Acclaimed Irish actor Paul Mescal has announced his intention to step back from the spotlight for a significant period, planning a hiatus that could last until 2028. The star, who rose to fame with Normal People, says he wants to give audiences "a break" from him while he focuses on selective, high-quality projects.
From Bafta Winner to Intentional Slowdown
Since his breakout role as Connell Waldron in the BBC's 2020 adaptation of Normal People, which earned him a Bafta, Mescal's career has been on a meteoric rise. He has since starred in major films including Gladiator II, All of Us Strangers, and the critically adored Aftersun. Most recently, he portrayed William Shakespeare in the biographical drama Hamnet.
Despite this success, the 29-year-old actor told The Guardian he is consciously deciding to slow down. "I'm five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But I'm also learning that I don't think I can go on doing it as much," Mescal explained. He emphasised a new strategy of "rationing my workload" to ensure he can deliver performances he is proud of, noting that certain intense roles take more creative energy.
The Beatles Biopic as a Tentpole Return
Mescal's planned return to the big screen is set to be a major one. He has been cast as a young Sir Paul McCartney in a series of four Beatles biopics directed by Sam Mendes. The actor indicated that the currently untitled 2028 film focusing on McCartney will likely be his next public appearance.
"Once I've finished promoting [Hamnet], I hope nobody gets to see me until 2028 when I'm doing the Beatles," Mescal stated. "People will get a break from me and I'll get a break from them." He also expressed a desire to return to theatre, suggesting a future period where he might "only [do] theatre for a couple of years."
Critical Backdrop and Future Projects
The announcement of Mescal's break comes amid some high-profile criticism of one of his recent projects. His co-star from the original Gladiator, Russell Crowe, publicly criticised the sequel, Gladiator II, for lacking the "moral core" of Ridley Scott's 2000 classic, though he did not mention Mescal by name.
Meanwhile, the ambitious Beatles film project continues to take shape. The ensemble cast will see Mescal joined by Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Sir Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. The films are scheduled for a staggered release over several years, building towards Mescal's highly anticipated return in the McCartney-focused instalment.
