Paul Mescal And Andrew Scott “Were Really Into Each Other” Preparing For ‘All Of Us Strangers,” Says Director: “You Could Tell That They Really Liked Each Other”

To quote Erika Jayne, it sounds like filmmaker Andrew Haigh is about to give the gays everything they want with the upcoming release of his queer romance All of Us Strangers starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal.

The film follows Adam (Scott) as a lonely writer who falls for his mysterious neighbor, Harry (Mescal). The steamy relationship that ensues causes Adam to reexamine his past and visit his childhood home, where he encounters his deceased parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy), living as they had decades prior. 

In a post-screening conversation with Haigh at the American Film Institute, Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter asked the director to discuss the process of developing the chemistry between his leading men. 

“We went to a concert together in London,” Haigh shared. “And I could tell that they were really into each other because they completely ignored me for most of the day and they were just talking to each other and putting their arms around each other.”

The bond that developed between the pair was palpable, and Haigh shared that the two are still good friends now: “Andrew had a birthday recently and Paul was there,” he said.

Haigh seems to be referencing the same celebration in which a photo of Scott and Mescal went viral last week. The photo, which shows Scott and Mescal appearing to do shots at a gay bar, had fans going feral online.

But fans aren’t the only ones showing their enthusiasm. Critics are raving over Haigh’s fourth feature film, calling it a “haunting lullaby “ as well as “tender and heartbreaking.” Others have singled out Scott as “at the height of his talents” for his leading performance.

“I really think if you can get actors that want to work with each other, that care about working with each other, then there’s chemistry already there,” Haigh said in the AFI Fest Q&A. “Because they want it to be the best it can be.”

All of Us Strangers hits theaters Dec. 22.