The Gladiator II Star’s Latest 2026 Rumors

Paul Mescal first grabbed hearts as Connell in the 2020 Hulu series Normal People, sparking instant fan curiosity about his off-screen life. That breakout role led to flirty online exchanges with singer Phoebe Bridgers, who covered Wonderland magazine around the same time.

Their Instagram Live chat for the publication crackled with chemistry, as Mescal praised her music and she blushed at his attention.​

By late 2021, they stepped out together at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles, dressed sharply and confirming what fans suspected. Bridgers posted a cozy selfie of them soon after, leaning into each other by the water, marking their social media debut.

They shared high-profile moments like the 2022 Met Gala alongside Mescal’s Normal People co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, fueling engagement rumors in outlets like The Guardian.​

The relationship lasted about two years before ending in early 2023. Reports pointed to Bridgers moving on with comedian Bo Burnham, while Mescal focused on projects like Aftersun.

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He later called parts of public scrutiny “devastating” in a Harper’s Bazaar interview, stressing how love feels like wearing blinders amid fame’s glare. This era set Mescal’s pattern: quick bonds with creative women, but firm boundaries against tabloid overreach.​

Gracie Abrams Steps In: Low-Key Dates Turn Red-Hot

Enter Gracie Abrams in mid-2024, when paparazzi caught Mescal and the singer at a London restaurant, his hand brushing her face in one shot. TMZ images fueled speculation, followed by Daily Mail photos of them strolling hand-in-hand and witnesses spotting kisses.

A People source called it “early-stage” hookups by August, but sightings piled up: shopping in Mayfair, double dates with Daisy Edgar-Jones and her partner.

Support went both ways. Mescal cheered Abrams from the VIP tent at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Miami, where she opened, and attended her Radio City Music Hall show in October. They hit the Gladiator II premiere after-party in November 2024, matching in gray tones, her backless dress complementing his suit.

Abrams shared festival snaps from Glastonbury in 2025, including him hoisting her on his shoulders during Olivia Rodrigo’s set and going Instagram official right after.​

Into 2025, Mescal got candid with Rolling Stone, dodging details on going public but calling their connection “deeply precious” and worth shielding.

They rang in 2026 with Edgar-Jones, Fred Hechinger, and friends, per Abrams’ Instagram, signaling stability post-Gladiator II hype. Fans dissected Abrams’ album The Secret of Us for clues, like “Normal Thing” lyrics nodding to actor heartbreaks and Mescal’s breakout show.​

2026 Rumors Rock the Boat Post-Gladiator Glory

Gladiator II thrust Mescal into mega-stardom in late 2024, battling in the Colosseum alongside Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal. The Ridley Scott sequel drew massive box office and awards buzz, amplifying every personal whisper. As 2026 dawned, so did fresh tabloid static around his romance with Abrams.​

January reports from pop culture forums like Reddit flagged a possible split, citing eyewitness accounts of tense public moments that “looked like a breakup.” One thread speculated their brief 2023 fling resurfaced in her songs, with Mescal not ready post-Bridgers.

No official word emerged, but Mescal’s history of viral myths, like TikTok tales of him fleeing park dates after one-nighters, shows how fame twists truths. He laughed those off on Chicken Shop Date, noting only his mom’s upset bothered him.​

Privacy remains Mescal’s shield. At the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards, he clarified retirement talk from a Guardian chat, insisting he’s in for the long haul on acting and life alike. Sources close to the pair stress constant communication amid busy schedules, her tours, and his films, like the upcoming Hamnet adaptation.

Yet, with Gladiator II’s shadow lingering and awards season peaking, whispers of strain persist, wondering if stardom’s pressure cooker will push them apart or forge something lasting.​

Mescal’s path mirrors many young stars: talent pulls partners from music scenes, but spotlights test endurance. Brief links, like the rumored 2024 flings with Sophie Wilde, fizzled without photos, reinforcing his selective vibe. As 2026 unfolds, fans watch if Abrams joins the ex-list or bucks the trend.

Mescal keeps mum, channeling energy into roles that demand vulnerability on screen, not off. Gladiator II fans pack theaters partly for his intensity, but his real draw? That elusive balance of heartthrob charm and ironclad reserve.

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