As a long-time admirer of James McAvoy‘s versatile acting skills, it’s truly exhilarating to witness his evolution from a talented actor to a director with his upcoming project, “California Schemin’.” The Scottish lad who once charmed us as a young Professor X is now ready to conquer the world behind the camera.
At present, James McAvoy is gracing the big screen in “Speak No Evil,” but he’s also gearing up for a new role – this time as a director, making his debut with “California Schemin'”.
When queried on his preparations before shooting, McAvoy expressed his eagerness to delve into the entirely fresh realm of directorial pre-production.
At the recent premiere of ‘Speak No Evil’ in New York, the actor shared with The Hollywood Reporter that this new project is uncharted territory for him. He mentioned that while he has experience once rehearsals begin, the pre-rehearsal phase is something he hasn’t been involved in before. His enthusiasm is clear, as he’s eager to delve into this fresh aspect of his work.
As for how things are going, McAvoy said, “It’s going.”
He mentioned that the team is currently developing the script, auditioning actors, and preparing for production, essentially assembling a group, or in his words, ‘building a little army,’ which is standard procedure.
The movie “California Schemin'” is inspired by the real events surrounding two Scottish friends, Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, who pulled off a hip-hop hoax by posing as a California rap duo named Silibil N’ Brains, as detailed in Bain’s autobiography.
Beyond his directing duties, McAvoy will also take on a supporting character in the upcoming film. Seamus McLean Ross and Samuel Bottomley have been cast as the main characters. The screenplay was adapted by Archie Thomson and Elaine Gracie, and production is slated to be handled by Guy J. Louthan of Ransom Films (The Call) and Danny Page from Homefront Productions. Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Green will serve as executive producers under Bankside Films. The project has already been sold to StudioCanal for distribution in the U.K., Ireland, and various international markets.
McAvoy previously told THR that California Schemin’ was “the right piece of material for me.”
He’s shared that he’s long been passionate about sharing narratives of individuals from humble beginnings who may not have the same advantages as others. His goal is to create engaging and inspiring stories, infused with humor, that aren’t just grim realities but full-fledged movies. When ‘California Schemin” presented itself, it was a perfect fit, offering him the chance to tell such stories about people like himself, while also providing entertainment, shock value, and a touch of aspirational optimism.
In the film “Speak No Evil,” James McAvoy reprises his menacing character from “Split” and “Glass.” He plays Paddy, a former doctor turned farmer, who invites Scoot McNairy’s Ben and Mackenzie Davis’ Louise, a couple he met on vacation, to spend the weekend at his farmhouse. Sharing this home with his wife Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and their son Ant (Dan Hough), things quickly take a dark turn. The movie is currently being shown in theaters and has garnered an 83% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, earning $43 million worldwide since its release earlier this month.
As a devoted admirer, I found myself utterly captivated by the intricate layers of the character, Paddy, in the movie. The allure wasn’t just about the role itself, but also the profound complexities it concealed, and the thought-provoking conflicts that the film delves into.
Speaking with THR during the premiere of “Speak No Evil,” McAvoy shared, “It’s quite peculiar to portray a character that can provoke fear, anxiety, and amusement all at once.
Additionally, he found himself captivated by the movie’s conflicts involving characters from both America and England, as well as those living in urban and rural settings, and portraying different genders, plus it delved into contrasts between traditional and modern marital relationships.
McAvoy stated that there are puzzling inconsistencies and clashes, both on-screen and among viewers regarding the characters portrayed. This complexity drew him in as it presented challenging and intriguing ground to explore.
Regarding how the movie portrays harmful masculinity through McAvoy’s character, director James Watkins explained, “The film aims to delve into the alluring aspect of toxic masculinity in their relationship (Paddy and Ben) and reveal it for what it is. Furthermore, it intends to show that this path is not the way to redemption, and the ideal of being an alpha male is a fallacy.
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2024-09-25 00:25