The directors behind Heretic explain why actor Hugh Grant was the perfect choice for his role. Heretic is an upcoming A24 film about a duo of young missionary women who go door to door to try to recruit people into their religion. One man’s home seems particularly welcoming, only for the two young women to discover something far more sinister at play. Heretic features a leading cast including Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, Elle Young, and Julie Lynn Mortensen. It is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
As per Collider, Beck and Woods explain why Grant was the perfect choice for the villain role. In their interview, the directors noted that the actor “has built up so much goodwill with the audiences around the world over his romantic comedy movies.” While this creates a more carefree version of the actor, Grant has “also gotten into this darker side of his persona in the last 12 years since Cloud Atlas.” In Heretic, Woods and Beck hope that the actor can be a “mash of those two,” creating a unique performance. Check out the full quote from the directors below:
“That was kind of our attraction to Hugh Grant, first and foremost, when we thought of him for this role, is that he has built up so much goodwill with audiences around the world over his romantic comedy movies that we all love and grew up with, but he’s also gotten into this darker side of his persona in the last 12 years since
Cloud Atlas
. We love how the mash of those two — the charm, the wit, but the intellect and that darker edge — all coalesces into this world.”
What This Means For Heretic
The Early Reviews Praise Grant’s Performance
Based on the Heretic trailers, it makes sense why it would be important to have an actor who can manage both of these dynamics. Grant’s character, Mr. Reed, is supposed to have enough charisma to be able to lure the two young women into his home. He even creates enough (false) trustworthiness to convince them that there is a woman, his wife, in the home. Based on the directors’ description, casting an actor known for this charm was essential to create this initial impression, only for said first appearance to be completely twisted.
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Based on Heretic‘s early reviews, it seems like their casting efforts have paid off. At the time of writing, the film holds a 93% score with over 100 critics reviews. Those who contributed to this Certified Fresh rating specifically called out Grant’s performance as one of the stanout elements in Heretic. Screen Rant‘s own Mae Abdulbaki, for example, wrote that “Grant plays Mr. Reed with a combination of menacing niceties and genuine intrigue.” This quote alone is a good reflection of Woods and Beck’s vision for the role’s casting.
Our Take On The Heretic Casting
Hugh Grant Has Balanced Similar Character Traits
Beck and Woods are right; Grant’s more recent roles do show his propensity for playing a villain. Paddington 2 well displays this point, as Grant is tasked with playing a villain that is at once ostentatious and sinister. A24 movies have also historically transformed actors with interesting castings, including Patrick Stewart’s villainous role in the movie Green Room. From the early reviews, it sounds like the team has done it again with Heretic, though the audience perception might be the true determining factor.
Source: Collider
Two young women of faith are drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse after seeking refuge in the house of a mysterious and unsettling man. As they navigate a labyrinth of psychological and supernatural horrors, their beliefs and survival instincts are pushed to the limit.
- Director
- Scott Beck , Bryan Woods
- Release Date
- November 8, 2024
- Studio(s)
- A24
- Distributor(s)
- A24
- Writers
- Scott Beck , Bryan Woods
- Character(s)
- Mr. Reed , Sister Barnes , Sister Paxton , Elder Kennedy , Prophet
- Runtime
- 110 Minutes