Why Hugh Grant did his Jar Jar Binks impression in ‘Heretic’ scene

Hugh Grant set his limit Star Wars knowledge to use in Heretics.

At one point in his new A24 thriller Hereticsthe actor, 64, does an impression of Jar Jar Binks, the character made famous by Ahmed Best in the space opera franchise’s prequel trilogy beginning with 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

As for whether the moment was scripted, Grant shared Associated Press in an interview published Monday, Nov. 4: “It’s hard to remember who the writers were, who was me. But I’m pretty sure it was my idea to do the Jar Jar Binks impersonation.”

Not even realizing he had the impression inside him, he explained, “I just thought it would be funny if the character did it because it would just be weird.”

“And actually the strange thing about me is that I’ve never seen one Star Wars movie,” admitted Grant.

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Mr. Reed, Grant’s character in Hereticsseems harmless at first and welcomes two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into his home. But when sisters Barnes and Paxton (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) try to convert him to their religion, they become embroiled in a psychologically twisted test of faith.

The new film comes from Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the filmmakers who cowrote and conceptualized John Krasinski’s original A quiet place film. Beck and Woods, both 40, last collaborated as writers and directors on the 2023s 65starring Adam Driver.

Grant told the AP that he hasn’t seen many horror movies himself, as “they’re too scary for me” — especially given that he “saw The Exorcist when I was too young and I’ve been in counseling ever since.”

“I accidentally saw one recently, which was Midsummer. I thought it looked like a cheerful Swedish comedy. I put it on one night for my Swedish wife who needed to cheer up and she’s still very, very traumatised,” he joked.

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Grant chatted with PEOPLE about Heretics last month at the film’s AFI Fest premiere, where he called his villain character a “damaged, bad guy.”

“Good Guys Are Difficult,” the Four weddings and a funeral the actor said at the time. “They’re hard to keep from being boring. I think almost every actor prefers to be the damaged, bad guy. It’s much more interesting.”

He also added about the preparation to play Mr. Reed: “There was a lot of research on cult leaders, religion, and especially religious iconoclasts and atheists.”

“And to serial killers, and especially what made them who they are — and the strange fact that often, after all the horrible things they did, they still had devoted followers or lovers,” Grant said.

Heretics is in the cinema 8 Nov.