Paul Mescal has announced plans to “ration” his work and step away from the spotlight until the release of The Beatles biopics in 2028. The Irish actor, known for his roles in Normal People and Gladiator II, said in an interview with The Guardian that he intends to take a break after promoting his upcoming films.
Mescal has two new films releasing in early 2026: Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, and The History of Sound, an indie romance co-starring Josh O’Connor. Reflecting on his busy schedule, he stated, “I’m five or six years into this now... I don’t think I can go on doing it as much.” He added that he will “ration” himself, possibly focusing on theatre for a couple of years.
“Once I’ve finished promoting [Hamnet], I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I’m doing the Beatles,” Mescal said. “People will get a break from me and I’ll get a break from them.” He is set to play Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-film series about the band, scheduled for simultaneous release in April 2028. Mescal will perform his own singing and has spent time with McCartney to prepare.
The Beatles biopics also star Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. Meanwhile, The History of Sound received a five-star review from NME, which praised Mescal and O’Connor’s performances and the film’s “exquisite American roots music.”
