James McAvoy leaned into a particular person for inspiration in his new film, Speak No Evil.
In James Watkins’ remake, the actor plays Paddy, who McAvoy told the Empire Film Podcast he based on influencer Andrew Tate.
“The thing I thought I could exploit in the character was, he thinks he’s a bit of a…West Country Andrew Tate,” McAvoy told the show, per Deadline.
“He’s like, ‘I’m going to teach you what it’s like to be a man again.’ But there’s a sort of polite face on it that isn’t quite Andrew Tate, enough of a sheen of, ‘I’m not one of those guys,'” added McAvoy. “[Paddy’s] challenging you, ‘Do you have a big enough dick to have a drink with me?’, Or, ‘I’m sorry, this is too much for you because you’re not real enough.'”
For the Danish thriller reboot, Watkins also tapped stars Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy to play the American couple who visits the country estate of a British family (McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi, and Dan Hough) with their daughter (Alix West Lefler).
“Even though [Paddy] is all masculine and throwing his dick around, he’s just a bit softer,” McAvoy explained. “Almost a Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast vibe: ‘I don’t mind if my belly’s sticking out, because that’s how comfortable a man I fucking am.'”
Tate has admitted to being a misogynist and is open about his toxic masculinity tendencies. In late August, Romanian police once again raided Tate’s home following allegations he was involved in the trafficking of minors. In 2022, Tate and his brother were arrested and indicted for allegedly running an organized crime ring trafficking young women. The Tate brothers are currently prohibited from leaving Romania.
Speak No Evil premieres in theaters on Sept. 13.