Paul Mescal’s upcoming gay film is “on fire” with chemistry

Upcoming romance The History of Sound is gathering big names in recent gay cinema, so it’s no surprise the energy on set is already electric.

The film stars Paul Mescal, hot off the heels of the surreal gay romance All of Us Strangers, and Josh O’Connor, of the acclaimed God’s Own Country and the upcoming devil’s threesome film Challengers. And director Oliver Hermanus (who is also helming the gay period thriller Mary & George) is already stunned by the chemistry between its two leading men.

The History of Sound is based on the Pushcart Prize-winning short story of the same name by Ben Shattuck. It follows two Americans during WWI who embark on a journey to record and collect folk songs across the country, falling in love in the process. 

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Soon after reading the story, Hermanus developed the script during COVID lockdown. “I instantly fell in love with Ben Shattuck’s flawlessly beautiful short story and knew I had to be involved in its journey to the screen,” Hermanus told Variety, back when the film was announced in 2021.

“Paul and Josh are two of the most promising actors of their generation who will share with us deeply soulful performances. This is an unexpected love story that needs to be told — it is a journey through the life of America, across the 20th century and the traditions of American folk music, all seen through the bond between two men immersed in the history of sound. This undeniably powerful story will certainly resonate with audiences the world over.”

A little over two years later, production on The History of Sound has finally begun. On the first day of filming, Hermanus spoke with Gay Times. Although the conversation was geared towards promoting Mary & George, he offered his own early take on Mescal and O’Connor’s performances.

“They’re on fire,” Hermanus said. “I mean, they’re great friends and they get on. They love working together. This is their first time, and … it just feels right. Going to work with them feels right because they love and care about it.”

We’ll get to see how much they care about it when The History of Sound releases in 2025.