End Cue announces that Emmy Award winner Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”) and BAFTA winner Paul Mescal (“Normal People”) are uniting to star in new feature film, The History of Sound. Award-winning director Oliver Hermanus (Beauty, Moffie) will direct the universal love story adapted by Ben Shattuck from his Pushcart Prize-winning short story of the same name. The film is being produced by End Cue’s Andrew Kortschak (Cop Car, The Art of Self-Defense) and Lisa Ciuffetti (The Clovehitch Killer, The Art of Self-Defense)alongside Andrea Roa (It Comes at Night). CAA Media Finance will handle sales in the US and Embankment will introduce it to international buyers ahead of the American Film Market in November. Film4 are co-financing production. Principal photography will commence in Summer 2022, predominantly in the US and on location in the UK and Italy.

The History of Sound follows two young men, Lionel (Mescal) and David (O’Connor), who, during the WW1 period, set out to record the lives, voices and music of their countrymen. In this snatched, short-lived moment in their young lives, and while discovering the epic sweep of the USA, both men are deeply changed. 

End Cue’s Andrew Kortschak said: “Working with Oliver, Ben, Paul and Josh is an immense privilege. We are all struck by Ben’s beautiful and resonant short story, exploring love, loss and memory. We are beyond excited to adapt this story for the screen with this incredible team.”

Embankment’s Tim Haslam says: “Ben Shattuck beautifully combines the epic and intimate minutiae of ‘life’, capturing the freedom and truth of human instinct and its conflict with expectation. The History of Sound gives us so much to experience and take home.”

Hermanus adds: “I instantly fell in love with Ben Shattuck’s flawlessly beautiful short story and knew I had to be involved in its journey to the screen. Paul and Josh are two of the most promising actors of their generation who will share with us deeply soulful performances. This is an unexpected love story that needs to be told – it is a journey through the life of America, across the 20th century and the traditions of American folk music, all seen through the bond between two men immersed in the history of sound. This undeniably powerful story will certainly resonate with audiences the world over.”