The Crown actor and Emmy winner Josh O’Connor and BAFTA winner for Normal People Paul Mescal have been cast in gay romance The History of Sound, a World War I love story adapted from Ben Shattuck’s Pushcart Prize-winning short story.

South African film director Oliver Hermanus will direct The History of Sound, which Cop Car’s End Cue will produce. Hermanus has directed films such as Shirley Adams, Moffie, Beauty, and The Endless River.

The short story focuses on two young men, Lionel (Mescal) and David (O’Connor), who went out during World War I to capture their fellow Americans’ lives, voices, and music. Both men are profoundly altered at this snatched fleeting period in their young lives while realizing the majestic breadth of the United States.

“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,” said Hermanus in a statement shared by Variety. “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.”

Production is expected to begin in the US, UK, and Italy, summer 2022.