Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal Star in the Gay Romance History of Sound

Rising stars Josh O'Connor (The Crown) and Paul Mescal (Normal People) are set to play lovers in the upcoming gay romantic drama History of Sound.

Set during WWI, this period piece will focus on Lionel (Mescal) and David (O'Connor), both of whom are setting 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 U.S., both men are deeply changed," reads the official description, which sounds, well, pretty hot.

The film is based on the Pushcart Prize-winning story by American author Ben Shattuck (you can read it here online) and is being directed by Moffie's Oliver Hermanus, who was previously awarded the Queer Palm at Cannes 2011 for his film Beauty.

"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," Hermanus said in a statement to 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."

O'Conner first broke out onto the scene (and into our hearts) with his role as a gay Yorkshire sheep farmer in God's Own Country -- and more recently, he won a Golden Globe and Emmy for his role as Prince Charles in The Crown. Mescal's role in the hit Hulu mini-series Normal People earned him a BAFTA award and has made him one of the buzziest up-and-coming stars

Principal photography on History of Sound is set to begin in summer 2022 in the U.S., as well as on location in the U.K. and Italy.