Star of hit series Normal People, Mescal was revealed alongside Mank star Tom Burke in the leading roles for the Irish thriller at this week’s European Film Market.
Set in the West of Ireland, Bring Them Down follows an Irish shepherd who is drawn into violent conflict with the owners of a neighbouring farm when his sheep are butchered by unknown men.
Burke also enjoyed a major breakout role in David Fincher’s Netflix Original Film Mank; an homage to 1930’s Hollywood, which saw the young English actor portray Orson Welles.
Produced by Ruth Treacy and Julianne Forde of Tailored Films (The Lodgers, Let The Wrong One In), Ivana MacKinnon of Wild Swim Films (Beast), Ilya Stewart, and Jacob Swan Hyam, Bring Them Down marks the directing debut of Christopher Andrews who also wrote the script.
Read our recent interview with Tailored Films’ Ruth Treacy about filming during Covid.
The film, which is expected to begin production in the third quarter of 2021, is supported by Screen Ireland, Charades, and Hype Film. Paris-based Charades will also handle sales and executive produce the film.
Mescal enjoyed an empathic 2020, which culminated in an Emmy nomination for his performance as Connell in Element Pictures’ adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People; directed by Oscar-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson. Having recently featured in Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee’s drama The Deceived, Mescal can next be seen in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directional debut The Lost Daughter and is also due to star as the lead in Benjamin Millepied’s Carmen.