Paul Mescal to Star in Forthcoming Beatles Movies, Says Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott may have inadvertently revealed some major casting news during a Q&A with Christopher Nolan last night in Los Angeles.

During a conversation with Christopher Nolan that followed a screening of Gladiator II at the Directors Guild of America, Scott confirmed his next project will be thriller The Dog Stars. When Nolan asked if Paul Mescal will star in the film, Scott initially said yes before correcting himself that Mescal’s schedule may prevent them from reuniting.

“Maybe,” Scott said, via The Hollywood Reporter. “Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go.”

Mescal has been rumored to be part of Sam Mendes’ forthcoming Beatles films, which will focus on each of the Fab Four, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Mescal is reportedly set to play McCartney, although neither Sony Pictures nor Mendes has confirmed that.

Last month, Entertainment Tonight asked Mescal how it would feel to play McCartney. “It would be an incredible story to be attached to,” Mescal said. “The fact that Sam Mendes is attached to direct, like truly, it would be a dream come true.” But when asked if he was in fact playing the Beatle, Mescal replied, “No, no, no — we’re not going there.”

Starr also recently let some casting news slip. The drummer seemingly confirmed that Barry Keoghan would be playing him, telling Entertainment Tonight, “I think he’s great, I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons. I hope not too many.” Starr’s remark, in late November, gave some validity to the Keoghan rumors, but another source told Rolling Stone that there still were no deals with any actors.

Reflecting the Beatles’ massive influence, Sony Pictures has elected to produce four different films to zoom in on each member of the band, rather than go the more typical biopic route. Mendes, the director behind American Beauty as well as the Bond films Skyfall and Spectre, was tapped to direct all four flicks. They’re expected to arrive in theaters in 2027.

“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” Mendes said in a statement back in February.