it, that’s apparently the case. He appeared on The Graham Norton Show and said that getting in shape, including the workouts and the diet, was actually fun. He explained…

While the workouts themselves were almost certainly tough, there were elements that Mescal actually enjoyed. He had a great trainer telling him what to do and even if the diet was tough, it wasn’t something he had to worry about as he just ate what was brought to him. Working out was likely Mescal’s main focus at this point, and so it’s understandable that he would find the fun in it.

While Mescal enjoyed the workouts, there were parts of Gladiator II that he liked a lot less. The actor says that even in the shape he was in, the heat in the Coliseum was so brutal that it nearly made him sick.

Paul Mescal may have actually thought it was fun getting into gladiator shape. However, his co-star Pedro Pascal apparently did not.

What Pedro Pascal Thought Of His Gladiator II Training

Pedro Pascal likely went through a very similar process to get himself ready for Gladiator II. His character is supposed to be leading an army, so he has to look like a fighter. However, when ET told Pascal that his co-star thought the training was “fun” he had a very different reaction, saying…

As somebody who is much closer to Pedro Pascal’s age than Paul Mescal’s, I can certainly get behind that sentiment. When you’re in your 20s, your body can simply do things more easily than it can when you’re in your late 40s.

While Pedro Pascal might not have had fun getting in shape for Gladiator II, the workouts were probably good practice. He likely had to do something similar to get in superhero shape for the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. Maybe things were more fun the second time.

That aside, though, you can see Gladiator II's pair of leading men -- muscles and all -- when the film hits theaters on November 22

Paul Mescal is a rising star taking on Ridley Scott’s high-budget sequel Gladiator II. Playing Lucius Verus, the sequel's trailer shows the Irish actor in an all-out Roman war fighting a rhinoceros and other threats, all while having to wear Ancient Roman armor and battle gear. Just when we thought superhero suits were uncomfortable for actors to wear, the BAFTA winner got real about having to wear a leather breastplate in Gladiator II that was no picnic for him.

The Normal People actor was clearly brave enough to have deep talks about his acting career while eating spicy hot wings on First We Feast. There’s something else we need to give the talented actor credit for- having to stand the heat while performing battle scenes in the arena:

Being a Floridian, I can understand how intense it is to take on tasks while out in the scorching heat. With ice being poured down Paul Mescal’s back during takes, it’s no wonder he described the Colosseum scenes as the most “brutal” part of shooting the Ridley Scott sequel, especially having to do take after take when the first time around seemed severe enough. Mescal said it’ll definitely be a moment that the actor will “forever be angry” at Scott for.

However, it appears that the English filmmaker believes in doing what needs to be done despite the discomfort it may cause his actors. After all, this was the same director who told the Aftersun actor that his nerves were “no fucking good to me” before filming. Truth be told, Mescal said that brutally honest piece of advice actually helped him through the duration of filming.

Like Ant-Man’s Evangeline Lily said, men are constantly complaining about their superhero suits. Those like Zachary Levi expressed discomfort about his Shazam! suit when it came to bathroom breaks, and Tobey Maguire felt uneased whenever he would put his Spidey suit on. Considering it’s tight leather spandex, I sympathize. However, can any of them say they’ve worn a leather breastplate squaring off against a rhino? Paul Mescal sure can, and he aid this about what that excruciating experience was like for him:

Like touching the wheel of a car after it’s been out in the heat is painful enough, I can only imagine how torturous it must have felt to have to wear hot metal while shooting outdoor battle sequences. However, I’m sure wearing a burning hot costume must have helped the Oscar nominee get into character to channel Lucius’ anger and frustration, bringing out an authentically intense performance that’s sure to win audiences over.

Just when we thought actors struggled wearing superhero suits, Paul Mescal had to don a searing hot leather breastplate while filming in the blazing heat. As intense as it must have been for Mescal to wear radiator-like armor during the course of shooting, it only proves what a fiercely dedicated actor the All of Us Strangers star is. Get ready to see the Gladiator II star handle the heat with the 2024 movie release in theaters on November 22nd.

Paul Mescal is an example of a truly transformative actor who knows how to give a raw, authentic performance. His best movies include portraying a young father in A24’s Aftersun, a mysterious neighbor in All of Us Strangers, and his upcoming 2024 movie release, Gladiator II. However, the Irish actor reveals his previous fear that his first big role, Normal People, would be “lights out” for his career due to one important element the romance-drama series needed to have.

Based on Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel, Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones as Connell and Marianne navigating their complex relationship despite being in different social classes. While Mescal flawlessly played the popular, high-achieving student, the rising star admitted on First We Feast that he almost thought his first acting gig wasn’t going to happen due to the struggle of chemistry reads:

I could understand that fear. After all, Normal People relies on the chemistry between the two leads. The entire story falls on Connell and Marianne's relationship throughout the span of twelve episodes. If the two actors fail to find that special on-screen spark, audiences will see that zero chemistry between the romance leads and fail to believe it as well. Fortunately, Daisy Edgar-Jones saved the day providing Paul Mescal the on-screen chemistry the show needed to succeed.

It must have been a huge relief for Paul Mescal to work with an actress he connected so well with to excellently bring their characters to life. On the other hand, the Academy Award nominee was aware that the project could have easily been scrapped if casting didn’t go well:

The on-screen pairing of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones couldn’t be more perfect to portray Connell and Marianne. What made their chemistry stand the test of time was how subtle and deep-layered it was. This wasn’t a soap opera. They both beautifully represented their characters’ grief, anxiety, and depression, showing what can genuinely make a relationship so complex to keep together.

The booming partnership between Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones clearly did something right as it helped Normal People become one of Hulu’s best original TV shows. The romance drama also scored four nominations at the 2020 Emmys, including Paul Mescal for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Mescal must have felt incredibly fortunate to have his first major acting gig give him such critical acclaim.

Thankfully, it wasn’t “lights out” for Paul Mescal’s career after experiencing a triumphant chemistry reading with Daisy Edgar-Jones for Normal People. The two stars’ performances led to Mescal being part of an award-winning show that landed him a BAFTA win and plenty of more praiseworthy projects that followed. You can watch the talented actor’s first major acting gig with Normal People available on your Hulu subscription.

The cast of Gladiator II is absolutely stacked for obvious reasons. It sees the return of Connie Nielsen and a performance by Denzel Washington that folks are saying may have secured his third Oscar. But in what is perhaps a coincidental turn of events, the film also features the internet’s biggest heartthrobs Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, and the now-infamous lost take of the former kissing the latter on the forehead looks like it’s coming to VOD.

I recently spoke with the film's star and director in anticipation of Gladiator II's release, and to catch all of you up, Paul Mescal retold the humorous story of director Ridley Scott’s reaction to the improvised forehead kiss:

It seems that Ridley Scott liked it, so what gives? Well, for one, Paul Mescal may be putting too much faith in the legendary director when it comes to this particular scene, because Scott himself told me that he doesn’t remember why the take didn’t make it into the final cut:

You have believe that Ridley Scott doesn’t remember where he set it down, as we’ve been reminded recently of his bluntness through such actions as making bold predictions in regard to Gladiator II and defending his choices against internet skeptics.

A film like this is pretty packed, and there must be a ton of footage to sift through in the edit, but thankfully this guy is famous for his director’s cuts! The Blade Runner Final Cut, after all, is considered by many to be the only true way to view the film. So if Ridley Scott tells us that the forehead kiss is going to make it to VOD, I, for one, will take him at his word.

There’s no need for fussing with that nonsense for now, as you should be running to your nearest theater to see Gladiator II when it’s released on November 22! If you’re going to watch Paul Mescal fight a rhinoceros for the first time, you should be doing so on the biggest screen possible. Critics are going nuts for the film, specifically the powerhouse and career-making performances, and I can confirm that this early chatter is indeed accurate.

You can see the video of this delightful exchange between Paul Mescal and Ridley Scott in the video at the top of this article. If you need a refresher on where the original Gladiator left off, you can check it out with a Paramount+ subscription. As for everything else in the way of news surrounding 2024’s new movie releases, keep it right here at CinemaBlend!

It’s been nearly a quarter-century since Gladiator entertained audiences en route to five Academy Awards (from 12 nominations) and worldwide box office success, so it’s no surprise that we're more than ready to welcome Ridley Scott’s sequel Gladiator II to theaters. The epic — which stars Pedro Pascal as Maximus’ son Lucius — is set to hit the 2024 movie calendar on November 22, so as you prepare for that “Wickediator” double feature, allow the critics to weigh in on the upcoming historical action flick.

