Normal People’s Paul Mescal insists season 2 ‘is not on the cards’ and lifts lid on Connell’s ‘unfinished’ romance
NORMAL People star Paul Mescal says he would relish the chance to return for season 2 – but claims it’s “not on the cards”.
Paul played Connell Waldron, the male lead in Rooney’s novel of young love, and the subsequent 12-part BBC adaptation by the same name which has been a lockdown smash hit.
The actor admitted the ending left many “unanswered” questions between his character and love interest Marianne Sheridan
But, with Rooney having never written a sequel or follow-up to her best-selling book, Paul said he wasn’t sure whether we’d see a series 2.
The 24-year-old Irishman told Wonderland Magazine: “Oh, there’s no question that character to me is still alive and breathing and very much has a lot of life left to live, and has a relationship with Marianne that is maybe unfinished.
“I do feel like the series that has finished is its own thing, and I’m totally comfortable with that.
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“It’s not on the cards at the moment, but if I got the opportunity to play him again, amazing.”
Normal People follows the turbulent relationship between working-class Connell and well-off Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) – which includes a total of 41 minutes of sex during the 12 episodes.
Paul admitted feeling perplexed by the fame he has gained since the series first aired, particularly as he’s spent it all at his London home during lockdown.
He said: “I feel the success of the show when I pick my phone up, but when I put my phone down, nothing has changed from before or after the release.”
His only real-life interaction with fans comes during his weekly shops, where he was embarrassed after being approached by star-struck viewers.
He said: “I went bright red and panicked a little.”
Paul is proud of portraying the messy love story and realistic sex scenes between Connell and Marianne.
He went on: “Sex. Mental health. Young people today.
“It was the opportunity to present something that you feel is documented in a way that feels realistic to you as a young person.
“And I wanted to do due justice, with the way [Marianne and Connell] were written we had a massive opportunity to put certain things right with how sex is portrayed on screen.”
The ending to both Rooney’s book and the TV adaptation sees Connell revealing plans to study in New York and Marianne refusing to follow him – upsetting some fans who wanted a happy ending.
But Paul added: “I thought it was just the most beautifully sad ending to a story.
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“Totally, the romantic in me is like why doesn’t she just tell him to stay?
“Or why doesn’t she come over to New York?
“But it doesn’t make sense in the reality of those two characters’ lives.
“I think ultimately if they did decide to stay together at that moment, it would be way more disappointing than the reality of the ending.”
Normal People is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.