Louis Theroux reveals he approached Andrew Tate for Inside the Manosphere Netflix documentary

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Louis Theroux is exploring the world of online male communities in his latest documentary, a full-length film for Netflix.

This new Netflix documentary follows a filmmaker as he journeys around the world, meeting people who create content within the most radical corners of the online ‘manosphere’.

In the US and Spain, Theroux encounters Harrison Sullivan (also known as HS Tikky Tokky), Myron Gaines, Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (Sneako), Justin Waller, and Ed Matthews, each offering their perspectives on traditional ideas about gender and values.

The documentary frequently references Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer who’s become well-known for his divisive views online. Though connected to some of the content creators featured, Tate himself doesn’t appear in the film, even though the filmmakers did try to include him.

I was at the Q&A after a showing of Inside the Manosphere, and Louis Theroux explained his approach to making documentaries. He said getting access is everything. He even joked that he feels like a vampire – he has to be invited into people’s worlds! He basically said if you can’t actually talk to the people you’re filming, you might as well just rely on old footage and research.

My role here is to connect with people and, as an interviewer and filmmaker, bring out perspectives they might not otherwise share.

While making the documentary, Theroux described a series of exchanges with Andrew Tate about a potential interview. He said they sent voice notes back and forth, with both of them seemingly trying to impress each other, but ultimately the discussions didn’t lead to anything.

He went on to say that he believed there were plenty of talented people in the world, and he was confident they’d find who they needed. However, he admitted it wasn’t a simple process.

The documentary showed that some people interviewed by Louis Theroux became hesitant and unsure whether to keep talking, a pattern director Adrian Choa also noticed.

Choa described filming the series as feeling like working ‘behind enemy lines.’ She explained that it felt like the crew was intentionally going in to create a negative story, despite being part of the mainstream media.

When Oli Roy and I were in Miami for two weeks, connecting with potential participants, we experienced a strange combination of resistance and a strong desire for people to share their stories and be understood.

He explained that many of these individuals had been removed from all major platforms, so they were eager to share their views and reach a wider audience. However, they likely didn’t anticipate their message being presented in the way it was in the film.

“I think many of them didn’t understand how they would be challenged in that way.”

I’m so excited about the new Louis Theroux documentary, Inside the Manosphere! You can add it to your watchlist right now on the TopMob app – it’s brilliant for getting daily TV recommendations and finding other great shows. I downloaded the app myself, and I highly recommend it!

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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2026-03-11 15:35