After initial screenings, first reactions to Gladiator II had people raving about Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal’s performances in a story that takes place over a decade after Russell Crowe’s chapter. When Lucius becomes a prisoner of war, he chooses to fight as a gladiator like his father under the instruction of Washington’s Macrinus in order to exact revenge on Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal). In CinemaBlend’s review of Gladiator II, our own Sarah El-Mahmoud calls the film “honorable yet disheveled.” She rates it 3.5 stars out of 5, writing:

Alex Flood of NME gives the movie 3 out of 5 stars, writing that Ridley Scott seems to be operating under the “requel” formula of giving fans enough nostalgia to keep them happy but adding a little fresh action so we don’t get bored. The results are partially successful, the critic says:

David Rooney of THR agrees the sequel is “imitative” — more of a remake than a sequel — following its Best Picture-winning predecessor nearly beat for beat. It gets a boost from Denzel Washington, who steals the movie with a character that Rooney says is fit for his own spinoff:

It would be a pretty tall order to ask this sequel to outdo or even match the 2000 epic, and Kelechi Ehenulo of GamesRadar admits that it does fall short. However, a phenomenal Denzel Washington (who’s clearly having the time of this life in this role, the critic says) and the thrilling battle scenes make this worth the price of admission. Ehenulo rates Gladiator II 4 out of 5 stars and writes:

Tom Jorgensen of IGN gives it a “Great” 8 out of 10, saying Ridley Scott finds strength and honor in its predecessor but still adds enough to make the sequel feel relevant. Jorgensen also says this is a can’t-miss performance from Denzel Washington. The critic continues:

It sounds like Ridley Scott hits a lot of the same notes in the sequel as he did in the first movie, albeit with more advanced technology to work with. Denzel Washington’s performance seems to stand out to many who were able to see the film early, but honestly it might all be worth it for the cool feature on the Gladiator II popcorn bucket. If you’ve been waiting for years for this movie to come to fruition, your time has nearly come, as Gladiator II hits theaters on Friday, November 22.

It may have taken 23 years for Gladiator 2 to happen, but I have a feeling it will be well worth the wait to see fellow Oscar nominee Paul Mescal leading the sequel donning that armor. He’ll be playing Maximus' son Lucius who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by General Marcus Acacius’ army. Despite the trailer making Mescal’s fight scene with a rhinoceros look so flawless, there is one thing about filming the long-awaited sequel that the Irish actor will “forever be angry” at director Ridley Scott for.

Paul Mescal first made a name for himself working on smaller indie projects like All of Us Strangers and Aftersun. However, the large-scale sequel Gladiator 2 gave him a new set of challenges to learn from like tackling his nerves working with Denzel Washington on his first day and heavy action sequences. But, Mescal told GQ that there was one challenging thing about filming Gladiator 2 that he’ll “forever be angry” at director Ridley Scott for:

I don’t blame Paul Mescal in that sense. The Ireland native recently described the Colosseum scenes as “brutal” describing the arena as a “radiator” with the sandy floor being so hot. I can imagine that fake tan makeup having to keep getting reapplied in between takes. Then again, that aggression Mescal felt filming those scenes must have gone in handy going into character as a toughened gladiator.

As GQ explains Gladiator 2 is bigger and more violent than the original movie, which must mean the action sequences are much more intense. And here, I thought seeing Russell Crowe in the best picture-winning film fighting off tigers was intense enough. Now, we see his son, Lucius, having to go up against a rhinoceros! But as Ridley Scott promised we'll be seeing “the biggest action sequence” he’s ever shot, I’d like to believe all of the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the shooting was well worth it to deliver audiences action scenes they'll remember.

One thing that Paul Mescal and Russell Crowe have in common with their Gladiator experiences is being fearless in the Ancient Rome action scenes. The New Zealand actor said he was surprisingly good at doing his own stunts for the historical epic film because of his theatre background following dance choreography for musicals. The Normal People actor, on the other hand, has experience as a Gaelic football captain. So, it’s no wonder the 28-year-old actor knew how to get ripped for the role with his co-star, Joseph Quinn, saying he would not want to have a showdown with him at the gym. Now, that’s a real-life gladiator right there.

Paul Mescal may “forever be angry” at Ridley Scott for making him do fight sequences during the peak of summer, but he can’t deny that the experience made him a stronger actor. Now if he takes on any future action roles, he’ll know he’s survived the worst of battling Mother Nature’s strong sun while donning armor. Audiences will have the chance to see Mescal embracing the heat in Gladiator 2 with the 2024 movie release in theaters on November 22nd.

Following in the footsteps of Russell Crowe, it’s fellow Oscar-nominee Paul Mescal’s turn to battle in the Colosseum for Gladiator II. The Irish actor looks to prove himself as the perfect rising star to don the Ancient Rome armor, as each role he touches turns to gold – his credits including Normal People, Aftersun, and All of Us Strangers. While shooting battle scenes for the long-awaited sequel must have its own sets of challenges, Mescal gets real about the most “brutal” element of shooting Gladiator II’s Colosseum scenes, and you’d be surprised what it is.

The official trailer for Ridley Scott’s sequel already had us pumped seeing Paul Mescal doing battle against a rhinoceros. However, Entertainment Weekly has the scoop that it wasn’t exactly the 3D printed radio-controlled animal that made this action sequence challenging for the Emmy nominee. It was actually Mescal having to battle against Mother Nature, who made the sandy floor very hot for him. Said the actor,

I can’t imagine having to shoot arena scenes in the scorching hot sun being any fun. Especially if the floor feels like fire. At the same time, Paul Mescal’s character, Lucius, is supposed to be bringing his hardworking A-game against Pedro Pascal’s Marcus in revenge for invading his home. As training is already intense enough for the son of Maximus, the actor portraying him having to perform those sequences in the blazing sun added a layer of physical and mental work that makes him worthy of a gladiator.

Paul Mescal absolutely put in the grunt work to play Lucius Verus. Getting ripped into shape for Gladiator II had his co-star Joseph Quinn saying he wouldn’t stand a chance against Mescal at the gym with his full commitment to looking the part. The Lost Daughter actor wasn’t hiding those muscles in training videos that reveal him lifting weights so flawlessly.

Mescal expressed how important it was to look like a Roman warrior you wouldn’t dare want to go up against, but also vital to avoid the training pitfall of “looking more like an underwear model.” I would say the award-winning actor for sure has the physicality of a mountain of a man ready for war compared to posing for Ancient Rome’s GQ edition.

Considering Paul Mescal’s filmography consists of smaller-scale productions, it’s safe to say Gladiator II will be the talented actor’s biggest film to date that could make him more famous (to his chagrin). Getting the chance to continue the legacy that Ridley Scott started back in 2000 presents obstacles of their own. Fortunately, the 28-year-old actor got “totally right” advice from his director saying “Your nerves are no fucking good to me,” which made the Gladiator II actor feel better knowing he’s right about that.

Even despite being “incapacitated by nerves” working with a big-name actor like Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal had to train himself to snap out of it knowing it was his job to get the show on the road. With the BAFTA nominee taking on new lessons in an upcoming big-budget movie, I’m confident he’ll take what he learned for many future film roles as his career continues to skyrocket.

It definitely didn't make matters easy for Paul Mescal going up against Pedro Pascal, a rhinoceros, and the burning hot weather in Gladiator II. But like his character, Lucius, who needed to overcome intense challenges to honor his father’s legacy, Mescal pushed himself to do the same thing to help Ridley Scott film his epic follow-up film. Get ready to watch the Ireland native battle it out in the Colosseum with the 2024 movie release in theaters on November 22.

The 2024 movie schedule is filled with major titles facing large expectations. It’s fair to say that’s definitely the case with Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, the long-gestating sequel to the director’s Oscar-winning 2000 historical epic starring Russell Crowe. Well, the time has finally arrived, as the first batch of critics have feasted their eyes on Scott’s latest, and they are entertained! Not only are they down for the British filmmaker’s “bloody” epic, but they’re also loving the performances of Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington.

Critics and general audiences alike have seemingly been anticipating a sprawling blockbuster from the man behind Alien, Blade Runner and more cinematic classics. And it would seem that’s exactly what was delivered, based on the early reactions that were posted to X. Film pundit Scott Menzel was among those who was high on the movie and showered praise upon the aforementioned actors:

Fellow critic Caitlin Tyrrell had glowing thoughts of her own to share on the long-awaited movie. She shared how it perfectly continued the narrative established in the original film but also managed to stand on its own. Tyrrell also heaped more praise on the cast, including the Aftersun and Fences stars:

It probably shouldn’t be too surprising that Ridley Scott – who’s been lauded for historical dramas – has managed to deliver yet again. Set over 20 years after the events of the original movie, the sequel focuses on the now-adult Lucius – the son of Lucilla and the late Maximus. After his home is invaded by Roman soldiers and his family is killed, Lucius finds himself in slavery and eventually aspires to become a gladiator like his father before him. Along the way, Lucius is mentored by Denzel Washington’s Macrinus – an arms dealer and ex-slave who has plans to take control of Rome.

