Jacob Elordi Replacing Paul Mescal in Ridley Scott’s ‘The Dog Stars’

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Ridley Scott had plans to work again with actor Paul Mescal after their hit collaboration on “Gladiator II.” The director expressed interest in having Mescal star in his post-apocalyptic thriller, “The Dog Stars,” and it seemed like Mescal was interested too. However, another project, Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic, seems to have come up, causing scheduling conflicts for Mescal, forcing him to withdraw from Scott’s project. Meanwhile, Jacob Elordi is in preliminary discussions to step into Mescal’s role.

According to reports, actor Chris Elordi is in preliminary talks to take on the lead role in “The Dog Stars,” a movie originally intended for Paul Mescal. However, Mescal had to withdraw due to scheduling issues with the Mendes Beatles biopic where he’s set to portray Paul McCartney. If all goes well with the negotiations, Elordi will assume the character of Hig, a pilot who unexpectedly develops a friendship with a grumpy gunman as they evade a dangerous group called the Reapers.

The film titled “The Dog Stars” is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, and it tells the tale of a catastrophic flu pandemic that has drastically reduced human population. Mark L. Smith and Christopher Wilkinson are responsible for the screenplay, with Ridley Scott set to work on this project following his completion of a Bee Gees biopic for Paramount Pictures. In essence, it appears everyone mentioned in this story is keeping themselves occupied with various projects.

Ridley Scott Was First to Cast Doubt on Paul Mescal’s Involvement

Initially, Ridley Scott expressed concerns about Mescal’s participation during a screening for ‘Gladiator II’, alongside director Christopher Nolan in December. It appeared that Scott wanted Mescal for his upcoming project, but he later disclosed that the actor might not be able to join due to his involvement with the Beatles movie. Scott explained, “Paul is currently busy with the Beatles project. So I may need to release him from my film.

Elordi has proven himself to be a talent worth following, as he’s been strategic in choosing impactful roles since his debut in the Netflix romantic comedy “The Kissing Booth.” He’s made a point to collaborate with esteemed directors and take on significant projects. After impressing audiences as Nate Jacobs on HBO’s “Euphoria,” Elordi worked with Emerald Fennel on “Saltburn,” Sofia Coppola on “Priscilla,” and is set to star in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” for Netflix. He’ll also be seen opposite Margot Robbie in a “Wuthering Heights” adaptation, and may return for the potential final season of “Euphoria.

Speaking about the upcoming Beatles biopic, it’s a highly ambitious project by director Mendes, who intends to create four separate yet interconnected movies, each focusing on one of the iconic band members. It is also reported that actors like Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Barry Keoghan, and Harris Dickinson are involved in this production.

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2025-01-07 22:02