Searchlight Pictures
Searchlight Pictures

All of Us Strangers director Andrew Haigh has opened up about Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal’s strong chemistry. 

On 26 January 2024, the highly anticipated fantasy drama, written and directed by acclaimed creative Andrew Haigh, will finally hit cinemas in the UK.

Based on the novel Strangers by Japanese novelist Taichi Yamada, the film follows screenwriter Adam (Scott) as his monotonous everyday life is forever changed following a chance encounter with his mysterious neighbour Harry (Mescal), 

The official synopsis reads: “As a relationship develops between them, Adam is preoccupied with memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and the childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before.” 

Over the last few months, All of Us Strangers has received universal acclaim at various film festivals for its moving story, incredible acting performances and Haigh’s directing.

In addition to the aforementioned praises, the film has also garnered attention for the electric chemistry between Mescal and Scott. 

While some actors work hard to create solid on-screen connections, the Normal People star and Fleabag actor’s connection was effortless, according to Haigh.

“We basically went to a concert together in London, and I could tell that they were really into each other because they completely ignored me most of the day,” he explained during a Q&A event at the American Film Institute.

“They were just talking to each other, putting their arms around each other, and you could tell that they really liked each other.” 

The Weekend director went on to joke about their close connection and being left out of Scott’s birthday, stating: “They’re still really good friends now. You know Andrew had a birthday recently, and Paul was there – I did not get invited.” 

Towards the end of his statement, Haigh praised the two actors for their professionalism and dedication to their roles. 

“If you can get actors that want to work together, that care about working with each other, there’s chemistry already there because they wanted to be the best it could be,” he added.

This isn’t the first time Haigh has opened up about Mescal and Scott’s dynamic connection.

In an August interview with Vanity Fair, he revealed that there was “chemistry” between the two talents “the second” he saw them together before teasing the pair’s creative process for the film’s intimate scenes.

“Both of them were pretty fearless. There was no sense of them being afraid of approaching those scenes. They knew how important they were,” Haigh explained. 

All of Us Strangers is scheduled for release on 22 December in the US and 26 January in the UK.

Check out the full trailer for the film here or below.