The character of Mr. Reed frightened Scott Beck and Bryan Woods years before they knew he looked likeHugh Grant.
Nonetheless, the idea never left them, especially after Woods married into the Mormon religion.
It was fascinating to us that its one of the newer religions in American culture.
There was a turning point, Woods confides, which was my father passed away.
And for Scott that was also like losing a father, because weve known each other for so long.
And then you get all these anxieties of what happens when you die?
Which religion is ostensibly a medicine for this?
There is, indeed, a lot of talking inHeretic.
For East, it seemed natural if perhaps faintly ironic.
After all, shes never gone on a Mormon mission.
Instead she pursued acting, which led her to Steven SpielbergsThe FabelmansbeforeHeretic.
Nonetheless, she muses with a smirk thatHereticcounts as her first experience in proselytizing.
I was sending photos to all my friends with my nametag, East says about her Sister Paxton wardrobe.
I wanted the role so bad that I was really milking it, Thatcher laughs.
And I told that to the casting director, I told that to them.
So I was like, you have to cast me!
I unashamedly used it.
If you know, you know, says East.
She even sees her own childhood in the film.
Growing up, it was the only thing I really knew.
So it was very natural.
That hint of rebellion in Barnes is likewise what piques Mr. Reeds interest.
The script had been done, Beck says while recalling when Grant entered the picture.
They also needed someone who could seem utterly reasonable, even if what theyre saying is by design incendiary.
We realized we could have the best of both worlds, says Beck.
We could weaponize [both] in this role at once.
It was weapons-grade charisma, too, that Thatcher and East were working opposite from.
He felt like royalty to me, and I grew up with my mom really liking him.
So I think there was this feeling of otherworldliness to him.
Yet her point of reference was a little more modern and befittingHeretic.
So I was like hes perfect.
Still, watching him and collaborating with him are two different things.
Hugh is such a charming guy in real life.
To get to that turn, all three actors rehearsed relentlessly over countless hours with Beck and Woods.
What is on trial is becoming fundamentalist about any of the above.
The idea that I know what the one true religion is, and youre wrong.
Or conversely, I know that there is no religion and youre dumb for feeling the way you feel.
I love the movieJoe Dirtwith David Spade, Woods smirks.
Her co-star agrees, but notes how your perceptions of its answers change depending on your own background.
And they loved the movie and were so passionate about what ended up happening.
Its a bit like religion in that way.
Heretic is in theaters in the U.S. on Nov. 8 and in UK cinemas now.
