Jack O’Connell and Odessa A’zion Star in ‘The End of the World as We Know It’

Some of the most captivating films begin with a premise that feels like a challenge. The story of two lonely individuals embarking on a quest to validate a belief that the majority dismiss as false is precisely that kind of concept, and it has just secured two of the most sought-after actors in the industry.

Jack O’Connell and Odessa A’zion will portray flat-earthers in a new romantic adventure directed by the Oscar-winning duo behind the short film ‘An Irish Goodbye.’ This project signifies a significant transition for these filmmakers as they make their feature film debut.

The casting news was first revealed by Variety as an exclusive on October 5, and the announcement generated nearly 250,000 views on DiscussingFilm. The film is titled ‘The End of the World as We Know It,’ and it follows two loners who cross paths on an epic journey to prove that the earth is flat.

Tom Berkeley and Ross White, who won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short for ‘An Irish Goodbye,’ will write and direct this feature. Their previous film, which also earned a BAFTA and an IFTA Award, depicted the reunion of two estranged brothers in rural Northern Ireland after their mother’s passing.

The film is being produced by Studiocanal, Working Title, Parkville Pictures, and Film4. Studiocanal has fully financed the project and is managing worldwide sales, with theatrical releases planned in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Benelux, Australia, and New Zealand.

In a statement shared with Variety, Berkeley and White described the film as “a story we discovered hiding in the strangest of places.” They emphasized that it addresses a collective quest for meaning, belonging, and love in an increasingly fragmented world.

O’Connell is a BAFTA winner, while A’zion received a BAFTA nomination for ‘Marty Supreme.’ They will portray star-crossed loners whose lives intersect on their pilgrimage, with Studiocanal describing the film as an “unlikely adventure in truth and love.”

The pairing of O’Connell and A’zion is particularly intriguing. In the images shared by DiscussingFilm, O’Connell is seen in a dark suit and tie, while A’zion sports dark curls, a nose ring, and a skull-print sweatshirt, a fitting contrast for two mismatched travelers.

As of now, no additional casting details have been released. The Playlist noted that a release date has yet to be established, although it referred to the project as one of the more fascinating romantic oddities on the horizon.

For A’zion, this marks yet another high-profile role. She gained recognition in ‘Marty Supreme,’ where she played Rachel Mizler alongside Timothée Chalamet, and the A24 film garnered nine Oscar nominations, according to CinemaBlend.

She also stars in the HBO series ‘I Love LA’ as Tallulah Stiel, an influencer relocating from New York to Los Angeles. Variety reports that she will next appear alongside Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulson, Dianne Wiest, and Toby Wallace in Cody Fern’s directorial debut ‘Mother Courage,’ as well as in an upcoming film from Justine Triet.

Her rising career momentum is part of what makes this casting noteworthy. Earlier this year, TheWrap referred to her as Hollywood’s newest “It Girl.”

Production is scheduled to commence in Canada in November, meaning filming will begin shortly. Studiocanal and Working Title are coming off the recent global release of ‘Pressure,’ which Variety notes as the latest project in their long-standing collaboration.

While the flat-earth premise could easily veer into comedic territory, the filmmakers’ own description suggests they are aiming for a warmer narrative. Given their background in crafting a bittersweet short about grief and brotherhood, that tone seems plausible.

With two charismatic leads and a premise that is hard to overlook, ‘The End of the World as We Know It’ is already generating buzz. Whether it will manifest as a comedy, a romance, or something more unconventional will depend on how Berkeley and White navigate their transition to feature films.

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