The hotly-anticipated Gladiator II was released just days ago on Friday, November 15, and it was everything and more Paul Mescal fans wanted, despite some initial negative reviews. 

Seeing the Irish actor battle a rhino in his role as Lucius Verus - the former heir to the Roman empire - was a far cry from the star's breakout role in 2020 TV series Normal People.

Since then, Mescal's career has gone from strength to strength, which is reflected in their Oscar odds. 

The star has several other upcoming projects, too, including one with a staggering 2039 release date. Yes, that is correct. Richard Linklater's ambitious project, Merrily We Roll Along, is scheduled to drop in 15 years.

Principal photography began in 2019, and it has been filmed periodically over 20 years.

Other projects Mescal has lined up include The History of Sound - a romantic drama alongside Josh O'Connor - and he is expected to portray the famous William Shakespeare in the big screen adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel Hamnet.

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While he clearly has plenty on his plate, there are likely to be many more offers on the way for Mescal after Gladiator II hits cinemas in November.

But aside from the aforementioned films, what could Mescal's next main role from the so-called "Big Five" film studios - Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. - be? 

Hey Paul

One role that has been heavily rumoured in recent months is that Mescal could line up in Sam Mendes' upcoming The Beatles biopic.

Mescal has been linked to the role of the Hey Jude hitmakers' frontman Sir Paul McCartney, and is just 4/6 to take on the coveted part, while it's EVENS he appears in a biopic next.

It comes after The InSneider claimed Mescal could join the project alongside Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Charlie Rowe (George Harrison), and Barry Keoghan (Sir Ringo Starr).

What's more, he is just 4/1 to take part in one of Barbie director Greta Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia Reboot movies for Netflix.

Paul Mescal is rumored to inherit James McAvoy's role as Mr. Tumnus in Greta Gerwig's Narnia reboot. (Image: : FlixPix / Alamy)

Last year, it was confirmed the filmmaker would be directing and writing at least two movies based on C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia novel series, and fans have been quick to link Mescal to the part of creepy character Mr. Tumnus.

The Name’s Mescal, Paul Mescal

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been heavily rumoured to be taking up the role as the next James Bond, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Could this pave the way for Mescal to appear as the suave spy instead?

He is just 3/1 to be the next 007, and he is said to have been in talks for the part.

In December, it was reported in The Sun newspaper that Mescal had been in discussions for the coveted role, and several stars have backed him to follow in Daniel Craig's footsteps.

Last year, Ana de Armas, who played Paloma in Bond's last outing, 2021's No Time to Die, which was Craig's final foray as the main character, admitted she would love to see Mescal as 007.

De Armas told Wired: "I think Paul Mescal should be the one."

Mescal's portrayal of Lucius in Gladiator II suggests he's primed for any intense role, including a potential Bond villain. (Image: BFA / Alamy)

And Mescal's All of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott has also backed him, telling Variety: "He’d probably be a great James Bond."

Even if Mescal didn't land the part of Bond, he would have no problem turning his hand to a rage-filled character if the latest Gladiator II trailer is anything to go by.

That said, he is just 7/2 to play a Bond villain next. 

Marvel-lous Mescal

While Mescal is 2/1 to appear in a big action movie next, he is just 7/2 to take part in a superhero film, and it is 5/1 he lands the part of a Marvel character, excluding Wolverine (11/2) and Spider-Man (10/1).

It comes as the star was previously linked to the part of The Fantastic Four's Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, Mescal's Gladiator II co-star Joseph Quinn has since landed the part of Storm.

Despite this, it isn't out of the question that Mescal could play another Marvel character next, but he also has his eyes on different movie series.

In 2022, he told People magazine: "Something like Top Gun: Maverick would be more interesting to me. I love that movie."

In January, it was reported that Top Gun 3 was in the works at Paramount, and Mescal is 6/1 to get his wish and appear in the motion picture next.

However, he also told the publication: "If I get to keep making indie films for the rest of my life, I'll be a happy man."

Wherever he ends up next, the hugely talented Mescal will no doubt leave plenty of cinema-goers more than happy with his pulsating performances.

While he clearly has plenty on his plate, there are likely to be many more offers on the way for Mescal after Gladiator II hits cinemas in November.

But aside from the aforementioned films, what could Mescal's next main role from the so-called "Big Five" film studios - Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. - be?