Dylan O’Brien is keeping quiet about whether he plays drums on Taylor Swift’s upcoming album, saying only that drumming on her 2022 track “Snow on the Beach” was “an all-time bucket-lister” as he promoted his new film Twinless this week. Asked about renewed studio rumors, the actor demurred but spoke warmly about the earlier session, which Swift has previously said happened spontaneously.
Interest in a possible reunion has intensified as Swift readies The Life of a Showgirl for October 3, with the project topping advance engagement metrics and rolling out multiple physical editions on her website. The album marks a brisk return to pop collaboration and has driven heavy pre-save activity ahead of release.
O’Brien’s link to Swift predates Midnights: he co-starred in her All Too Well short film, part of a creative relationship that has periodically crossed between music and screen. That crossover, he suggested, is rooted in a comfort level that made the studio drum cameo possible.
The actor’s latest focus is Twinless, opening September 5 via Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate after winning Sundance’s U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and earning him a Special Jury Award for acting. Written and directed by James Sweeney, the dark comedy follows two men who meet in a bereavement group for twins and form a complicated bond; O’Brien plays dual roles alongside Sweeney, with Aisling Franciosi and Lauren Graham among the ensemble.
Following its Park City launch, the film’s campaign has emphasized O’Brien’s transformation and Sweeney’s tonal balance, with early critical notices highlighting the lead performance ahead of the U.S. theatrical rollout. The release caps a festival run that also drew attention to the movie’s Portland shoot and its mix of deadpan humor and aching intimacy.
