James McAvoy punched by man at bar throughout movie competition: ‘Caught him off guard’

James McAvoy was punched by a stranger at a Toronto bar on Monday evening whereas on the town to premiere his directorial debut, California Schemin', on the 2025 Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition.

A supply near McAvoy confirms to Leisure Weekly that the actor visited the bar Charlotte's Room, simply two blocks from TIFF HQ, the place he was having fun with a quiet night with the producers of his new movie.

A closely intoxicated man who had been requested to depart by bar employees was passing McAvoy whereas on his method out when he "caught him off guard" with a punch.

The Communicate No Evil actor had not interacted with the person beforehand, nor did he provoke the assault, which occurred round 11:55 p.m. Different patrons of Charlotte's Room rushed in to restrain the person, who was ultimately escorted out.

EW has reached out to Charlotte's Room for remark.

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California Schemin' is McAvoy's first flip within the director's chair, although he beforehand produced the 2013 Jon S. Baird movie Filth, which he additionally starred in.

The 46-year-old Scottish star additionally seems in California Schemin', which he described to PEOPLE as "essentially the most inventive factor I've ever completed." The movie tells the true story of two younger males who journey from Scotland to America to check their mettle within the cutthroat world of hip-hop. Becoming a member of McAvoy within the forged are Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Halliday, and Rebekah Murrell.

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"Look, I in all probability fell into all the identical traps as each director that I've gone like, 'Dude, what are you doing? Simply direct me proper.' There isn’t any 'proper,'" he continued. "I assumed I might have a shorthand with actors after 30 years, and I did to an extent."

This yr's version of the Canadian movie competition, lengthy thought-about a launching pad for the next yr's Finest Image race on the Oscars, additionally throws a highlight on the directorial debut of one other A-list actor: Scarlett Johansson. The Black Widow star's Eleanor The Nice, which stars 95-year-old June Squibb, premiered on the Cannes Movie Competition again in Might, however competes for the coveted TIFF Folks's Alternative Award this yr in opposition to California Schemin'.

With reporting by Gerrad Corridor.

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