While there is no shortage of toxic masculinity in today’s world, James McAvoy has built his latest role around one person in particular.

The Speak no evil The star revealed that his character of sinister patriarch Paddy in James Watkins’ upcoming Universal remake of the 2022 Danish thriller, which hits theaters September 13, was inspired by Andrew Tate.

“I thought I could exploit the character because he thinks he’s a bit like the West Country Andrew Tate,” he explained to Rich.

“He’s like, ‘I’m going to show you what it’s like to be a man again.’ But there’s a kind of polite face that’s not quite Andrew Tate, but enough of the sheen of ‘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 holiday in Tuscany, where they quickly become friends with a Dutch family. Months later, they accept an invitation to visit their new friends in the Netherlands, but the stay quickly turns uncomfortable.

Watkins’ remake stars Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy (reuniting a decade after Stop and catch fire Premiere 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.

“They wanted something that was a little bit agricultural,” explained McAvoy. “I had two big visual references. The first was the Australian term ‘bogan’, which can be associated with a certain level of toxic masculinity. And the other was the character Rooster from Jerusalemso brilliantly played by Mark Rylance.”

Although he had to build muscle to appear physically intimidating in the role, McAvoy brought a slightly softer touch to his performance.

“Even though he’s all manly and throws his d— around, he’s just a little bit softer,” said McAvoy. “Almost a Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast Mood: “I don’t mind if my belly sticks out because that’s how comfortable I feel as a man when I go f******.”