The cinematic pairing of Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley has already become a shorthand for raw, visceral chemistry. After their collaboration in the highly anticipated Hamnet, the two are set to reunite for a project that promises to be equally atmospheric and emotionally volatile: Hold on to Your Angels.
Directed and written by Benh Zeitlin, the film marks a significant return for the filmmaker, whose 2012 debut Beasts of the Southern Wild remains one of the most visually and emotionally daring independent films of the last two decades. According to reports from Variety and Deadline, the project is being launched as a package at the Cannes Marché du Film, positioning it as one of the most high-profile indie offerings of the season.
Set against the backdrop of the Louisiana bayou, Hold on to Your Angels is described as an “outlaw romance for the end of America.” The story follows a “hell-bound outlaw” played by Mescal and a “ferocious shepherd of lost souls” played by Buckley, two figures who fall into a “catastrophic love” as their crumbling paradise literally and figuratively drags them under.
A 17-Year Vision in the Making
For Benh Zeitlin, this film is not merely a new project, but the culmination of nearly two decades of creative obsession. In a statement, Zeitlin revealed that the story has been percolating in his mind since the production of Beasts of the Southern Wild 17 years ago. The catalyst for the narrative was Pam Harper, the actress who played Little Jo in Beasts, whom Zeitlin identifies as the “hero” who inspired the film’s core.
Zeitlin describes the work as a “love letter to an endangered way of life” and a “rallying cry for empathy across a fractured planet.” This thematic focus on marginalized landscapes and the resilience of the human spirit is a hallmark of Zeitlin’s work, blending a gritty, intense realism with elements of myth and magic.
The project marks Zeitlin’s first feature film in six years, following 2020’s Wendy. The gap in his filmography underscores the deliberate pace at which he approaches his storytelling, suggesting that Hold on to Your Angels is a meticulously crafted piece of cinema rather than a rushed production.
The Ascent of Mescal and Buckley
The casting of Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley reflects the current state of prestige cinema, where both actors have emerged as the definitive voices of their generation. Mescal, who has transitioned from the indie heartbreak of Aftersun to major studio roles, is currently immersed in one of the most ambitious projects in music history: the four-part Beatles biopic series, where he portrays Paul McCartney.
Buckley is equally prolific, continuing a streak of daring choices. She is currently filming Alice Rohrwacher’s Three Incestuous Sisters alongside a powerhouse ensemble including Dakota Johnson, Josh O’Connor, Saoirse Ronan, and Isabella Rossellini. This follows her recent appearance in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride. Her ability to inhabit “ferocious” characters makes her a natural fit for Zeitlin’s vision of a shepherd of lost souls.
Their reunion suggests a creative shorthand that filmmakers are keen to exploit. In an industry often driven by star power, the Mescal-Buckley pairing represents a commitment to performance-driven, emotionally complex storytelling.
Production Muscle and the Cannes Market
The film arrives with significant industry backing. Brad Pitt’s Plan B is producing the film, alongside Alex Coco via his Rapt Film (fresh off the success of Anora). The involvement of Plan B provides the project with both the financial stability and the prestige necessary to attract top-tier talent and distribution.
In a statement, Plan B praised Zeitlin’s “cosmic sorcery,” noting that Hold on to Your Angels blends intense realism with an epic scale. Alex Coco echoed this sentiment, citing Zeitlin’s rare gift for revealing “profound beauty and humanity in parts of America that seldom find their way onto the silver screen.”
The business side of the production is currently in high gear. The film is being launched at the Cannes Marché du Film, which begins May 12. The Veterans are handling international sales rights, while CAA Media Finance manages domestic interests, signaling a strategic push to secure a wide global footprint before production fully ramps up.
| Year | Film | Key Theme/Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Beasts of the Southern Wild | Mythic survival in the Louisiana bayou |
| 2020 | Wendy | A modern, gritty reimagining of Peter Pan |
| TBD | Hold on to Your Angels | Outlaw romance and environmental decay |
What to Expect Next
As the Cannes market kicks off on May 12, the immediate focus will be on the film’s distribution deals. While the primary cast and creative team are locked, the final production timeline and official release window remain unknown. The industry will be watching to see which studio or streaming giant snaps up the rights to this “impossible love story.”
Given the trajectories of Mescal and Buckley, Hold on to Your Angels is likely to be a major contender during the next awards cycle, provided it maintains the visceral energy of Zeitlin’s previous work.
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