After the first trailer for Gladiator II debuted, the Equalizer star was quickly predicted to be the movie’s scene-stealer. Clayton Davis of Variety would likely agree with that assessment based on his reaction to the movie. He shared nothing but praise for the film and, while lauding the cast, he made a bold prediction about the American Gangster star:

Despite the wave of praise that’s washing over Ridley Scott’s latest movie, it’s apparently not a perfect film. Discussing Film’s Andrew J. Salazar argued that the follow-up lacked a bit of the bite and focus that its predecessor possessed. However, Salazar also counted the performances and visuals as bright spots:

That “unhinged” remark honestly has me even more eager to see the movie for myself, to be honest. When veteran entertainment journalist Scott Mantz shared his take on the film, that wasn’t an adjective he used. His post included descriptors like “epic,” “amazing” and “great”:

Amid the praise for Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal, the cast is also filled with some other excellent actors. The Gladiator II cast also includes Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen, who reprises her role as Lucilla. It’s exciting to hear such great reactions to the film early on but, of course, you should form your own opinion. See the film in theaters starting on November 22 and, in the meantime, stream the first movie with a Paramount+ subscription.

There are still quite a few 2024 movies set to do battle at the box office through the closing months of the year. What we know about Gladiator II has director Ridley Scott’s legacy-quel poised to be one of the most hotly anticipated of the bunch, with actors Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington now joining that fan-favorite world.

So of course the All of Us Strangers heartbreaker was going to be “incapacitated” with nerves when acting alongside an Oscar winning legend like Mr. Washington. However, the American Gangster himself has nothing but love for his scene partner, and the compliment given from legend to rising talent is an effective piece of hype.

Paul Mescal’s Gladiator II Memory Of Being Nervous With Denzel Washington

As GQ hyped up the Gladiator sequel’s November release, both gentlemen mentioned above had a chance to comment on their shared experience as co-stars. I can’t fault Paul Mescal for what he remembers doing before his first on-camera sit down with Denzel Washington. Here’s how the Ordinary People star remembers those nerves, and how he shook himself out:

If we’re admitting the first Gladiator II trailer as evidence, then I think Mr. Mescal has done a terrific job of getting himself together in time to play the adult version of Lucius. At least, that’s what it looks like when you’ve got the spiritual successor to Russell Crowe’s Maximus looking to claim the head of a Roman general. The work was definitely worth it though, as in this very same profile, Denzel Washington sent some serious praise over his way.

How Denzel Washington Rates His Gladiator II Co-star’s Acting Chops

No one would be blamed if they needed a special sort of psyching up to work with Mr. Washington, as he’s naturally considered to be one of the finest actors in the business. That mythic image cultivated through the most iconic Denzel Washington movies works both ways though, as someone as astute as The Equalizer film series lead knows exactly what it takes to make it as a true thespian.

It’s because of that unique knowledge that Washington’s regard of Paul Mescal’s Gladiator II acting process in the following regard sparkles even brighter when reading it:

With respect like that, one can see how Paul Mescal got his ship together and sailed into this Roman action-drama like a champ. Though it also helps that he had Ridley Scott’s blunt Gladiator II advice keeping him honest on set as well. It also most surely counts for something if an actor can take notes from Scott and use them to push even further into greatness; something that Denzel Washington also shares with his younger scene partner.

Gladiator II takes the battlefield with strength and honor in theaters on November 22nd. If you’re longing for the historical battles that Russell Crowe’s Maximius Decimus Meridius fought in the epic past, Gladiator is still available to stream at the moment through access to a Paramount+ subscription.

One has to imagine that for Paul Mescal the upcoming Gladiator II was a nerve-wracking experience. He was taking over the lead in the sequel to a movie that was both a box office success and an Oscar winner. He was going to be directed by the iconic Ridley Scott. And yet Mescal says there weren’t many nerves after his initial awe, because Scott made it clear he wasn’t going to stand for that.

Based on the Gladiator II trailer, the movie is going to look quite incredible with its recreation of ancient Rome, and in an interview with our sister site Total Film, star Paul Mescal certainly confirms that was the case. But he says that he didn’t have much time to get nervous because Ridley Scott took care of that fairly quickly, with the first thing he told the actor before filming began. Mescal said…

Ridley Scott is certainly a director who tells it like he sees it. He’s been bluntly critical of sequels to his films made by others when other directors might simply stay quiet. He’s called Gladiator II one of the best movies he’s ever made, so he’s certainly not downplaying its potential and he’s setting expectations quite high.

The idea that Mescal would be nervous certainly makes sense. Who wouldn’t be in his shoes? The actor admits he had to get out of his own head when it came to being in the Gladiator II cast. He says Russell Crowe left quite a legacy. However, because he’s not actually playing the same role, he didn’t feel the same pressure. Mescal continued…

On the one hand, making Gladiator II its own movie, with its own characters, may help it as it will be more difficult to compare the movie to its predecessor. At the same time, if the film is too different from the first, it may not be the movie that fans are looking forward to or expecting. Ridley Scott has promised incredible action for the sequel, which will likely help any potential audience members who are as nervous as Paul Mescal.

Gladiator II is set two decades after the first film, and follows Lucius, a child in the first film, as he follows in the footsteps of Russell Crowe’s Maximus and becomes a Gladiator and an inspiration. The movie will hit theaters in November.

The excitement for the release of Gladiator 2 is at an all-time high. The initial trailer for the Gladiator sequel showcases epic battles and sweeping action scenes that invoke the energy from Ridley Scott's first movie, while introducing new stakes that wouldn’t be possible without modern filmmaking technology. Apparently, the cast -- which includes A-listers like Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, and Pedro Pascal -- went hardcore for this film as well, because, after Pascal got meme'd for his sword scene, his co-star teased some of the epicness he exudes in the Gladiator sequel.

In a recent interview with Empire, Paul Mescal opened up about the training he had to undergo for the latest Gladiator film, as well as what some of his co-stars brought to the table. He noted the battle between his character and Pascal's, and he complimented The Mandalorian actor on his fighting abilities. He was beyond impressed by the level of intensity The Last of Us star brought to the role, suggesting the audience would be too when they see him on the big screen.

However, the Aftersun star still thinks he would beat his scene partner if things actually came to blows. He said:

Both men got absolutely ripped for Gladiator 2, so it’s hard to say who would actually win. I appreciate Mescal’s confidence in asserting that he would be the victor in an actual fight, but he doesn’t sell his scene partner short. Pascal's goofy sense of humor may fool an opponent, and he probably would come out of nowhere, striking when you least expect it. However, the Normal People star shows some major technique in some of the released footage, so I would never underestimate him either.

We’ll probably never know who would win in a Pascal/Mescal fight in real life, however, we will see the on-screen results of such a battle when Gladiator 2 hits theaters in November. Some of the stills don’t look promising for Pascal, and the footage shows his character dropping his sword, which is often a sign of defeat in Gladiator battles.

Many fans have meme'd the moment, and joked about how the actor may be continuing his streak of dying in every movie he’s in. Also, Mescal’s comments here may be hinting at the results of their movie battle. The whole thing has become a bit of a meme, but I’m rooting for the Narcos actor. It’s about time he survives past the end credits. If there is a beast in there, as Mescal suggests, I want to see it.

Fans still have to wait until late fall to see this epic battle on the big screen, but this endorsement speaks volumes to the level of competition between these two characters. Audiences already love Pedro Pascal, from his numerous roles in shows like The Last of Us and Game of Thrones. However, these comments show that not only is he a fantastic fan-favorite actor, but he also fits perfectly into the Gladiator world. The internet may be making fun of the initial photos from the film, but if Pascal goes down, I don’t think it will be without a fight.

You can see Gladiator 2 when it premieres in theaters nationwide on November 22. It is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, so make sure to check it out on the biggest screen possible. For more information on other exciting titles heading to cinemas this year, make sure to consult our 2024 movie schedule.

Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones got quite close while working on Normal People. The two actors shined in the devastating Hulu series, which beautifully represented grief, anxiety and more. Luckily, the friendship between the two seems to still be intact, as the status of an NP Season 2 remains up in the air. Both actors have had incredible careers following the Sally Rooney adaptation, with Mescal leading this year’s Gladiator II, and Edgar-Jones leading the summer blockbuster Twisters. Apparently, they made working out for their respective roles a joint endeavor, and eventually that blossomed into a competition.

