Is Game of Thrones' Rory McCann in Hot Fuzz? Actor's role in the movie explored

Scottish actor Rory McCann is known for featuring in films like Hot Fuzz, Knuckles, Slow West, and XXX: The Return of Xander Cage. However, his most prominent stint was on the superbly successful show Game of Thrones, where he played the character of Sandor Clegane, popularly known as the Hound.

McCann also played a prominent part in the film Hot Fuzz (2007), where he essayed the role of one of the film's antagonists, nicknamed Lurch. McCann's acting cemented his persona much before his appearance on Game of Thrones. The official summary for Hot Fuzz reads:

"An overachieving London police sergeant is transferred to a village where the easygoing officers object to his fervor for regulations, all while a string of grisly murders strikes the town."

---

Who does Rory McCann play in Hot Fuzz? Role explored

Rory McCann on a red carpet premiere for Game of Thrones (via Mike Coppola / Getty Images)

Rory McCann plays the unexpected role of an antagonist named Michael Armstrong, a.k.a. Lurch in the action-comedy film. Lurch is a burly but dim-witted employee of Simon Skinner at the local Somerfield supermarket.

McCann's role is a mark of an important pivot point in the film's story, as he attacks the main detective Nicholas Angel. It is after subduing Lurch's attack that Angel learns of the secret meeting being held at the Sandford castle, an incident that brings the plot towards its big reveal.

---

What is Hot Fuzz about? Plot explained

The film starts with a metropolitan police sergeant named Nicholas Angel, who is assigned to the town of Sandford. He is annoyed at the mundane village, his complacent and often incompetent colleagues, and the way law enforcement is very lax in Sandford.

At one point, Angel and Constable Danny make their rounds and briefly stop two lead actors for a production of Romeo and Juliet for speeding on the road. Those actors are later murdered in a supposed car crash. Angel suspects foul play as more deaths crop up around town. The audience sees a hooded figure attacking a wealthy merchant in his home later, a florist who planned to sell her land, and also kills a local journalist when he approaches Angel with some supposed information.

Angel suspects a supermarket manager Simon Skinner for the killings but has no concrete proof since Skinner has an alibi. Angel is later attacked by Michael Armstrong a.k.a Lurch but manages to incapacitate him, and learns about a secret meeting at Sandford Castle.

At the castle, it is revealed that Danny's father Inspector Frank Butterman is the one orchestrating the murders in the supposed memory of his late wife Irene. According to Frank, the murdered victims were a hindrance in Sandford's chances of winning a 'Village of the Year' title.

Angel tries to flee from the spot with Danny's help but they both end up engaging in a shootout with the corrupt officers on the scene. Eventually, they receive help from the station and convince everyone of Frank's crimes. While Frank and Simon Skinner try to go on the run, Skinner is impaled on a church steeple and Frank is finally brought to justice.

The ending of the film reveals that Angel chooses to remain back in Sandford and gets promoted to the role of Inspector, with Danny being promoted to Sergeant. They now work together to solve crimes and make Sandford a better place.

---

Who are the cast members of Hot Fuzz?

Simon Pegg as Nicholas Angel in Hot Fuzz (via IMDb)

The cast of the film features many notable names like Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Bill Nighy (Love Actually), David Bradley (An Adventure in Space and Time), and Martin Freeman (Sherlock). The full list of the main cast includes:

• Simon Pegg as Sergeant Nicholas Angel
• Nick Frost as Constable Danny Butterman
• Jim Broadbent as Inspector Frank Butterman
• Paddy Considine as Detective Sergeant Andy Wainwright
• Timothy Dalton as Simon Skinner
• Bill Nighy as Chief Inspector Kenneth
• Billie Whitelaw as Joyce Cooper
• Edward Woodward as Tom Weaver
• David Bradley as Arthur Webley
• Adam Buxton as Tim Messenger
• Olivia Colman as PC Doris Thatcher
• Ron Cook as George Merchant
• Martin Freeman as Sergeant
• Anne Reid as Leslie Tiller, a florist in Sandford
• Rory McCann as Michael Armstrong/Lurch

---

Audiences can watch Rory McCann in Hot Fuzz streaming on MX Player and available for purchase or rent on YouTube.