Despite his on-screen career only spanning the last couple of years, it’s clear that Paul Mescal has a penchant for playing some pretty melancholy guys. From Normal People’s chain-wearing, guilt-ridden Connell to the depressive single dad he embodies in A24’s Aftersun, the Irish actor has more than proven his sadboi acting chops. Now he’ll bring those honed skills to a new movie called Strangers, from queer British director Andrew Haigh, alongside Fleabag star Andrew Scott. Rumour has it the pair will play lovers, exploring grief, existential questions and (presumably) new sexual horizons together.
The film is based on a 1987 novel of the same name by Taichi Yamada, a Japanese screenwriter and novelist. In the original story, the protagonist is a divorced, middle-aged scriptwriter who discovers his long-dead parents have returned as ghosts, but according to Variety, the script for the project will only be loosely based on this narrative.
So what is this movie going to be about? Who else is going to be in it? And for god’s sake, are we going to get to see some steamy gay sex? Here’s what we know so far.
What’s the plot of Strangers?
The film will focus on Adam (Andrew Scott) a screenwriter living in contemporary London. One fateful night in his near-empty apartment building, he has a chance encounter with Paul Mescal’s character, Harry. The pair grow close (wink wink), but Adam finds himself pulled back to his childhood home with the discovery that his parents — who died over 30 years ago — are alive, still in their youth, and living inside it.
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Who’s in the cast? And who’s behind the camera?
Alongside Andrew and Paul, Claire Foy and Jamie Bell are both slated to appear in the film as Adam’s long-lost mother and father.
When is the release date?
Strangers does not currently have a release window, and a production start has not yet been announced. Watch this space.