Paul Mescal has been given the nod to play The Beatles frontman Paul McCartney in the upcoming biopics.
Director Ridley Scott spilled the beans on his next big role during a Gladiator II screening held at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles on December 10.
It began with Scott revealing his next feature, a thriller film titled The Dog Stars. Christopher Nolan then asked if Mescal will also star in the film, to which Scott revealed the Irish actor, 28, has other plans.
“Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go,” The Hollywood Reporter quoted Scott.
The Beatles biopics, set to be directed by Sam Mendes for Sony Pictures, will focus on an individual member in each film.
The stories will be told through each band member’s perspective while weaving together interconnected stories of the band’s history.
While no official casting announcements have been made by the studio, Mescal has been rumoured as the top choice for McCartney for some time.
“It would be an incredible story to be attached to,” Mescal told Entertainment Tonight when pressed about the rumours. “The fact that Sam Mendes is attached to direct, like truly, it would be a dream come true.”
Last month, The Beatles percussionist Ringo Starr told Entertainment Tonight that Saltburn star Barry Keoghan was set to play him.
However, no formal suggestions or declarations have come to light for other The Beatles members John Lennon and George Harrison.
“I think it’s great,” he told the outlet when asked about his reaction to Keoghan’s rumored casting. “I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.”
All four movies are expected to release worldwide in 2027, per a press release noting that the project is the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted the rights to their life stories and music for a feature-length film.
“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.
