Normal People star Paul Mescal says he is "a very excited boy" after news of his Hollywood film debut broke.
The Irishman is to star alongside Oscar winner Olivia Coleman and Fifty Shades star Dakota Johnson in Maggie Gyllenhaal's first foray into directing following his Emmy nomination for Normal People.
Mescal, who is from Maynooth, turned heads as Connell in the Irish-set drama adapted from Sally Rooney's novel of the same name.
An Emmy nomination followed along with roles in The Deceived, which was co-written by Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee, and The Rolling Stones music video for their song Scarlet.
Mescal shot to fame following his performance alongside English actress Daisy-Edgar Jones in Normal People - and the show is now set to return for a second series.
But he had extensive stage experience before his break-out part in The Great Gatsby at the Gate Theatre and Martin McDonaugh's The Lieutentant of Inishmore.
His feature film debut will be in The Lost Daughter.
He said:
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news saying: "The project will see The Favorite and The Crown actress Olivia Colman star as an elegant college professor on a seaside summer vacation who becomes consumed by Nina and her young daughter as she watches them on the beach, only to be overwhelmed by fearful memories of early motherhood. Forced to consider the unconventional choices she made as a young mother and the consequences they had for her family, she begins to unravel.
"Mescal joins a cast that also includes Jessie Buckley ( Wild Rose, Fargo ); Dakota Johnson ( The Peanut Butter Falcon, Bad Times at the El Royale ); and Peter Sarsgaard ( Jackie, Blue Jasmine )."
