Speak No Evil director reveals surprising role that inspired “world-class” James McAvoy casting

Speak No Evil director reveals surprising role that inspired “world-class” James McAvoy casting

As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the silver screen world, I must say that Speak No Evil is a chilling masterpiece that should not be missed. James McAvoy delivers an exceptional performance as Paddy, a character that is as captivating as he is sinister.


Today, the remake of the 2022 Danish thriller “Speak No Evil” hits theaters, starring James McAvoy in the chilling role of Paddy.

The award-winning actor is performing exceptionally well, causing discomfort for the American duo, Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise (Mackenzie Davis), through progressively disturbing methods.

Fans of horror movies might think that James McAvoy’s chilling portrayal as the lead character in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, a man grappling with multiple personalities (some of them aggressive), was the reason he got this role. It makes sense, considering both performances encompass a range from appealing to completely unstable.

However, as stated by director James Watkins, it was an entirely distinct role that initially drew the attention of the film’s creators towards him.

Speak No Evil director reveals surprising role that inspired “world-class” James McAvoy casting

“People talk a lot about Split, but for me, it wasn’t Split,” he explained.

I watched the adaptation of Filth, and the character was truly detestable. Yet, James managed to elicit sympathy and even empathy from me, making me stay engaged despite his reprehensible actions. I found this balance between dislike and compassion quite remarkable.

This exceptional performance left the filmmaker with no other option than to cast him as Watkins’s character. The filmmaker then praised his outstanding skill and ability.

For quite some time, I’ve held James in high regard as a talented actor, and I’ve always hoped to collaborate with him. Working together turned out to be a fantastic experience.

In my search for the right actor to play Paddy, he was the initial and sole individual I approached. He agreed, and subsequently, we engaged in a lengthy discussion about the play’s themes, our intentions, and topics like toxic masculinity among other things.

It was fantastic! Working alongside someone so talented really energizes everyone else. He’s truly top-notch and world-class.

Collaborating with McAvoy served as a compelling reason for remaking Christian Tafdrup’s initial movie so swiftly following its premiere, as Watkins aimed to introduce a distinctively lighter mood compared to the previous, gloomier version.

Christian’s movie carried an impressively somber tone – a somber tone done exceptionally well. On the other hand, I believe my movie offers a more humorous approach.

“I’ve sat with audiences, and they really enjoy the humour of it. And that’s deliberate. 

I aimed to make it humorous as there seemed to be a bit of awkward cultural difference between the American heroes and British villains. It felt somewhat uncertain, like, ‘is this amusing?’ or ‘should I be chuckling?’ I believe this ambiguity adds to the enjoyment.

Speak No Evil is now showing in cinemas.

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2024-09-12 23:33