James McAvoy Based His 'Toxic Masculinity' Role in 'Speak No Evil' on Andrew Tate

While there’s no shortage of toxic masculinity in today’s world, James McAvoy designed his latest role around a very specific persona.

THE Don’t say anything bad The star has revealed that his sinister patriarch character Paddy, from Universal’s upcoming James Watkins remake of the 2022 Danish thriller, which hits theaters on September 13, was inspired by Andrew Tate.

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“What I thought I could exploit in the character is that he thinks he’s a bit of the Andrew Tate of the West Country,” he explained to Empire.

“He says, ‘I’m going to teach you how to be a man again.’ But he has a kind of polite face that’s not quite Andrew Tate’s, polite enough to say, ‘I’m not one of those guys,’” McAvoy added. “(Paddy) challenges 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.’”

The 2022 satirical thriller, directed by Christian Tafdrup, follows a Danish family on vacation in Tuscany, where they quickly form a bond with a Dutch family. Months later, they accept an invitation to visit their new friends in the Netherlands, but the stay quickly becomes uncomfortable.

James McAvoy in Don’t say anything bad

Watkins’ remake stars Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy (reunited a decade later) Stop and catch fire (premiering on AMC) as an American couple who spend a terrifying weekend with their daughter (Alix West Lefler) at the idyllic country estate of a British family, played by McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi and Dan Hough.

“I wanted something a little bit agricultural,” McAvoy explains. “I had two big visual references. One was the Australian term ‘bogan,’ which can be associated with a certain level of toxic masculinity. And the other was the character Rooster in Jerusalemplayed brilliantly by Mark Rylance.”

Although he had to bulk up to be physically intimidating in the role, McAvoy added a slightly softer demeanor to the performance.

“Even though he’s very masculine and he talks shit, he’s just a little bit softer,” McAvoy said. “Almost a Ray Winstone in Sexy beast vibe: “I don’t mind if my belly sticks out, because that’s how comfortable I am as a man.”

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