# Ridley Scott’s rep addresses rumor he blames Paul Mescal for Gladiator II’ s box office performance

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-02 16:29 UTC · Category: Entertainment · Sources: 8 · Current Velocity: 5.66

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Star | Truth behind claims Paul Mescal was 'dropped from Ridley Scott film' after Gladiator flop | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxNQXZJRmNCeldSdS1iZ0cxU0ZCX1NCSkRYZGI0a2lJeV9kQ3ZTZk5FVmRvZkFPcUhfTEJ2TURDQ0JPcTcwOHlJSl9Ga04yQ3Y5U3VyLXU4UnI2dHJ4SDlIcDRGWlRfV0NhXy1ocTlkb1Z1bURQbVFGTlZ6R1lPVGFMMGF1Wm1hZVZUU1NiQTZyONIBlAFBVV95cUxOeDZlZDF0aF9RdjM0dW9pMTNGSkUzUVNwSlhxVTJpbzdyYVl0d05yZktEdWpiWXIwNy1wWWV2T2JRYklVMVlvTVBDcHVVMVp3U3F3cG5XNEJQMkcza2R6Z3U2YThJWDVwSVBxZ2VWLVV6UGNiWGZ5Tm84bXRsUkh3OEtBd0FoMGRSdEdGRE1aQmFVNjM3?oc=5) |
| IGN Africa | Ridley Scott Reportedly Says Paul Mescal Wasn't ‘Masculine Enough’ for Gladiator 2 | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxNUHR2eHUzcnBOUmtybXlyUGRFVWU5VlN5RzAyM1dheUoyT252ZWQ0VVhQay1STjBaTHByTWltc1hXVkhUaGhTWWJjV1dSQnNGWVozanZHNUZLOGJoUmw0MDFfZktGVllDRXJ1UFdnZFp2ejRxUUF0YVhYMkJ5ZGF4dVRxbTI3UHhiay00UkVwcV9hY1FPdVRaaUpOY1A3TlFGdmFhZ2JaUk5oMUk0UlhiT0JoSmJBb2d0U1E?oc=5) |
| toy-people.com | Ridley Scott Blames "Gladiator II" Failure on Paul Mescal's Lack of Masculinity, Replaced Him in "The Dog Stars" | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiUEFVX3lxTE90LVZIcmwxaUJXRlV4MEZsZnV5ZUdUWnBoc3BHLWZtdjFHc0NPbWgxbUJUWENZTDZUM0FMR0o3TmFnOFd0alR6WDd2SjRGLXVa?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | ‘Not Masculine Enough’: Paul Mescal’s The Dog Stars Exit Gets Shocking New Report | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxPSnczd09qNFhtSllUUWJkOFZFeWw5MXMyWEdaOS1SU0N6XzJPSVJsd1E2WHVPTjh1enRJTW4tb2Y4d2luWWphajJSV3ZuRHJBR1dlVmpNazN1NmJSeURtRXVpdWRKNlRMRktsYWJUY2g5bjFLSVlvWnZzNkJKMmt3QmxBSm1oOUhseUxNTU5TeHE4dXNVSk1McEZ6dU1RZlds?oc=5) |
| justjared.com | Ridley Scott’s Rep Denies Report That He Blamed ‘Gladiator II’ Performance on Paul Mescal | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNQ3BzOC1PMXFJdFh4WEdkT28zMnF0MzRhN0hKempDN0NVQ2Fmd3M4U2J4ellXYnRlak9LRXNhalZnbF84emJRYVdRamljdU53aXBRV3pROVVocTJQNHAyeUNrU1JhZGViYWdNcEI5Yjd2dUNNMUFqUXZINURSZmtSUzQyaGFTQi1VQ2hPNjk4OEVHczMxWlU1Sk1zcnB1R3NFTVlQN1JGWjNGSmZkU0dGOE5veW1XenZVWmY4LUxvMmZQUQ?oc=5) |
| attitude.co.uk | Ridley Scott rep denies Paul Mescal was dropped from The Dog Stars for being ‘not masculine enough’ | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxOaFdUcTRSN1hxQzB1eGhQSERoT3hubnhMV2dOS05NSlh1dFZ6NHA0eHQ5M2tNVk1UcGpTZVVUQjBZSWZ0b3BWQl9EU3lJTkFWQ1NrZzk4YnVwRjRGNmxLX2hjeHltOTdnVWtOWkx1YXBPQ0M5SEVDS3paaTl3eDRlQnI1QjQ5RmxZVGJtZTdvTDladlVFYkh5MGpQRDBmOHFfaEM3LUk1QQ?oc=5) |
| IMDb | Was Paul Mescal being ‘not masculine enough’ the reason Gladiator II flopped? | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTE16LTNuSkhfdjRIVEVxZ1lEdy02dm1VbjB6dkNoTWYyWF9tLUpEYUdkckV2cnFZTldwVkNJUzBOaW1JWXRfVG53bFdpVGN2a2VhTERWQkFhRGVpdlhCdC1FR1FVYXVPUGgtMHc?oc=5) |
| Entertainment Weekly | Ridley Scott’s rep addresses rumor he blames Paul Mescal for Gladiator II’ s box office performance | 2026-09-01 20:29 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxQajdxV3RsNVBhOUp4ZlJBNlEzSzhMWTF4MEs4cURsUmVqQUxRSUdNMjI3QzFVUTFlTjhTWHVCcEpIcHpJREF4ZUdmeC1hQTZrNzBIRFR6YXI2V2xCZzNCbkxNNFI5SmJKekdtRHRqQWRqY2ZiRl9FSTRGQUdOaUh4aA?oc=5) |

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*Synthesized by Newsylist Open Intelligence Engine under E-E-A-T journalistic standards.*