Paul Mescal says he plans to step away from the publicity cycle after finishing promotion for Hamnet, shifting his attention to Sam Mendes’ four-film Beatles project and a pair of stage runs slated for 2027. In a recent interview, Mescal pushed back on talk that he is stepping away from acting, saying he meant he will pause press commitments because he will have “nothing to promote” while he works.
The Beatles films, backed by Sony and Apple Corps, are set for theatrical release in April 2028, with each movie told from the perspective of one band member. Reuters reported Mendes unveiled the principal cast at CinemaCon: Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. Mendes told theater owners he still has “plenty left to explore,” while studio chief Tom Rothman framed the rollout as “the first bingeable theatrical experience.”
Mescal described the preparation as a welcome change of pace. He said he has been learning guitar and bass for the role and “love[s] it,” treating the work as a creative outlet that does not require waiting on a greenlight or the right script to feel productive. He has also spoken about wanting the public to “get a break” from seeing him while he recalibrates how often he takes on high-intensity work.
That reset comes with a clear plan. Mescal said he will wrap Hamnet press, shoot the Beatles films, then move into two plays in 2027, adding that he is “definitely not” doing a retirement tour. Asked directly if that means no feature work for a stretch, he answered plainly: “No movies for me.”
Running parallel is Richard Linklater’s long-gestating Merrily We Roll Along, which is being filmed across two decades with Mescal, Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein aging into their roles. Producer Jason Blum said the team has spent five years on the experiment and expects 15 more, with Universal financing the project and a release targeted for the 2040s.
