Speaking to The Guardian while promoting his new film The History of Sound and also doing press for Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, Mescal explained that he wants some distance from the intense pace of his career. “People will get a break from me and I’ll get a break from them,” he said.
Mescal, who earned an Oscar nomination for Aftersun and rose to fame with Normal People, said he feels grateful for his success but is learning his limits. “I’m five or six years into this now, and I feel very lucky. But I’m also learning that I don’t think I can go on doing it as much,” he said.
The 28-year-old actor noted that smaller, independent films can be especially demanding. Talking about Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound, Mescal said such projects “take more out of the well” than people might expect. In the film, Mescal stars alongside Josh O’Connor as two men who travel together in the 1920s recording folk songs.
He added that these quieter films suit him more than big studio productions. While working on Gladiator II, Mescal played a physically demanding lead role. For The History of Sound, however, he had to quickly lose weight, calling the process a “real headf**k.” Despite the challenge, he said the film felt like home and was where he felt most comfortable as an actor.
After awards season wraps up, Mescal’s next major project will be Sam Mendes’ untitled Beatles film, set for release in 2028, where he will play Paul McCartney. He is also attached to Richard Linklater’s long-term project Merrily We Roll Along, though that film may not be released for many years.
For now, Mescal seems content to slow down, focus on meaningful work, and give both himself and audiences a breather before his next big chapter.
Tags:
News
