Paul Mescal has worked with auteurs and iconic actors alike, but the star is now revealing one of the first future co-stars he was truly starstruck by: Josh O’Connor. The duo lead “The History of Sound,” which will debut at Cannes after being in the works for four years. The project was first announced in 2021, with a press statement from director Oliver Hermanus (accurately) citing how O’Connor and Mescal were “two of the most promising actors of their generation.” More from IndieWire ADVERTISEMENT The shoot was planned for 2022; however, the production was delayed due to financing amid the pandemic and later, guild strikes.
The film was instead shot in 2024, after O’Connor and Mescal had already respectively become big stars. Yet Mescal still remembers just how in awe he was of O’Connor at the start of his own career post-“Normal People” success back in 2020. “We had a sweet Zoom,” Mescal told Vanity Fair about after O’Connor reached out to him as a fan of the series.
“He was one of the first people that I was starstruck by after ‘Normal People’ came out. He’s now one of my best friends, and I just adore him.” Both Mescal and O’Connor later separately became attached to “The History of Sound.” Mescal plays singer Lionel who falls for his fellow New England Conservatory student David (O’Connor) in the adaptation of Ben Shattuck’s World War I-set short story. And Mescal and O’Connor’s friendship only grew during filming the queer romance.
“We felt very boyish in each other’s company throughout,” Mescal said of filming with O’Connor. “I’ve always said this to Josh, but he brings out a childlike version of me. I haven’t felt that kind of degree of boyishness in myself for a long time.” As for how long it took to bring “The History of Sound” to the screen, Mescal marveled at the er, history of the film itself.
“How many times do you hear people who really try and get something made over five, 10, 15 years, and it just falls away?,” Mescal said. “I remember feeling very lucky. Like, we have to enjoy this.
Because we’ll come across other opportunities in our life where we love a script as much as this, and we just don’t get to get it made.” ADVERTISEMENT He added, “The thing that I’m most proud about is that the feeling I had when I read the script for the first time is what I got when I saw the film for the first time.” Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
