Actors Discuss Projects, Careers, and Evolving Film Industry Dynamics

Multiple actors, including Paul Mescal, Josh O'Connor, Ethan Hawke, and Dylan O'Brien, have recently discussed their current and forthcoming projects, career management approaches, and observations on the evolving film industry. Their comments span details about specific roles, production challenges, and personal philosophies on acting, particularly concerning independent productions and studio dynamics.

Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor: Collaborations and Future Endeavors

Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor recently discussed their careers and upcoming film, The History of Sound, during an interview in London. The two actors, who have been acquainted since 2020, star together in the film, described as a wartime love story. Mescal portrays Lionel, a singer from the American South, and O'Connor plays David, a musicologist.

The narrative involves their reunion after David's service in the First World War and their subsequent expedition to record folk songs on wax cylinders in rural Maine. Both actors remained attached to the project for four years while funding was secured.

Mescal, who received an Oscar nomination in 2023 for Aftersun after his lead role in Normal People, transitioned to The History of Sound directly from filming the Gladiator sequel. This transition required him to adjust his weight from 90kg to 78kg over an eight-week period.

Mescal indicated a preference for making films of a similar scale to The History of Sound over larger productions.

O'Connor commented on the inherent vulnerability involved in his character's singing role and mentioned his past involvement in bands named Orange Output and Klang.

Looking ahead, Mescal is cast as Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes's quartet of Beatles movies, scheduled for a 2028 release. He is also involved in Richard Linklater's adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, a production anticipated to span two decades, with an estimated release around 2040.

O'Connor's upcoming projects include Wake Up, Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and The Mastermind. Both actors discussed the immersive nature of their work and the impact of characters.

Mescal indicated a potential shift in his career management, suggesting a reduction in acting frequency to preserve his passion and focus on personal priorities, expressing interest in theatre work. O'Connor also stated plans to take time away from acting. Mescal anticipates a period of reduced public visibility after promoting his film Hamnet, aiming to reappear publicly for the Beatles films in 2028.

Ethan Hawke: Independent Film Advocacy and Current Work

Ethan Hawke has been engaged in the campaign for his role in Blue Moon, which has garnered Golden Globe and Actor Awards nominations and could lead to his first Academy Award nomination in a lead role. Hawke considers Blue Moon a significant project that draws upon his three decades of acting experience. Set in 1943 New York, the film features Hawke portraying songwriter Lorenz Hart. Hawke noted previous regret over not campaigning more extensively for First Reformed (2017).

Blue Moon marks the latest collaboration between Hawke and director Richard Linklater, a partnership spanning over three decades and including multiple shared Oscar nominations for their screenplays in the Before series.

Hawke emphasized the necessity of supporting independent films like Blue Moon to ensure their continued production and cultural relevance, citing current industry challenges.

Hawke described his career progression as a conscious transition from a leading man to a character actor, aiming to integrate aspects of both, with roles like Training Day (2001) and Boyhood (2015) recontextualizing his career. He referenced his involvement in Hamlet (2000) as an artistic turning point.

Hawke balances his participation in commercial projects, such as Black Phone 2, with his work on independent films, advocating for smaller films within the broader industry. He mentioned an upcoming substantial project with Richard Linklater.

Hawke highlighted the financial difficulties faced by independent filmmakers, referencing challenges during the production of his film Tesla and the broader struggle for directors like John Sayles to secure funding. He expressed a preference for live theater, contrasting it with digital trends and discussions around artificial intelligence, while observing the enduring appeal of live events like the Taylor Swift Eras Tour and successful Broadway productions.

Hawke acknowledged the demanding nature of campaigning for a smaller film when competing with larger productions, articulating his role as an "ambassador for independent film."

Dylan O'Brien: Navigating Studio and Independent Projects

Dylan O'Brien discussed his experience filming Send Help in Thailand, where he costarred with Rachel McAdams under director Sam Raimi. Raimi initially told O'Brien he would need to eat a real beetle for a scene but later clarified it would be fake, to which O'Brien stated he would have eaten the beetle. Send Help marks Raimi's first original film in 17 years. O'Brien found the script, written by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, to be bold. He described his first meeting with Raimi, who greeted him with a paper bag on his head.

In Send Help, O'Brien plays Bradley Preston, a new CEO who inherits his father's company and plans to fire employee Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams). During a business trip to Thailand, their plane crashes, leaving them as the sole survivors. Linda, a "Survivor" enthusiast, takes the lead, with Bradley, who is injured and inexperienced, relying on her.

Raimi, introduced to O'Brien by casting director Nancy Nayor, praised O'Brien's versatility, noting his roles in Ponyboi and as Dan Aykroyd in Saturday Night. Raimi stated that O'Brien "made it his own," and McAdams added that O'Brien believed "the stronger the choices, the better the payoff."

O'Brien expressed concerns about his character's portrayal, aiming for a less "safe" and more "mean" depiction than studios might prefer.

Raimi confirmed that O'Brien "earned my trust and we ended up going with his direction — he was so right!"

O'Brien described playing Bradley as an "arrogant guy... blinkered by privilege," aiming for a portrayal that, while potentially "hateable," was grounded and made sense from the character's perspective. He felt supported by McAdams and Raimi during the demanding shoot. Send Help is scheduled for theatrical release on Friday.

O'Brien is nominated for best lead performance at the Spirit Awards for his role in Twinless, a film also nominated for best feature. He noted a contrast between the positive reviews for Twinless and its subsequent promotional challenges.

Twinless premiered at Sundance to positive reviews but faced distribution difficulties after explicit scenes were leaked online. O'Brien acknowledged the leak might have "diminished our film." Roadside Attractions acquired Twinless, but O'Brien expressed frustration over its marketing, stating,

"It’s hard to not look back and be like, ‘Wow, what would it have been like if it was really put out there?’"

Twinless is currently streaming on Hulu.

Industry Perspectives on Film Production

O'Brien described Send Help as a "unicorn of a job" and does not necessarily see it as a shift back to studio films generally, describing it as an "exception that proves the rule" following his previous avoidance of blockbusters post-Maze Runner. He noted his disaffection with modern blockbusters, stating,

"I’m one of those guys who looks back at movies from the ’90s and I’m just like, we had it better then," regarding the impact of CGI.

Send Help is described as showcasing Raimi’s style, including "twisted comedy, unhinged action and copious amounts of blood," and featuring "fiercely flawed protagonists." O'Brien questioned the industry's reluctance to feature dynamic, less traditionally likable leading characters in studio films, suggesting that Send Help was greenlit due to the involvement of Raimi and McAdams. McAdams characterized Send Help as "one of the most experimental films I’ve ever done," attributing this partly to O’Brien’s vision for his character.

O'Brien also discussed the challenges of not having an Instagram presence, stating that it might affect casting opportunities and awareness building for his projects. He emphasized the importance of studios backing smaller films, contrasting the marketing for Twinless with the significant promotional presence for Send Help. He expressed concern about the lack of marketing for independent films this year.

Both Hawke and O'Brien's comments highlight ongoing discussions within the industry regarding the balance between large-scale commercial productions and the challenges faced by independent cinema in terms of funding, marketing, and creative control.