Paul Mescal is having a moment, and THE HISTORY OF SOUND might just be his most daring performance yet. Fresh off his starring roles in GLADIATOR II and ALL OF US STRANGERS, the Irish actor continues to prove he’s far more than just the breakout star of NORMAL PEOPLE. With each project, Mescal demonstrates an uncanny ability to tap into raw human emotion, and his latest film promises to showcase this talent in its most vulnerable form.
Set to hit theaters on September 19, 2025, THE HISTORY OF SOUND reunites Mescal with CHALLENGERS star Josh O’Connor.
The story spans decades and continents, beginning in 1917 when Lionel, a gifted singer from rural Kentucky, arrives at the Boston Music Conservatory. There he meets David, a charming composer who becomes both his musical collaborator and the love of his life. When David is drafted into the final days of World War I, their connection is severed, only to be rekindled years later during a transformative winter collecting folk songs in the Maine wilderness. What follows is a meditation on memory, music, and the indelible marks that brief but profound connections leave on our lives.
Mescal’s recent trajectory suggests an actor unafraid to explore complex masculinity and emotional vulnerability. Where AFTERSUN established him as a serious dramatic talent and GLADIATOR II proved his blockbuster credentials, THE HISTORY OF SOUND represents something more intimate and risky. One critic noted that Mescal delivers “AFTERSUN to the power of 10,” a performance so emotionally devastating it will “turn you into a puddle of mush.” The black and white promotional imagery captures this tenderness perfectly – Mescal cradling O’Connor’s face, eyes closed, noses touching in a moment that radiates quiet passion.
For Mescal, THE HISTORY OF SOUND represents more than just another role; it’s a statement about the kind of actor he wants to be. Rather than chasing easy commercial success after GLADIATOR II‘s box office dominance, he’s chosen a project that demands emotional honesty and artistic courage. The film refuses to treat its queer narrative as a tragedy of repression, instead positioning itself as “the story of a man’s life, expressed through the power of sound – as memory, as emotion.” It’s precisely this nuanced approach that has made Mescal one of the most compelling actors of his generation.
Whether THE HISTORY OF SOUND becomes Mescal’s crowning achievement or a noble artistic experiment remains to be seen. What’s certain is that this haunting meditation on love, loss, and the songs that bind us together will require tissues and an open heart. In an era of franchise filmmaking and algorithm-driven content, Mescal continues to choose projects that prioritize human connection over commercial calculation. That alone makes THE HISTORY OF SOUND worth celebrating, regardless of critical consensus.
Taylor Swift just dropped the OPALITE music video and it`s giving major Irish vibes ☘️✨
The nearly 6-minute visual sees Domhnall Gleeson starring as Taylor`s love interest, playing two lonely souls who find each other. But here`s where it gets even better: eagle-eyed Swifties spotted cameos from Cillian Murphy and Graham Norton, making this a full-on Irish affair.
Want the full breakdown of this transatlantic collaboration? Head to our blog for all the details on how this stunning video came together. Link in bio! 🔗
The creator of DERRY GIRLS just dropped a murder mystery set at an Irish wake, and honestly? It`s the genre mashup we didn`t know we needed 🕵️♀️
Lisa McGee is back with HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST on Netflix, and if you loved how she found humor in the Troubles (Protestants! Toasters! Cupboards!), you`re going to eat this up.
Three friends reunite for their childhood bestie`s funeral, only to realize her death isn`t what it seems. Cue an eerie adventure across Ireland that`s equal parts creepy and hilarious.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
British Vogue just put Jessie Buckley on their February cover and it`s not just a magazine shoot—it`s a coronation.
Shot by Jack Davison on the windswept Norfolk coast near her home, these images are pure cinema. Sky, sea, and a woman at the exact moment her entire life is about to change.
She`s the frontrunner for Best Actress. HAMNET is destroying audiences. She`s a new mother standing at the edge of the kind of fame that alters everything.
And Vogue captured it all—the grit, the greatness, the quiet mastery that got her here.
More Jessie at irishfilmtv.com.
Caitriona Balfe has just landed her next major role in THE HOUSEKEEPER.
Set in a grand historic manor against Cornwall`s dramatic landscape, Balfe plays Danni, a housekeeper who falls into a forbidden affair with none other than writer Daphne du Maurier (played by Mackenzi Laird).
While we`re counting down to OUTLANDER`s final season premiere on Mar 6th, Balfe is already proving she`s so much more than Claire Fraser. 🔥
More Caitriona at irishfilmtv.com.
After over 20 years of mesmerizing us on screen, Saoirse Ronan is ready to call the shots—literally.
The four-time Oscar nominee is making her directorial debut with PAPER PLANE, an Irish short film she`s also writing, and honestly, this feels like the natural next chapter for someone who`s been acting since she was nine years old.
Details about PAPER PLANE are still under wraps, but with Ronan`s track record, expectations are sky-high. What are you most excited to see from her behind the camera? 🎬
More Saoirse at irishfilmtv.com.
Louis Paxton`s Sundance 2026 debut THE INCOMER stars Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, and Grant O`Rourke in a trio that`s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.
Think fish-out-of-water meets generational grief, wrapped in the warmth of fireside hot chocolate. Sometimes the scariest thing isn`t a legendary Fin Man—it`s letting go of the past.
Have you ever held onto something because changing felt like betrayal?
More Domhnall at irishfilmtv.com.
🎸 THE BEATLES ARE COMING BACK TO CINEMAS.
Four films. Four perspectives. One legendary band.
Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney. Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.
The first look just dropped via postcards hidden around Liverpool`s performing arts campus and honestly?
The hype is REAL. 🔥
Sam Mendes is directing all four films, each told from a different Beatle`s POV, and they`re ALL releasing on the same day—April 7, 2028.
Which Beatle`s story are you most excited to see? 👇
Irish talent is absolutely dominating the 2026 BAFTA nominations! 🇮🇪✨
Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal both scored major noms for HAMNET, with Buckley up for Leading Actress as Agnes and Mescal recognized for Supporting Actor as William Shakespeare. The film has basically swept the nominations, breaking records left and right.
But that`s just the beginning. Andrew Scott landed on the longlist for BLUE MOON, Robbie Ryan got recognized for his stunning cinematography on BUGONIA, and even Cillian Murphy appears as a producer on the STEVE longlist.
From performers to cinematographers to production companies like Element Pictures and Wild Atlantic Pictures, Irish voices are everywhere in this year`s race.
The ceremony hits London on February 22nd. The world is watching Irish cinema right now, and what a moment to witness. 🎬🔥
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Aidan Turner is about to prove the pen is mightier than the sword 🗡️
Fresh from his scene-stealing turn as Declan O`Hara in RIVALS, Turner takes on one of literature`s most dangerously charismatic figures: the Vicomte de Valmont in DANGEROUS LIAISONS.
Mar 21 to Jun 6 at @nationaltheatre - more at irishfilmtv.com.