The cast of Twisters recently sat down with Australia's Sunrise morning show to chat about the latest disaster film spinning towards theaters. Of course, the charming trio -- consisting of Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos -- could not have been more excited to talk about the upcoming film. During the chat, of which a snippet was shared on TikTok, the interviewer also asked Edgar-Jones about Paul Mescal and what she thought of his muscular frame. She shared her excitement for her pal and even mentioned that because, they both got in shape for their roles, they made it a competition. She explained:

Daisy Edgar-Jones clearly looks incredible and, based on the Twisters trailers alone, I would trust her to lead me into a tornado with Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos in tow. However, when it comes to bulk, Paul Mescal is without question the victor. He apparently worked out like crazy with Joseph Quinn to get ripped for Gladiator II, and it shows. He was even conscious about the “type of” fit he got in so he appeared like a strong warrior rather than a movie star. His appearance is certainly impressive, and fans have called his new look their “Roman Empire.”

Of course, the Fresh actress shouldn’t sell herself short. During the interview, Daisy Edgar-Jones' co-star encouraged her to take more credit for the hard work she also put in at the gym to chase around big screen-worthy tornadoes. The cast even prompted her to flex her own biceps, which achieving were likely no easy feat. You can see a clip of the moment from TikTok below:

I absolutely adore the idea of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal battling it out over their gym performances, even though both clearly had very different fitness goals. They both definitely reached them and, due to their efforts, they've have given fans even more reasons to want to check out both of these highly anticipated films on the 2024 movie release schedule. While it will probably be a while before the duo properly reunite on camera, fans can rest easy knowing that they remain super tight and supportive of each other as their careers blossom.

You can catch Daisy Edgar-Jones in Twisters when it hits theaters on July 19th, and Paul Mescal in Gladiator II when it heads to cinemas on November 22nd. Fans can also revisit them together in Normal People, which is now streamable with a Hulu subscription.

When we met the stars of the 2020 adaptation of Sally Rooney’s beloved romance novel Normal People, we weren’t really acquainted with Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. Four years later, both actors have become big stars who are leading big Hollywood movies. Edgar-Jones is starring in Twisters this month with Glen Powell, whilst Mescal has just been directed by Ridley Scott for this fall’s Gladiator II. But, would they return for a second season of Normal People? The Marianne actress weighed in.

Back in 2022, Mescal shared his thoughts on the subject. The Irish actor said he was “pro-Season 2, ” before getting honest that there are really “no plans” for another Normal People installment. When Edgar-Jones was asked the question while promoting Twisters to BBC, she said this:

So, you may be asking next, “What’s the hold-up?” The actress followed up her answer by sharing her condition for playing Marianne again, and I couldn’t agree more. In her words:

There you have it, and it’s the absolutely correct answer. I would hate to see Normal People go from becoming a mini-series to a multi-season TV show just because a whole bunch of people liked it (including myself). The only way I could see Normal People Season 2 happening was if Sally Rooney found a way to continue the story between Marianne and Connell.

Now, not to say there isn’t something there. I absolutely think there’s some room to continue to tell the romance, again if Rooney wants to. But I imagine this occurring many years after the final moments that made up the Normal People ending might make things a bit more challenging. However, it could also make it so the show could jump forward in time, and we catch up with Marianne and Connell long after Season 1. When asked if she was open to the idea, the Where the Crawdads Sing actress answered by saying this:

When reflecting on Normal People amidst her leading role in Twisters, Daisy Edgar-Jones said that she feels “really lucky” that the “lockdown phenomenon” opened up her and Mescal to so many opportunities.

Paul Mescal is one of her “all time best friends” these days, with the pair recently hanging out with one another at Glastonbury Festival a couple of weeks back. Edgar-Jones looked fondly back at the concert experience, saying she and the Aftersun actor (among other friends in their group) had “the best time.”

Four years later, Normal People certainly remains one of the best Hulu original shows we’ve ever seen! The series tells a complex and compelling story of two high school friends and memorably represents grief, anxiety and depression through the pair’s performances. While there are certainly no plans for Normal People to become anything more than the novel and miniseries it is, it is nice to know both leads would be interested if Rooney is.

You can check out what upcoming book adaptations are set to be released this year here on CinemaBlend! And see Daisy Edgar-Jones in Twisters on July 17 and Paul Mescal in Gladiator II on November 22. To go back and see the show that made them stars, you can stream Normal People with a Hulu subscription.

Gladiator 2’s release date approaches this November and the sequel that we never thought we’d see, but that Ridley Scott has wanted to make for years will finally be here. Paul Mescal leads the Gladiator 2 cast as Lucius, a grown-up version of a character we saw as a boy in the first film, but some have wondered why the movie didn’t simply bring back the actor who played the role the first time around.

Ridley Scott has explained at least some of the reasons behind his decision to cast Paul Mescal, and in doing so, he does sort of explain why he didn’t decide to cast Spencer Treat Clark, who played the role as a kid. Talking to Deadline, Scott discussed the decision of who to focus the sequel around, because it didn’t have to be Lucius at all. Scott explained…

But once deciding on Lucius as the story’s protagonist, why did Scott decide to cast Mescal and and not Clark? The reason was a combination of chance and math. 

Why Ridley Scott Chose Paul Mescal For The Lead Of Gladiator 2 

The reason Ridley Scott chose Paul Mescal to lead Gladiator 2 was apparently due to the director’s decision to do something he apparently doesn’t often do: watch television. He said he wanted a young actor, potentially somebody audiences weren’t that familiar with, and he happened to catch Mescal in the miniseries Normal People. The director was quite impressed. He said…

So that explains why Ridley Scott chose Paul Mescal, but it doesn’t explain why he went looking for a new actor in the first place. That explanation, however, may be far simpler than we thought.

Why Gladiator’s Original Lucius Wasn’t The Right Choice  

Spencer Trent Clark has already reprised a major role as an adult that he first had as a child, playing the role of  Joseph Dunn in Glass, M. Night Shyamalan’s sequel to Unbreakable. However, he wasn’t given the call to play an adult Lucius. In this case, the reason appears to be that the timeline doesn’t work. Clark is 36 years old, significantly older than Paul Mescal who was even younger when the casting process started. Scott continued…

It certainly would have been nice to see the actor who played Lucius as a child return for the adult role, but sometimes these things don’t work out. Hopefully, Gladiator 2 is a great movie regardless. 

Despite another summer movie having a great debut at the summer box office this past holiday weekend with Despicable Me 4, the movie season just isn’t hitting the same as last year. Why? Well, remember Barbenheimer? We don’t have one of those this season. There was something really special about the internet agreeing on the obscure double feature and turning out (and even dressing up) big time for it. So the idea of Gladiator 2 being part of its own special double feature with Wicked later this year not only has moviegoers excited, but also Gladiator 2 star Paul Mescal. 

Last week, Universal decided to change Wicked’s date to open on the same release day as Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, and thus “Wickediator” was born. Cinephiles have been taking to the internet to merge the two movies together in memes and such –much like what occurred with Barbie and Oppenheimer when their dates were revealed. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Paul Mescal revealed his thoughts on the two movies opening on the same day: 

The actor shared he is totally game for the two upcoming 2024 movies to tag team in this fall’s grandest box office arena fight... as long as the name gets a change. While "Wickdiator" has seemed to be the more popular name for the double feature, Paul Mescal is Team Glicked! Mescal is hoping audiences will not only show out for Gladiator 2, but come to both movies, so bring on the next Barbenheimer.

His comments come as the first trailer for Gladiator 2 dropped this morning. You can check it out below: 

The historical epic follows Ridley Scott’s Best Picture winner from 2000 that was led by Russell Crowe. Gladiator 2 has Paul Mescal playing Lucius, who was a child in the first film and nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus. As an adult, the former heir to the Roman Empire will be forced to fight as a Gladiator like Maximus did. The Gladiator 2 cast also includes Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger. 

As Gladiator takes audiences to the world of the Romans, Wicked adapts the beloved Broadway musical that tells the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. The movie musical stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater and Bowen Yang. You can see both in theaters on November 22. 

The new photos from Gladiator 2 have taken the world by storm. The actors look incredible, and the film looks like it truly captures the rugged epicness of 2000’s Gladiator. There is much to discuss, including the fact that it looks like Pedro Pascal may not survive the film, and Denzel Washington outshines the rest of the Gladiator 2 cast in his royal garb fit for a king. However, no one is getting as much attention as Paul Mescal, and it’s igniting much chatter about the Roman Empire, and how Mescal now represents it for fans on social media.

