Paul Mescal is seemingly joining the Lonely Hearts Club Band!
During a conversation with Christopher Nolan after a screening of Gladiator II at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles on Tuesday (Dec. 10), the film’s director Ridley Scott discussed his next project, a thriller titled The Dog Stars. When asked if Mescal will star in the movies following his Gladiator role, Scott noted that the actor’s schedule might prevent that from happening as he will be starring in Sony Pictures’ upcoming Beatles project.
“Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go,” he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sony has yet to officially confirm Mescal’s casting.
Earlier this year, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced four separate Beatles biopics — one focusing on each member of music‘s most iconic band. Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director whose credits include American Beauty (1999), Skyfall (2012) and 1917 (2019), will helm all four films and produce them through his Neal Street Productions.
“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 at the time.
The Beatles have the most No. 1 singles in Hot 100 history (20), ranging from 1964’s “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (seven weeks) to 1970’s “The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue” (two weeks). On the Billboard 200, the legendary band has earned 19 chart-toppers, including 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (15 weeks).
