Why Speak No Evil’s James McAvoy Didn’t Watch the Original Movie

James McAvoy is one of the stars of Speak No Evil, an upcoming horror remake of the 2022 Danish film. McAvoy surprisingly did not watch the original before signing on to the 2024 adaptation.

Why Did James McAvoy Not Watch the Original Speak No Evil Before the Remake?

In an interview with GamesRadar+, McAvoy is happy to have never seen the original. Had McAvoy watched the Danish film, he may not have starred in the American remake.

“I’d heard of the original, but I hadn’t seen the trailer, and I certainly hadn’t seen the film,” McAvoy said. “Which I’m glad about because I don’t know if I’d have taken the role if I had – [I] just don’t really want to be comparing myself to what somebody else [has] done. So I watched it the day after we finished.”

McAvoy stars as Paddy, a British man who, along with his wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), invites American couple Ben (Scoot McNairy) and Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis) to their house for a weekend getaway. “What begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare,” the official synopsis reads.

Alix West Lefler plays Ben and Louise’s daughter, Agnes, while Dan Hough stars as Paddy and Ciara’s son, Ant.

James Watkins writes and directs Speak No Evil, based on the Danish film by Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup. Jason Blum and Paul Ritchie are producers of the American remake.

Speak No Evil’s early reactions have been positive, with critics praising McAvoy’s performance while describing the film as “absolutely bonkers.”

Speak No Evil opens in theaters on September 13, 2024.