November 5th 2024.
Hugh Grant has been a hot topic of conversation since his performance as the sinister Mr. Reed in the new horror film Heretic. The filmmakers behind Heretic believe that Grant is the modern-day equivalent of Daniel Day-Lewis in terms of his talent and dedication to his role. Grant has been on a remarkable career journey, breaking out of the romantic lead stereotype and taking on unexpected characters.
In Heretic, Grant plays Mr. Reed, a seemingly pleasant and intellectual amateur scholar who is visited by Mormon missionaries. However, there is a dark and terrifying side to Mr. Reed that is revealed as the movie progresses. What makes this role even more interesting is that Grant incorporates his signature charm before completely turning it on its head. He is the driving force behind the film's psychological thriller elements, and the writers and directors, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, knew that it was a challenging role for any actor to take on.
During our interview via Zoom, Woods and Beck discuss the difficulties of Mr. Reed's character and their experiences working on the highly anticipated film. Despite the long press tour, the filmmakers are still passionate about their collaboration with 64-year-old Grant, who has been in the industry for decades. They explain that they were looking for the greatest actor of our time, and Grant's name immediately came to mind – the modern-day Daniel Day-Lewis.
Day-Lewis is known for his method acting and intense preparation for his roles, often immersing himself completely in the character. As the only performer to win three Best Actor Oscars, it was recently announced that he would be coming out of retirement for his son's directorial debut. The writers and directors of Heretic were drawn to Grant's versatility and range, especially after his performance as multiple characters in Cloud Atlas. They believe that he has proven himself as a character actor in the past decade, and his role in Heretic only solidifies that.
For Woods and Beck, Grant's ability to reinvent himself and take on seemingly impossible roles is nothing short of inspiring. They mention his recent performances in Paddington 2, A Very English Scandal, and Wonka, all of which have been major successes. Woods praises Grant's portrayal of Willy Wonka, calling it "ridiculous and impossible," but Grant manages to make it work. They also appreciate Grant's rebelliousness and biting edge, qualities that they saw in his real-life persona and his handling of the phone-hacking scandal.
The filmmakers also note Grant's curiosity and willingness to take on challenges, both as an actor and as a person. They describe the magic that happens when someone like Grant takes on a role, and they were excited to see what he would bring to Mr. Reed. In the end, they believe that Grant was the perfect fit for the role, bringing a unique and relevant energy to the character.
Hugh Grant has been the talk of the town since his sinister portrayal of Mr. Reed in the new horror flick, Heretic. According to the filmmakers, Grant is the modern-day equivalent of Daniel Day-Lewis in terms of his immense talent and the depth of his preparation for the role. Grant's career has been on a remarkable upward trajectory, with him taking on unexpected and diverse characters after being stereotyped as a charming romantic lead in the initial stages.
In Heretic, Grant plays the role of Mr. Reed, a seemingly pleasant and well-read amateur scholar who turns out to be a terrifying and menacing figure when Mormon missionaries, Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes, knock on his door. The character still retains some of Grant's trademark charm before taking a sharp and unexpected turn. He is the driving force behind the psychological thriller's intense mood and power, and writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods knew that casting any actor in this role would be a daunting task.
During our Zoom interview with Woods from the US, he reveals that Mr. Reed's character was a 10 out of 10 in difficulty, and both filmmakers were well aware of the challenges they were facing while casting for the role. Despite the long press tour, the duo remains enthusiastic and passionate while discussing Heretic, a movie that has been generating a lot of buzz and is one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
When it comes to Grant, their passion for talking about their experience of working with the 64-year-old Four Weddings and a Funeral star remains undimmed. They recall their quest for the perfect actor for the role and how they ended up casting Grant. According to Woods, they were not only looking at an actor's past work and personal attributes but also searching for the greatest actor of our time, the modern-day Daniel Day-Lewis, to be precise.
Sir Daniel Day-Lewis is renowned for his method approach to acting, which involves thorough preparation and sometimes complete immersion in the character. He is the only actor to have won three Best Actor Oscars and was recently seen in his son's debut feature film, marking his return to the screen after a gap of four years. In their search for an actor like Day-Lewis, the writer-directors compared Grant to the revered screen star, and he seemed like the perfect fit for the role of Mr. Reed.
Their first encounter with Grant's potential to go beyond his usual romantic roles was when they saw him play multiple characters, including a cannibal chief, in the Wachowski's 2012 movie, Cloud Atlas. They were impressed by his acting chops and felt that he had surpassed all his previous work in one go. His ongoing journey of reinvention in movies like Paddington 2, A Very English Scandal, and Wonka has been a huge inspiration for the filmmaker duo.
For Woods, Grant's portrayal of Wonka seemed impossible and ridiculous, but he went for it every time and made it work, which was truly inspiring. Similarly, playing Mr. Reed in Heretic was a challenging role, as it required superficial charm and a much darker heart, which Grant pulled off with ease. Beck also saw Grant's potential to break away from his romantic image in his real-life persona, especially during the phone-hacking scandal.
They admired Grant's rebelliousness and the biting edge he brings to his characters, which made him the perfect fit for Mr. Reed. The filmmakers also appreciated his curiosity and willingness to take on challenging roles, which adds a sense of unpredictability to his performances. This was the magic ingredient they were looking for, and Grant's involvement in the project was an alchemy they couldn't resist.
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