Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty; Rocco Spaziani/Archivio Spaziani/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor developed a fun atmosphere — even becoming obsessed with Jolly Ranchers — on the set of their new movie,The History of Sound "I felt very lucky that myself and Josh knew each other well enough to begin with, but we had a canvas to keep painting on during the filming process," Mescal said of his costar The History of Soundtells the story of gay men who meet in 1917 while studying music and travel the world together Despite the heavy subject matter of their new film,The History of Sound,Paul MescalandJosh O'Connorcreated a fun atmosphere on set that included lots of jokes and candy. Speaking during apress conferenceat the 2025 Cannes Film Festival,theNormal Peoplestar, 29, opened up about how well he and theChallengersactor, 35, got along on the set of their gay romantic drama. "I felt very lucky that myself and Josh knew each other well enough to begin with but we had a canvas to keep painting on during the filming process," Mescal said. According to the Irish actor, the pair became obsessed with Jolly Ranchers and would eat eight of them per day. Overall, he said, the set's atmosphere was "very light and boyish and nonsensical at times." Fair Winter LLC Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Josh has a great gift," Mescal added of his costar, who was not present at the panel because he's currently filming Steven Spielberg's next movie, perVariety. "The person who the general public sees is very similar to the one that we know and I think that's very difficult for an actor in today's age to do." "We've known each other for about five years and we were definitely friendly so that foundation of safety and play was there, but that relationship really deepened in the three or four weeks we were filming," Mescal said, adding that O'Connor is "one of the easiest persons" to build chemistry with in a film. According toCannes' official website,The History of Soundfollows Lionel (Mescal), a talented singer from rural Kentucky who leaves his family farm to attend the Boston Music Conservatory in 1917. The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "There he meets David (O'Connor), a charming music composing student who is soon drafted into the end of the war. In 1920, the two spend a winter walking through the forests and islands of Maine, collecting folk songs in order to preserve them for future generations," the synopsis says. "Lionel drifts through Europe in his twenties and thirties, building a new life of profound success and happiness, and experiencing new loves. Yet he is constantly drawn back to memories of his brief time with David, trying to understand the impact of their relationship," the description continues, adding that "eventually, a reminder of their work together reveals why their connection rang loud." Elsewhere in his conversation about the movie at the French film festival, Mescal said thatThe History of Soundproves that the industry is moving away from requiring actors to take on "alpha male" roles. "It's ever-shifting," he said. "I think maybe in cinema we're moving away from the traditional, alpha, leading male characters. I don't think the film is defining or attempting to redefine masculinity, I think it is being very subjective to the relationship between Lionel and David." Read the original article onPeople