For context, a trend went around last year where girls asked guys how often they thought about the Roman Empire. The answers were staggeringly high, with many men, including Christopher Nolan, saying they think about the historic time period multiple times a day. It’s not surprising, considering the era has been highlighted for its emphasis on masculinity, and movies based around the time period like 300, Ben-Hur, and of course, Gladiator, primarily appeal to men. It became a running internet joke, with women naming things that are their “Roman Empires” in pop culture like Taylor Swift, the end of Fleabag, and Greta Gerwig movies.

However, these new photos of Paul Mescal may just be the perfect blend of both. The Normal People actor got ripped for the film, and fans of the actor have definitely noticed. It seems like Paul Mescal playing a character in the Roman Empire has officially become people’s “Roman Empire.” You can see one fan tweet below:

Truly the casting was perfect, and another fan pointed out on X that he looks like a Greek God in some of the more melodramatic photos. Mescal is truly living in the minds of fans everywhere, rent free.

One X user pointed out how the marketing for the film was genius. The movie features many very buff Hollywood heartthrobs battling their way to a violent victory. It seems like there's something for everyone, and director Ridley Scott is finding a way to hit every demographic.

While Paul Mescal in battle gear may just be the true representation of the “Roman Empire” in every sense, some fans will remain traditionalists. The Gladiator 2 photos are swoon-worthy, but his fans will never forget the viral photos of him working out in tiny running shorts. Someone said on X:

Additionally, some of these new Gladiator 2 fans are bandwagoners, as his fans have been calling the Aftersun actor their Roman Empire on X for a while. Now it seems like he’s committed to the title.

You can see Paul Mescal flexing his muscles in Gladiator 2, which hits theaters on November 22nd. It is one of the most anticipated films of the year, so make sure you see it on the biggest screen possible. For more information on other exciting titles heading to cinemas in the near future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule.

Gladiator 2 is just around the corner, and there’s plenty for fans to be excited about. The film features an all-star leading man cast that includes Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Paul Mescal. Initial images from the film were recently released and it already looks phenomenal, invoking imagery from the first Gladiator film with its own epic twist. The cast also looks jacked, and Mescal opened up about how he got shredded for the part, and avoided missteps that would’ve held him back.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Normal People alum chatted about the upcoming action epic and getting into Gladiator shape for the film. Working out for this movie in particular was a unique task, as he was expected to look like a strong Roman warrior, instead of achieving modern day male aesthetics which is the goal for most actors getting in shape for a movie. Mescal was hyper aware of this, and knew to try and avoid this even when first starting his workouts. He explained: 

There is definitely a time and place for the perfect “underwear model” type look Mescal is referring to. Glen Powell’s workout for Anyone but You made him look like a traditional Hollywood leading man in a rom-com. They even made a joke in the movie about this kind of aesthetic, calling it “hot girl fit.” Ryan Gosling also had to achieve this particular aesthetic for Ken in Barbie, and worked out hard for that almost manufactured male physique. However the gladiator look is something supposed to emulate the past, and is a much more rugged, natural appearance. This kind of buff has a purpose, and is not just meant to make the actor more conventionally attractive.

Based on initial images from the film, Mescal totally put in the right kinds of workouts at the gym. He looks strong and powerful, ready for a battle or even to fight a rhinoceros. The Oscar nominee reflected on his experience getting into shape for the role, and how he had to adjust to the feeling of putting on so much muscle mass. He explained he felt awkward at first, and affected the way he presented himself, saying:

It makes sense that the physical act of altering your body can change the way you move about the world. This is probably extremely helpful for acting, as you are able to find a character in this new presentation, and use it to separate a character from the actor. The role is a different one for Mescal, who has mostly participated in emotionally resonant character dramas like Aftersun and All Of Us Strangers. Gladiator 2 is physically and metaphorically asking him to flex new muscles, and I personally can’t wait to see how his new look helps him transform into the role. 

You can see Paul Mescal in Gladiator 2, which hits theaters on November 22nd. It is one of the buzziest blockbuster movies of the year, so make sure to check it out on the biggest screen possible this Fall. For more information on other exciting titles heading to the big screen in the near future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule. 

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, which is set to come out in November per our 2024 movie schedule, has a tough act to follow. The original 2000 film topped the box office and won Best Picture at the Oscars. But the star studded cast seems up to the challenge. The film will see Paul Mescal play an older Lucius Verus, in a story that makes a quarter-century time jump. Mescal got absolutely ripped to play the role and turned a lot of heads for doing so. One of his co-stars, Joseph Quinn, was recently asked whether he had gym showdowns with Mescal, and the actor provided a funny take.

Joseph Quinn spoke with Men’s Health for a wide-ranging interview. And it was during the conversation that he talked about what it was like to train with Paul Mescal, after a clip of his shirtless, ripped co-star lifting weights went viral on the Internet. Given the physicality associated with the Gladiator universe, it makes sense that Quinn would be asked if he and Mescal ever had any “gym showdowns” while preparing for their roles. The Stranger Things actor humbly responded:

This is no surprise, given some of the early footage has shown Paul Mescal fighting a rhinoceros (which is surely CGI), so you know he was hitting the weights day in and day out to train. I would expect nothing less than total commitment to a role given the great performances we've seen from Mescal. Funny enough though, it was actually a live stage performance that secured him the role, and he left audiences swooning. But you can check out that viral post for yourself down below:

The All of Us Strangers actor has been one of the Internet’s favorite boyfriends ever since his TV debut in the gut-wrenching Hulu original Normal People. His fame has only grown since then, and it seems like he would prefer to not acquire much more unrequited attention from Gladiator 2. (I know I’ll never forget when the the rumor that he was running away from his dates in London made the rounds on the web.)

But, unfortunately, for the Lost Daughter actor, this cast is the opposite of low-key. Ridley Scott has assembled the ultimate crew of heartthrobs for this movie, with Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington joining Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn -- and fans have shared shameless reactions. Barry Keoghan, who has had fans thirsting for him after Saltburn, was supposed to appear with Mescal and Quinn, but unfortunately dropped Gladiator 2 for another film. It’s probably for the best, to be honest. Seeing those three together on one screen probably would have had audiences completely overwhelmed. 

In all seriousness though, Paul Mescal deserves a lot of credit for committing to his role from a physical standpoint. And make no mistake, Joseph Quinn is no slouch either. After all, he has been training hard for The Fantastic Four, in which he'll play Johnny Storm/The Human Torch. Both Quinn and Mescal are formidable actors, and I'm excited to see what they bring to Ridley Scott's latest epic.

Gladiator 2 is set to release in theaters on November 22. And, if you're looking to do a rewatch of the original film or check it out for the first time, it's streamable with a Paramount+ subscription.

If you have a Netflix subscription, the internet has a solid recommendation for you to check out this week: Aftersun. The A24 movie starring Paul Mescal was released back in 2022, but it’s likely you might have missed it when it initially came out. The drama has glowing reviews, but be warned, you might be leaving with a wounded heart. 

Aftersun hit Netflix on Friday (after being only available to either rent/buy or watch on Showtime). Here’s one major sell from Twitter user @alexrmaz: 

The movie, written/directed by Charlotte Wells in her directorial debut, is about a father-daughter relationship as they spend a vacation together at a Turkish resort. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival before traveling to all sorts of festivals and earning a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 96 percent. As another Twitter user (@MikeLaPenta) wrote when the release was announced: 

When it hit theaters in October 2022, the small independent movie only made $8.4 million at the worldwide box office. However, it should have received a lot more attention, especially when it comes to how audiences have received it. The movie even landed Paul Mescal his first (and only, so far) Oscar nomination for playing the movie’s central father, Callum, who is dealing with depression and anxiety throughout the film. Here’s another vote of confidence from Twitter’s @K_L_E_, albeit with a warning: 

CinemaBlend’s own Philip Sledge caught the film last summer and wrote about how deeply he was affected by the movie. It is definitely going down in history as a movie that honestly and authentically deals with mental illness. Having Aftersun wreck you seems like a rather universal experience, but aren’t those the best movies sometimes? Here’s how Twitter’s @AT0MICAFRI reacted to it streaming on Netflix: 

Since the movie hit streaming a few days ago, it hasn’t quite made the top 10 yet, as throwback movies like Fifty Shades Of Grey and Home join Netflix originals like Trigger Warning and the continued streaming success of Hitman. Considering all the glowing recommendations from fans of Aftersun, we have to wonder if that will soon change! Here’s one more, from Twitter user @alex_reno: 

So, if you see someone upset this week, it might be because they just witnessed Aftersun for the first time!! It’s definitely one of Paul Mescal’s best movies right alongside his stellar performance in Normal People. Once you’ve cried your eyes out over this great new Netflix release, check out our analysis of the Aftersun ending!! You’re welcome.

