Dylan O’Brien Used a ‘Gay Scale’ to Play Brothers in James Sweeney’s ‘Twinless’: He’d Say ‘You Were Too Straight on That’

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As a discerning artist, Dylan O’Brien admits to being quite selective about the projects he takes on. Over the past year alone, he has been involved in “Ponyboi,” “Saturday Night,” “Caddo Lake,” the Max comedy series “Fantasmas,” and James Sweeney’s “Twinless,” which will be screened at Sundance. He acknowledges that this statement might attract criticism, but he believes that if he were more inclined to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity, his career would have taken a different path.

Since starting his acting career over a decade ago, first as a heartthrob on MTV’s “Teen Wolf” and in the “Maze Runner” movies, the actor has consistently received acclaim for his adaptability; no two roles have been alike. As revealed by O’Brien, his current workload spans more than five years, which includes guest appearances (as himself) on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Other Two”, four additional films, and a short film titled “All Too Well,” directed by Taylor Swift.

His journey with projects began in 2019 following his read of “Twinless”. In this movie, where he was recognized by EbMaster as one of the 2025 Directors to Watch, Sweeney portrayed both Roman and Rocky, twin brothers. Roman develops a bond with another support group member (also played by Sweeney) after their character’s untimely demise. Despite the difficulty of playing two contrasting roles – one being straight, one being gay – Sweeney found the script written by himself to be incredibly compelling, inspiring him to take part in the project.

When reading something, it’s as if I can hear the author’s voice or I can’t, according to O’Brien. “From the moment I grabbed the script,” he continued, “I felt like Roman was within me. I knew this character. And then when I encountered Rocky, I had an immediate intuition for him as well.

He found it astonishing when he changed into the contemplative Roman character, similar to O’Brien, who was straight, that took him by surprise the most, as Sweeney recalls. “My new Roman accent,” he admits, “made me self-conscious right away because he mentioned it. However, that’s how I was dealing with the heavy impact of the sheltered life he had led until then, and the tragedy he faced — and that’s what emerged unexpectedly.” [James] reacted favorably to it, expressing his approval by saying, “I love it.

Simultaneously, to portray Rocky authentically but without stereotypes, O’Brien explains they used a “gay scale” on set. Sweeney, who is gay himself, would adjust this scale according to the scene. O’Brien often heard, “You were too straight in that scene,” and he found this approval liberating. A mark of a skilled director, according to him, is allowing actors the freedom to explore different directions.

To make Rocky feel real but not stereotypical, they used a “gay scale” on set. Sweeney, who’s gay, would change this scale based on the scene. Often, O’Brien was told he was too straight in some scenes, and this was okay with him because it gave him permission to act freely. A good director lets actors choose their own path.

In a similar vein to previous performances, both displays a focused quality that O’Brien links to his growing ability to recognize and thrive in supportive, imaginative settings. “This sense of centeredness,” he explains, “emanates from the filmmaker themselves, the production itself, and the trust you have in it.” He suggests that developing or acquiring the skill to discern whether one is working under competent direction can be beneficial.

Despite acknowledging that being in a music video makes him very uneasy, O’Brien hinted that among the reassuring hands belonged to Taylor Swift, who in 2021 asked him to play the male lead in “All Too Well,” her first directorial project. “Taylor had an intuitive sense to hire actors based on their past work and let them perform naturally,” he explained. “I appreciated the story she was trying to convey with that, and I felt I truly grasped my role in it, which was thrilling.

Speaking about his newfound freedom to choose, the actor mentions a possible collaboration with Sweeney (“James and I plan to team up again on something”), as well as the upcoming release of “Ponyboi” scheduled for June 27, 2025. This project initially premiered at Sundance in 2024. He expresses his gratitude for being able to select projects that resonate deeply with him and inspire him (“I’m grateful to be in a place where I can choose the projects I feel strongly attracted to and inspired by — and I have the ability to do so”).

Over the past year, the decisions I’ve made reflect what I’m passionate about,” O’Brien explains. “I don’t want you to think that I don’t associate with my roles in ‘Teen Wolf’ or the ‘Maze Runner’ films because they were instrumental in shaping me as an artist. However, they don’t encompass the entirety of who I am creatively.

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2025-01-22 20:53