Paul Mescal to film new Irish thriller God's Creatures in Donegal

Paul Mescal of Normal People fame has been cast in a new psychological thriller, slated to be filmed in Co. Donegal.

The actor, fresh from appeared in music videos by the Rolling Stones and Phoebe Bridgers last year, will star alongside British actress Emily Watson in God's Creatures.

The movie is set in a small Irish fishing village, about a mother that tells a lie for her son, which has severe consequences for their area. It will be distributed by A24, the team behind films such as Uncut Gems and Minari.

God's Creatures is directed by Anna Rose Holmer and Saela Davis, who worked together on the acclaimed 2015 drama The Fits. However, it will be the first film that they share co-directing credits.

Mescal was recently nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards for his performance as Connell Waldron in the aforementioned Normal People. The ceremony is due to be televised on the 16th and 17th of May.

Irish writer Shane Crowly wrote the screenplay, with the story written by Crowly and Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly.

In an interview with Hot Press this year, Phoebe Bridgers praised the BBC Three and Hulu adaption of the novel by Sally Rooney.

“I read Normal People and Conversations With Friends last year, and they destroyed me,” she said. “So I was not looking forward to watching the series, even though I knew I had to, because it was so sad. But they did a beautiful job, so I’m really glad I forced myself to do it.

Watson recently appeared in the HBO and Sky Atlantic mini-series Chernobyl. She was nominated for her work for Best Supporting Actress at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.