Claims: Was Paul Mescal being ‘not masculine enough’ the reason Gladiator II flopped?

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1. title: Was Paul Mescal being ‘not masculine enough’ the reason Gladiator II flopped? (alleges; supported) Source
2. url: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/02/was-paul-mescal-being-not-masculine-enough-the-reason-gladiator-ii-flopped (alleges; supported) Source
3. summary: Mescal’s nuanced performance in Ridley Scott’s belated sequel has been blamed by some for the film’s box office underperformance. May I suggest Jason Statham for Gladiator III? As you may be aware, The Dog Stars has not been particularly well received. Reviews have been lukewarm to poor and in its opening weekend, Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller came in fifth, after Spider-Man and The Odyssey (both of which have been out for ever), the sixth Insidious movie and a Looney Tunes film that… (alleges; supported) Source
4. published: Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:36:11 GMT (alleges; supported) Source