James McAvoy Sucker-Punched by Random Man at Bar While in Toronto Debuting New Film “California Schemin' ”(Exclusive)

3 days ago

The actor, who makes his directorial debut pinch 'California Schemin',' was deed astatine a barroom successful Toronto while successful municipality for nan movie festival

Published connected September 9, 2025 05:15PM EDT

James McAvoy connected Sept. 6, 2025. Credit :

Mat Hayward/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

James McAvoy was punched by a man astatine nan barroom Charlotte's Room successful Toronto connected Monday night, Sept. 8
The character was successful municipality for nan premiere of his directorial debut California Schemin' astatine nan Toronto International Film Festival
A root says that aft being punched, McAvoy deescalated nan business and later laughed disconnected nan incident pinch different patrons and nan staff

James McAvoy was attacked by a alien successful a Toronto barroom connected Monday, Sept. 8, while he was successful municipality for his directorial debut California Schemin'.

The actor, 46, and his woman Lisa Liberati attended nan world premiere of California Schemin' astatine nan 2025 Toronto International Film Festival connected Saturday, Sept. 6.

While having a quiet nighttime astatine nan barroom Charlotte's Room successful Toronto connected Sept. 8, McAvoy was deed by a man astatine astir 11:55 p.m., and, caught disconnected guard, nan X-Men prima tried to deescalate nan business arsenic others intervened to region nan man.

"James was having a casual get-together pinch nan producers of his movie and, arsenic he later learned erstwhile speaking pinch nan staff, location was a man who drank excessively overmuch who was getting escorted out," a root adjacent to McAvoy tells PEOPLE. "James' backmost was to him and nan man conscionable punched him."

Afterwards, nan root says, McAvoy stayed astatine nan barroom and moreover laughed disconnected nan incident pinch different patrons and nan staff.

PEOPLE reached retired to Charlotte's Room for comment.

James McAvoy connected Sept. 5, 2025.

Emma McIntyre/Getty

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McAvoy's latest movie, California Schemin' is based connected nan existent story of 2 Scottish men who dress to beryllium Americans successful bid to go hip-hop stars. The formed includes Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell.

While visiting nan PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock workplace astatine nan Toronto International Film Festival connected Sunday, Sept. 7, McAvoy told PEOPLE that directing for nan first clip was "stressful" but "amazing."

"I've loved telling stories arsenic an character for 30 years," he said. "It's an hold of that. I now emotion telling stories arsenic a head because I get much devices pinch which to show those stories. It was a privilege."