The directors behindHereticexplain why actor Hugh Grant was the perfect choice for his role.Hereticis 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.Hereticfeatures 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.
PerCollider, Beck and Woods explain whyGrant was the perfect choice for the villain role. In their interview, the directors note 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.” InHeretic, Woods and Beck reflect 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 sinceCloud 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 theHeretictrailers, 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 essentialto create this initial impression, only for said first appearance to be completely twisted.
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He may have begun his career as a ’90s heartthrob, but Hugh Grant is now best known for his performance as villains and antagonists in newer projects.
Based onHeretic’s early reviews, it seems like their casting efforts have paid off. At the time of writing, the film holds a93% score on Rotten Tomatoeswith over 100 critic reviews. Those who contributed to this Certified Fresh rating specifically called out Grant’s performance as one of the standout elements inHeretic.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
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 2well 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 movieGreen Room. From the early reviews, it sounds like the team has done it again withHeretic, though the audience perception might be the true determining factor.
Heretic
Cast
Heretic, released in 2024, follows two young missionaries who must navigate a perilous test of faith when they encounter the sinister Mr. Reed after knocking on the wrong door, leading to a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.
