Normal People’s Paul Mescal has admitted that he’s ‘dying’ to get back to work after the coronavirus lockdown has halted filming across the world.
The Irish heartthrob, 24, has also addressed rumours that he could become the next James Bond after soaring to fame as Connell in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel.
Paul spoke to Ray D’Arcy on his radio show ahead of the special Comic Relief episodes of Normal People, called Normal Older People. It will imagine Connell and Marianne, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, 40 years from now.
Exciting: Normal People’s Paul Mescal has admitted that he’s ‘dying’ to get back to work after the coronavirus lockdown has halted filming across the world
The Irish actor was joined by executive producer of the hit series, Lenny Abrahamson, with the two also discussing a potential second season.
Addressing James Bond rumours, Paul said: ‘Yeah, they’re great rumours to be associated with. But the truth is, I haven’t had anyone from the world of James Bond come near me!’
The actor added that he is ‘dying’ to get back to work, he joked: ‘It’s been a mental two to three months, we’re all dying to get back to work.
007? The Irish heartthrob, 24, has also addressed rumours that he could become the next James Bond after soaring to fame as Connell in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel (Daniel Craig pictured in 2012’s Skyfall)
‘No one really knows when things can go back into production, but there’s one thing hopefully in the pipeline which is starting to make shapes.’
To which Normal People executive producer Lenny interjected with: ‘Paul is very modest, everyone is dying to work with Paul and Daisy, that’s the truth. I’m like a proud parent!’
Despite lockdown preventing him from joining new projects, Paul admitted that it has been a great tool in helping him adjust to fame slowly and that the fans he has encountered have all been ‘sound’.
He said: ‘It’s been a nice adjustment period, we’re being drip fed back into society at a slow rate.’
Fame: Paul spoke to Ray D’Arcy on his radio show ahead of the special Comic Relief episodes of Normal People, called Normal Older People. It will imagine Connell and Marianne, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, 40 years from now (pictured in show still)
Paul also revealed that he can’t wait to reunite with the Normal People team to celebrate the success of the show.
He said: ‘We’re dying to have a pint together, the reaction has been so amazing and we haven’t got to celebrate together. Have a drink, let our hair down.’
Teasing a potential second series, Lenny said: ‘The way the book ends, it is open ended. We never had a plan to do a second series.
‘We have laughed and conjured up an idea of what it would be like to revisit the characters in five to ten years. But no plan right now.’
The series follows Irish students Connell and Marianne (Daisy) as they navigate social and class dynamics from school to university.
It comes after it was announced that Normal People will return for two specials after series one broke BBC iPlayer records.
The two specials will air on Friday June 26 on RTÉ Does Comic in Ireland, with Paul and Daisy reprising their roles, with British viewers able to watch live on RTÉ Player from 8pm.
The charity’s co-founder Richard Curtis thrilled fans when he confirmed the news, which will imagine the lead characters’ lives several decades into the future.
‘Great!’: Addressing James Bond rumours, Paul said: ‘Yeah, they’re great rumours to be associated with. But the truth is, I haven’t had anyone from the world of James Bond come near me!’ (show still pictured)
Speaking on RTE Radio 1’s Sunday with Miriam, he said: ‘There’s a beautiful piece called Normal Older People, which is imagining what would have happened to Marianne and Connell 40 years from now.
‘I promise you, these are two very special bits. It’s so much better than anything we’ve ever made.
‘I mean I can’t even say all about it because there’s a guest star in it. But it’s really, it’s really beautiful.
‘One of the things about Comic Relief is it just gives opportunities for things to happen that would never happen.
‘I can’t imagine any context in which they would have allowed this little sort of extra special into the world of Normal People.’
Watch RTÉ does Comic Relief tonight on RTÉ One. You can donate now on rte.ie/comicrelief and catch up on RTÉ Player.
Second series? Teasing a potential second series, director Lenny said: ‘The way the book ends, it is open ended. We never had a plan to do a second series. We have laughed and conjured up an idea of what it would be like to revisit the characters in five to ten years. But no plan right now.’ (show still pictured)