In one of Hulu’s best shows, Normal People, we see the depiction of anxiety, grief and depression in a candid and real way that is rarely depicted on television. 

In the series, Paul Mescal’s Connell is dealing with loneliness all season and he loses a friend to suicide which triggers his depression toward the end of the series. For Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Marianne, she is dealing with self-loathing and loneliness throughout the entire run. Both these characters are handling anxiety and depression in real and relatable ways, and it's through these two actors' emotional performances that we get such a beautiful and raw depiction of mental health. 

Toward the end of the show, both Connell and Marianne battle with their mental health, and they work really hard to not let their anxiety and/or depression consume them. However, the show also did not downplay the fact that even if they are doing better, their mental health is still something they need to prioritize and focus on. 

In an opinion piece for NBC News, reporter Elena Hilton wrote that Normal People “doesn’t sugarcoat, but neither does it exaggerate.” She also candidly opened up about how the show mirrored her own journey with depression and anxiety, writing:

Along with this, there has been a lot of deserved praise for the story and Mescal’s treatment of it. He portrayed Connell in such a nuanced way. While his character was still functioning and going about life, he was more exhausted and shut down to those around them. Also, his tender conversations with his therapist gave us a candid look into what’s truly going on in his mind and his relatable confusion over it. 

Back when Normal People came out, Mescal candidly told The Independent that this story was personal to him. Three people died by suicide at his school when he was young, so he understood what Connell was going through, saying “It’s not fictional to me, it’s real, and I was really nervous portraying it.” Well, his performance was lovely, and throughout the series, it was heartwrenching to see his character go through this difficult experience in a way that was so honest. 

In the case of Marianne, she is dealing with bouts of self-loathing throughout the series, and toward the end, she is in a sexually abusive relationship. Both things crush her. However, in the final episodes, we see her take proactive steps toward healing. She establishes boundaries, and she understands what she needs in her life to be happy. 

Daisy Edgar-Jones is so vulnerable in her characters’ low moments, and she’s able to add nuance to her scenes that allows the audience to understand the various levels of trauma and anxiety that are seriously impacting her. 

While the undeniable chemistry between the stars and the sweeping romance help make Normal People one of Daisy Edgar-Jones' best works and one of Paul Mescal’s greatest projects, the representation of mental health is also a major reason why the show is still beloved years after it came out. 

To go back and see the wonderful performances from these two powerhouse actors, you can stream Normal People with a Hulu subscription. Then, make sure to check out the 2024 movie schedule so you don’t miss Daisy Edgar-Jones’ and Paul Mescal’s upcoming work, which includes Twisters and Gladiator 2, respectively.  

What happens when you put Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn in the same movie? Internet pandemonium. The trio of actors will lead the Gladiator 2 cast, and following the first footage being shown at CinemaCon this week, fans who haven't even seen it yet (because it wasn't publically released) are proclaiming that they were simultaneously very ready and so not ready to see all three heartthrobs share the screen. 

During CinemaCon this week, which CinemaBlend was in attendance for, we had a chance to see Ridley Scott debut the first footage from the long-awaited sequel ahead of its release this fall on the 2024 movie schedule. The sneak preview of the Gladiator sequel involved Paul Mescal’s Lucius fighting a rhinoceros and both Pascal and Quinn being introduced as the villainous emperors following Joaquin Phoenix’s memorable performance as Commodus in the 2000 original. Here’s one way Twitter is reacting to reports about the footage:  

While a lot of first looks for 2024 movies that were first shown at CinemaCon later dropped on the internet, such as the Joker 2 trailer, only the attendees of the Las Vegas event, who mainly consisted of theater exhibitors and press, have witnessed what Gladiator 2 looks like. While Paramount will surely release a trailer for the sequel in the future, fans of Mescal, Pascal and Quinn are particularly coming together at this moment. 

Paul Mescal started turning heads when he starred in the TV adaptation of the popular romance book Normal People with Daisy Edgar-Jones in 2020. The Irish actor has since continued to rise in popularity (much to his dismay), especially with his Oscar-nominated role in 2022’s Aftersun. In terms of Pedro Pascal… do I really need to explain? The actor has risen through the ranks to become the internet’s boyfriend, especially with his “daddy” roles in The Mandalorian and The Last Of Us. 

As this fan pointed out, waiting to see them together on screen is too much, we need a trailer now:

Joseph Quinn is the freshest face of the trio, but he has earned a major fanbase just in the last couple of years alone with his unforgettable role as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things. While most fans have not seen what’s coming for them with Mescal, Pascal and Quinn’s roles in Gladiator 2, the descriptions are enough to cause some major buzz for a first look to drop online:

When CinemaBlend covered the Paramount CinemaCon panel live, managing director Sean O’Connell shared that the Gladiator 2 footage was “incredible,” saying the sequel “increases the stakes of the games” along with sharing that Quinn and Pascal in particular “look terrifying” as “powerful rulers making life miserable for the lower class.” He also shouted out Denzel Washington’s role in the film -- he will reportedly play the mentor to Mescal’s Lucius. 

Basically, there's a lot to get hyped about, and I think we're all feeling how this fan feels:

Ridley Scott most definitely knows how to pick a hot cast! You can get excited for Gladiator 2 right with the internet, as the movie is hitting theaters on November 22! 

If we are being completely honest, CinemaCon 2024 has been very light on teases. We have seen footage from upcoming movies that have shown a lot of what we expect to come. But only movies like the John Wick spinoff Ballerina and the planned musical biopic for Michael Jackson brought any never-before-seen footage that got the audience in the Coliseum at Caesar’s excited. That was until Paramount Pictures closed out its panel presentation with five minutes of exclusive, first look footage from Sir Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, and it looks more epic than we even could have anticipated. 

There are several callbacks to Scott’s original Gladiator throughout the footage, which makes sense. Even though the initial film came out in 2000, the legacy extends far, being one of the most successful collaborations between Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe. No, we never see Crowe in the footage for Gladiator 2 – his character, Maximus, dies at the end of the movie. But we did get a shot of a hand glancing over the top of fields of wheat… and it made me wonder if we might somehow get Crowe back from the afterlife. That was Scott’s original plan for the sequel, after all. I’m still holding out hope.

Maximus is referenced early in the footage by Lucius (Paul Mescal), the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus who will follow a similar path through the Gladiator ring. Lucius claims to think about Maximus daily, about how a humble man could challenge the powerful through the Gladiator competition. 

But, per the footage that we managed to see, the challenges in the ring are increasing exponentially. Mescal matches Crowe’s physicality and rage. But he’s going to face off against hulking adversaries, and animals. ANIMALS! There was a fight scene where the gladiators fought feral, ferocious apes. And in another, Mescal faced off against a gladiator riding on the back of a rhino, whose horn had been bloodied by the corpses of his prey. It was so sick!

Ridley Scott already informed us that Mescal’s Lucius has lost touch with his mother (Connie Nielsen, returning to her role), and that for all she knows, he might be dead. She still runs in the elite circles, which this time out will be portrayed by Joseph Quinn and Pedro Pascal. Quinn, in particular, seems to be taking his performance cues from Joaquin Phoenix in the first movie, playing spoiled and psychotic. There’s even a shot of Quinn’s character, Emperor Caracalla, giving the thumbs down. 

The final major character introduced in the footage is played by Denzel Washington. He will be Mescal’s mentor in the movie, someone who coaches him on what is important to the powerful Roman rulers, and schools him on how to manipulate the games to possibly bring them down. It becomes clear as the footage goes on that Washington’s character is using Mescal’s Lucius for ulterior motives, but they are unclear in this footage.

Everything that we saw in the footage was massive in scale and scope. One of the Colosseum battles featured two ships IN THE FLOODED ARENA as they went head to head in battle. The sight of Mescal facing a rhino is unforgettable. And the last bit suggested an expansion of war, as Pedro Pascal’s character appears to escalate the battle, leading to a face off in the ring with Lucius.

All signs point to Gladiator 2 being a worthy follow up to the original. It will be in theaters beginning on November 22.

The way things are going lately, we won’t be seeing an Irish goodbye in Hollywood. In recent years in particular, more actors from Ireland have become big stars. From Barry Keoghan’s rise to fame with movies like Saltburn, Eternals and The Banshees of Inisherin, to Paul Mescal leading the next Gladiator movie after coming up with Normal People and Aftersun, to Cillian Murphy’s recently being among 2024 Oscar winners for Oppenheimer, there’s a lot of love for Irish actors as of late. Colin Farrell has just weighed in on the recent trend. 

