Mercury Studios & Interscope Films Team for Yungblud Short Film

Universal Music Group’s Mercury Studios and Interscope Films are set to produce Mars, a short film created by musician Yungblud.

Inspired by Yungblud’s song “Mars,” written about a fan, the film is a story of teenage self-discovery. Playwright Chris Bush (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Faustus: That Damned Woman) collaborated with Yungblud for the script, and Abel Rubinstein (Dungarees, Fuck the Boxes) is set to direct.

Producers are Yungblud, Cat Marshall and Stefan Demetriou. Production is due to begin later this year in Northern England, with a commitment to on- and off-screen talent from the trans, non-binary and LGBTQ+ community. Mars is set to debut in spring 2022.

“This story is an uncensored, unfiltered portrayal of youth,” said Yungblud. “It revels in the fragile beauty of it, flirts with the pain of it and most importantly, the undeniable, glimmering hope of it. It presents a generational shift toward acceptance of one’s self and others and ever-growing confidence in our own insecurities.”

He continued, “I cannot wait to make my first film. This whole journey started with an encounter. Then it became a song, now it’s becoming a movie. All my art is about and forever will be about making people feel like they can be undeniably themselves, whoever they are, and with this project, we’re turning that message up to 11.”

“Mercury Studios is a place for artists to experiment and express themselves—pushing boundaries and telling new stories,” said Alice Webb, CEO of Mercury Studios. “That’s why I’m immensely proud we’re doing this project with Yungblud. His creativity and empathy is the driving force behind Mars. By bringing this important story to the screen, he is giving a voice to young adults everywhere who are wrestling with the pressures of being themselves in a world that too often tries to define that for us.”

“Mars is a story where the mundane and the magical sit side by side,” added Bush. “It’s Space Age escapism shot through with Northern grit. More than anything, I hope it’s honest. I’m hugely proud to be working with Yungblud and the fantastic creative team we’ve assembled. The queer kids are alright.”