Hugh Grant Inserted His Jar Jar Binks Impression intoHereticRole Just Because He 'Thought It Would Be Fun'

Mar. 15, 2025

From L: Hugh Grant inHeretic(2024); Jar Jar Binks inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace(1999).Photo:A24; Lucasfilm/Kobal/Shutterstock

A24; Lucasfilm/Kobal/Shutterstock

Hugh Grantput his limitedStar Warsknowledge to use inHeretic.

As for whether the moment was scripted, Grant told theAssociated Pressin an interview published Monday, Nov. 4, “It’s hard to remember which was the writers, which was me. But I’m pretty sure doing the Jar Jar Binks impersonation was my idea.”

He didn’t even realize he had the impression inside him, explaining, “I just thought it would be fun if the character did that because it’d be just weird.”

“And, in fact, what’s odd about me is that I’ve never seen aStar Warsfilm,” Grant admitted.

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Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East inHeretic(2024).A24/YouTube

A24/YouTube

Mr. Reed, Grant’s character inHeretic, appears to be harmless at first, welcoming two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into his home. But as Sisters Barnes and Paxton (Sophie Thatcherand Chloe East) attempt to convert him to their religion, they become enmeshed in a psychologically twisted test of faith.

The new movie comes from Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the filmmakers who cowrote and created the concept forJohn Krasinski’s originalA Quiet Placemovie. Beck and Woods, both 40, last collaborated as writers and directors on 2023’s65, starringAdam Driver.

Hugh Grant on Oct. 24, 2024.Tommaso Boddi/Getty

Tommaso Boddi/Getty

Grant told the AP he hasn’t seen many horror films himself, as “they’re too frightening for me” — especially considering he “watchedThe Exorcistwhen I was too young and I’ve been in counseling ever since.”

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Grant chatted with PEOPLE aboutHereticlast month at the film’s AFI Fest premiere, calling his villainous character a “damaged, bad guy.”

“Good guys are difficult,” theFour Weddings and a Funeralactor said at the time. “They’re difficult to keep from being boring. I think almost any actor prefers being the damaged, bad guy. It’s much more interesting.”

He also added ofpreparing to play Mr. Reed, “There was a lot of research into cult leaders, religion and particularly religious iconoclasts and atheists."

“And into serial killers, and particularly what made them the way they are — and the weird fact that frequently, after all the terrible things they did, they still had devoted followers or lovers,” Grant said.

Hereticis in theaters Nov. 8.

source: people.com