‘The History of Sound’, Gay Drama Starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, Has Wrapped Filming

A short story by Ben Shattuck, an American writer and artist, is making its way to the big screen. Called “The History of Sound,” it first appeared in a collection of the same name. The story follows two men who fall in love during World War I. Good news for fans: filming for the movie adaptation has wrapped up, and it’s now in post-production.

The film comes from South African director Oliver Hermanus. He’s known for movies about LGBTQ+ themes, like Shirley Adams, Beauty, The Endless River, Moffie, and Living. Hermanus started working on this project during the COVID-19 pandemic. He teamed up with Shattuck, who co-wrote the script, shaping the story from a distance.

The original story’s plot, as described by its publishers, goes like this: “The haunting title story recalls the journey of two men who meet around a piano in a smoky, dim bar, only to spend a summer walking the Maine woods collecting folk songs in the shadow of the First World War, forever marked by the odyssey. Decades later, in another story, a woman discovers the wax cylinders recorded that fateful summer while cleaning out her new house in Maine. Shattuck’s inventive, exquisite stories transport readers from 1700s Nantucket to the contemporary woods of New Hampshire and beyond—into landscapes both enduring and unmistakably modern. Memories, artifacts, paintings, and journals resurface in surprising and poignant ways among evocative beaches, forests, and orchards, revealing the secrets, misunderstandings, and love that linger across centuries.”

The road to filming wasn’t smooth. The adaptation got the green light in 2021. Paul Mescal, an Oscar nominee known for Normal People and Aftersun, signed on to play Lionel. Josh O’Connor, a rising star from The Crown and The Challengers, joined as David. Filming was planned for 2022, but delays hit due to the actors’ busy schedules. Casting for other roles started in early 2023, though no names have been shared yet.

By January 2024, reports said filming would start soon. Hermanus later confirmed it kicked off on February 28. Now, months later, the cameras have stopped rolling, and the team is editing the movie. Details like the supporting cast, runtime, and release date are still under wraps. A debut in late 2024 or 2025 seems possible, but nothing’s confirmed.

More updates will come as the project moves forward. Keep checking back for the latest on this film and others!