Colin Farrell has been working in Hollywood since the early 2000s after growing up in a suburb in Dublin, Ireland and attending the city’s Gaiety School of Acting before dropping out and starting to rack up acting credits. Here’s what Farrell said about the recent rise in Irish actors: 

While speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Farrell pointed out how amazing it is that the Irish are seemingly taking over Hollywood right now given the country’s size and population. The actor shared a deep pride for the success that has come out of some of the country’s citizens, attributing it to the culture’s love for telling stories. He then spoke specifically about Barry Keoghan, whom he co-starred with not only in the Oscar-nominated 2022 film The Banshees of Inisherin, but also in 2017’s The Killing Of A Sacred Deer: 

The 31-year-old actor also hails from Dublin, Ireland, where he frequented school plays before going to the local Dublin drama school Bow Street Academy. Keoghan’s acting career got an upgrade in 2017 when he starred in both Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, and his career has only skyrocketed from there, including with his 2023 Oscar nomination for Banshees, his viral role in Saltburn and becoming one of the Eras Tour boyfriends. 

Now we haven’t mentioned some other big Irish names that help underline Farrell’s first point: Liam Neeson, Saorise Ronan, Michael Fassbender, Kenneth Branagh, Domhnall Gleeson, Jamie Dornan and Jessie Buckley all hail from Ireland! 

Colin Farrell’s latest project is a TV show called Sugar, where the actor looks like a noir Bruce Wayne as he plays a private investigator that takes a case after the disappearance of the granddaughter of a Hollywood producer. Farrell will also star once again as Penguin in The Batman spinoff series named after the character, coming to Max sometime this year. But first, check out Farrell in Sugar, premiering for those with an Apple TV+ subscription on April 5. 

The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event is one of the most ambitious creative projects in the history of Hollywood. While we normally are focused on the more immediate, like the 2026 movie schedule, director Sam Mendes has taken on a challenge so huge that we're talking about it in length, despite being about two years away from the simultaneous release of all four movies. Each movie will focus on an individual member of the band: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

That’s right, there are four upcoming music biopics about The Beatles, collectively known as The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event. It’s safe to say that the band's legacy has never waned, and they remain as relevant today as they were in the 1960s. However, there has never been an officially approved film about the iconic rock band until now. And what a way to do it!

The films are being shot simultaneously and cover the same period in the band, from their early days in Liverpool until their breakup in 1970, with the same cast appearing in all four. Each film will be seen from the point of view of an individual Beatle. Over the last couple of years or so, we’ve gotten a lot of information, including who will play most of the important people in the story (including all four Beatles), as casting is pretty much fully fleshed out at this point, at least all the major players (save one - who will play Pete Best??).

Oh, and did we mention that all four movies will be released on the same day in 2028? Let's get into it, because I can't wait to see these movies.

What Is The Release Date?

Understandably, the project is going to take some time. In March of 2025, Variety reported the news that all four movies will hit theaters on April 7th, 2028. That certainly feels like a long way off, but The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event is a huge undertaking, so it’s hardly a surprise that it will take a while to complete. Production began in November of 2025.

The announcement called it “the first binge-able theatrical experience,” and if you are going to binge it, it's going to be a long day at the movie theater, as all four will be released simultaneously!

Who Are Playing The Beatles And Everyone Else In The Cast?

The cast of The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event is absolutely stacked. Columbia Pictures has announced the names of most of the important people in The Beatles' orbit, including, of course, the four actors playing John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Plus producer George Martin, manager Brian Epstein, and the women who will be playing their wives. Here's everyone we know, including photos of the actors playing the Fab Four:

Paul Mescal As Paul McCartney

Though all of the Beatles are among the most famous men of the past 100 years, Paul McCartney might just be the most famous. His career has spanned an incredible 65+ years, and even in his 80s, the songwriter shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, McCartney released a new album, his first in six years, in May 2026. In the Mendes Beatles movies, "Macca" will be played by Hamnet star Paul Mescal.

Mescal's breakout role came in 2024's Gladiator II, in which he played Lucius Verus Aurelius. That came after he was nominated for an Oscar for 2022's Aftersun. In January 2026, we even got a sneak peek of Mescal as Macca, as well as a quote from the actor saying he will be doing the singing as Paul.

Harris Dickinson As John Lennon

Harris Dickinson will play the role of the late John Lennon. Lennon, who was shot and killed in 1980, did more to shape the Beatles than anyone else, both for better and for worse, and there is no doubt his story will likely be the most anticipated. Dickinson has been busy lately, working with fellow Beatles movie star Saoirse Ronan in Blitz in 2024, and writing, directing, and starring in Urchin in 2025.

Joseph Quinn As George Harrison

In 2025, Joseph Quinn joined the MCU as Johnny Storm in the well-received Marvel movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He'll be reprising the role in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday. Quinn has been tapped to play George Harrison in the Beatles movies. Of all the stories to be told, Harrison's might be the most interesting during his time with the band. Though he was an original member, he often felt apart from the writing team of Lennon and McCartney. It famously led to a fair amount of friction within The Beatles, and watching it play out will likely be a highlight of the four movies.

Barry Keoghan As Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr might not have been the band’s original drummer, but he joined just at the right time. That’s not to take away from his drumming, of course, or his impact on the band. His quirky personality and tasteful drumming were keys to the band’s success. He will be played by Irish actor Barry Keoghan. Keoghan spoke to Collider in March 2026 about the pressure of portraying a Beatle:

Keoghan has quickly become one of the most celebrated actors of the last decade with standout roles in shows like Chernobyl from HBO and Masters Of The Air, which can be seen with an Apple TV subscription, as well as movies like The Banshees of Inisherin, Eternals, Saltburn, and most recently, Crime 101 in 2026.

Anna Sawai As Yoko Ono

Without a doubt, one of the most anticipated casting announcements would be who would play Yoko Ono. We now know that Anna Sawai will be stepping into the role of John Lennon’s second wife and widow. She won an Emmy last September for her amazing performance in 2024’s Shōgun, which you can watch with a Hulu subscription.

Lennon met Ono in 1966, but they wouldn’t start dating until 1968, before marrying in 1969. She was a near-constant presence with the rock star after their marriage. This is one of the stories I'm most interested in, as I, like others, think that Ono got a bad rap for far too long as the "woman who broke up The Beatles," which isn't remotely true. It looks like Sawai agrees, telling Variety:

Ono is the most famous non-band member in The Beatles story, so this should be a major aspect of John's movie, I would think.

Saoirse Ronan As Linda McCartney

Saoirse Ronan is one of the more celebrated actors of the last two decades, earning four Oscar nominations since 2007. Most recently, she can be seen in 2025’s Bad Apples and 2024’s Blitz on Apple TV.

Ronan will be playing Linda McCartney, née Eastman, who married Paul in 1969. Linda, a professional photographer, met Paul in 1967 while she was on assignment, and they began dating shortly after. They remained married until her death from breast cancer in 1998.

Aimee Lou Wood As Pattie Boyd

One of the biggest breakouts in 2025 came from Season 3 of The White Lotus. Aimee Lou Wood is wonderful as Chelsea in the anthology series, and she is, frankly, perfect for the role of Pattie Boyd Harrison, wife of George Harrison. Most recently, Wood has co-created and is starring in the BBC show Film Club. For the role of Pattie, Wood is very aware of what she needs to do to play such a famous public figure, telling The Standard:

George and Pattie met on the set of Hard Day's Night in 1964, where Pattie played one of the two school girls on the train with The Beatles. Like in the movie, she caught the eye of one particular Beatle, and they married in early 1966. Their relationship was a rocky one, and Boyd famously divorced Harrison in 1977 and married Harrison’s best friend, Eric Clapton. Most of that story happened after the Beatles broke up, so we probably won’t see it in the movies.

Mia McKenna-Bruce As Maureen Starkey

Ringo Starr’s most famous (and current) wife is former Bond girl Barbara Bach, but they didn’t marry until 1980, so she likely won’t be part of the story in these movies. In the time period covered by the movies, Starr was married to Liverpool-native Maureen Starkey, née Cox. They married in 1965 and were together until 1975.

Maureen will be played by Mia McKenna-Bruce. McKenna-Bruce had her breakout in 2022’s How to Have Sex and is set to star in the Netflix show The Seven Dials Mystery, based on the book of the same name by Agatha Christie.

James Norton As Brian Epstein

We've also learned from Deadline that The Beatles' legendary manager Brian Epstein, who died in 1967 at the height of Beatlemania, will be portrayed by James Norton. Norton recently starred in House of Guinness, one of the best shows on Netflix in 2025.

Norton is no stranger to playing record industry legends. The actor played Island Records founder Chris Blackwell in the biopic Bob Marley: One Love in 2024. Norton is also in Season 3 of House Of The Dragon as Ormond Hightower.

Harry Lloyd As George Martin

Game of Thrones veteran Harry Lloyd, who played the ill-fated Viserys Targaryen in the HBO series, will play famed Beatles producer George Martin. One of the many men sometimes referred to as "the fifth Beatle," Martin was crucial to the band's legendary albums. There's no question he'll play a prominent role in all four films.

The rest of the cast, including some of the Beatles' family members, and other important people in their career, have also been cast:

• Bobby Schofield As Neil Aspinall
• Daniel Hoffman-Gill as Mal Evans
• Adam Pally as Allen Klein
• David Morrissey as Jim McCartney, Paul's father
• Leanne Best as Mimi Smith, John's aunt, who raised him
• Arthur Darvill as Beatles PR man Derek Taylor
• Adam Pally as Allen Klein, the band's manager in their later years
• Lucy Boynton as Jane Asher
• Farhan Akhtar as Ravi Shankar
• Morfydd Clark as Cynthia Lennon, John's first wife
• Harry Lawtey as Stuart Sutcliffe, The Beatles' original bass player

Some of the musicians who worked with The Beatles will hopefully make appearances, like keyboardist Billy Preston. He worked with the band extensively in their final recording sessions and can be seen with a Disney+ subscription in the amazing docuseries The Beatles: Get Back from director Peter Jackson. Eric Clapton, who played the guitar solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and was good friends with George Harrison (and later married Pattie Boyd, after she divorced Harrison), could also pop up.

Of course, we haven't seen an actor attached to the role of the band's drummer before Ringo, Pete Best, either, but as Stu Sutcliffe has been cast, I assume Best will appear too.

There Will Be 4 Movies, One For Each Beatle

Rather than cover The Beatles across one biopic, this project is dedicating four feature films to these musical icons. As an added twist, each movie will focus on a different band member’s point of view, with all of the stories being “interconnected.” So although we’ll see Paul, John, George, and Ringo in all of these movies, each one will see one of the men taking center stage while the others occupy supporting positions.

As such, it’s reasonable to assume that, along with certain events being re-explored in each of these movies from different perspectives, there will also be opportunities to go down narrative paths that only involve the central Beatle, depending on the movie.

The Story Will End With Their 1970 Breakup

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr continued to produce music for their solo careers well after the Beatles dissolved, but it sounds like that won’t be explored in any of these upcoming movies. Per an official press release (via Variety), the Beatles' movies will wrap up with their breakup in 1970.

It’s possible that in the midst of each Beatles’ narrative being covered, there will be post-1970 flash forwards to show where these men ended up in life, but since these movies are specifically centered around the band when they were together, it’s doubtful a lot of screen time will be dedicated to what has happened after the breakup, or a lot about their solo careers.

Sam Mendes Is Directing All Four Movies

With a resume that includes American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Skyfall, Spectre, and 1917, it’s safe to say that Sam Mendes remains one of Hollywood’s most talented directors. Still, the prospect of directing four movies like this back-to-back-to-back-to-back would surely be daunting for any filmmaker. And yet, Mendes has taken it upon himself to helm and produce all four of them, though that’s not surprising since, per the Deadline story, he “conceived this grand vision.”

There Will Be Three Screenwriters

In May 2025, we found out that the four films would be written by three screenwriters. It’s a group of heavyweights, too. Per Variety, Tony Award-winner Jez Butterworth, who worked with Mendes on the James Bond film Spectre, will work alongside Peter Straughan, who just won an Oscar for his script for Conclave, and Jack Thorne, who took home an Emmy for his amazing work on Adolescence, which you can check out with a Netflix subscription.

These Are The First Official Biopics About The Beatles Ever Made

The Beatles are no strangers to cinema. Not only did Paul, John, Ringo, and George star in the movies A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, and Magical Mystery Tour, but they also provided the music (but not their voices) to the animated Yellow Submarine. There have also been several documentaries, and their music has been prominently featured in movies like Across the Universe and Yesterday (with the latter being possible thanks to a deal between Working Title Films and Apple and Sony). They even once tried to get their own Lord of the Rings adaptation off the ground.

However, Sam Mendes’ Beatles movies are the first time that scripted cinematic stories about these men have been approved by Paul and Ringo, as well as the estates of John and George. The full life stories and music rights of all four band members have been granted by those individuals and Apple Corps Ltd., the corporation that manages The Beatles’ music and various other media ventures.

There have been plenty of unauthorized versions of The Beatles on screen, with varying success, but none of those had the full backing of the band members and their surviving families, as these do. That means we’ll get lots of The Beatles’ music in the films, which is great, but it is fair to worry if the films will be too sanitized and leave out some of the more controversial moments of the band’s career, like the death of early band member Stu Sutcliffe, for example.

Given the success of music biopics from recent years like Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis, A Complete Unknown, and the most recent Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, making a movie about The Beatles seems like it would be a no-brainer, but releasing four movies about them at once could lead to this becoming the cinematic event of 2028.

CinemaBlend will continue sharing the big updates on how Sam Mendes’ Beatles movies are progressing, so keep your eyes peeled!

How To Watch All of Us Strangers Online

Watch All Of Us Strangers: Synopsis

If Saltburn brought about a resurgence for Sophie Ellis Baxter's "Murder on the Dancefloor", I don't see why All of Us Strangers wouldn't have the same impact on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "The Power of Love", especially now Andrew Haigh's movie has found its home around the world on both Hulu and Disney Plus. Starring the magnetic Irish duo Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, find out all the details below on how to watch All of Us Strangers online where you are right now.

Seemingly the only occupants of their apartment building, Adam is a lonely TV writer who initially rejects Harry's advances. Seeking inspiration, Adam returns to his childhood home and has a vision of his parents who died when he was twelve in a car accident. He has dinner with them and promises to come back soon to visit. Upon his return to his flat, he meets Harry in the lift again, and from there a relationship between the pair begins to spark.

One of Paul Mescal's best roles, he portrays Harry alongside Andrew Scott's Adam in this moving and profound portrayal of grief and loneliness. A coming-of-age tale in its own right, All of Us Strangers also explores the queer experience and mental health through Haigh's tender lens.

Incredibly emotional, the ending of All of Us Strangers certainly gives Aftersun's a run for its money. And you can check out the movie now for yourself with its arrival on Disney Plus in global markets and Hulu in the States with all the details below, including guides to the best plans.

How to watch All of Us Strangers in the US

The place to watch All of Us Strangers in the States is Hulu with the movie having arrived on the platform on February 22.

A Hulu subscription starts from only $7.99 a month (or $79.99 for a whole year) if you don't mind ads, or $17.99 a month to go commercial-free. But if you haven't used Hulu before, you can also give it a try for nothing with its 1-month free trial.

Or, if you're in the market for a full over-the-top streaming service, Hulu + Live TV plan starts from $76.99 a month and includes 85+ premium TV channels, all Hulu content on catch-up, as well as access to Disney+ and sports specialist ESPN+. You can pay more to remove ads.

Watch All of Us Strangers online with the Disney Plus bundle

If you like the idea of Hulu but want to get an even better value plan, then the Disney Plus bundle is a fantastic option. Combining Hulu with Disney Plus , there's thousands of hours of TV to suit all tastes. And if there's a sports fan in the household, you can add ESPN Plus for a just few dollars more.

Watch All of Us Strangers online in Canada

From March 20, those in Canada were able to watch All of Us Strangers on Disney Plus.

In Canada, plans start from $7.99 a month with its ad-supported plan. Otherwise, choose between its Standard ($11.99 a month / $119.99 a year) or Premium ($14.99 a month / $149.99 a year) plans.

How to watch All of Us Strangers in the UK

In the UK, it's the same. You can now watch All of Us Strangers, with the movie landing on Disney Plus on March 20.

The usual Disney Plus price in the UK starts from £4.99 a month with the introduction of an ad-supported plan. Alternatively you can continue an ad-free experience and pay £7.99 a month for its Standard plan. For 4K streams you'll need the Premium plan, which costs £10.99 a month.

Both the Standard and Premium plan have the option of signing up for a year in advance and getting 12 months for the price of 10, costing £79.90 and £109.90 respectively.

Watch All of Us Strangers in Australia

A Disney Plus subscription is what you need Down Under to watch All of Us Strangers. It arrived on the platform on Wednesday, March 20.

Go monthly for $13.99 or get a great saving by getting an annual plan for $113.99.

All of Us Strangers Trailer