– James McAvoy snagged his role in Split after Joaquin Phoenix bailed just two weeks before filming kicked off.
– McAvoy jumped in with style, joking that he might even do it better, even though he called Phoenix an amazing actor.
– With just two weeks to prep for multiple characters, McAvoy managed to pull off the performance of a lifetime—now that’s impressive!
—
Okay, listen up folks; grab your popcorn and settle in because we’re about to dish on one of the wildest casting stories in Hollywood history. Picture this: it’s two weeks before shooting for M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller Split is about to start, and there’s a mad scramble in casting rooms across town. Why? Because Joaquin Phoenix, that talented and often unpredictable guy, just pulled the plug. Yep, he decided he wasn’t feeling it and dropped out of the movie faster than a hot potato. And who steps up to the plate? None other than our boy James McAvoy!
Now, can we just take a second to appreciate the level of chaos this situation carries? It’s like being thrown into the deep end of a pool filled with sharks—except instead of sharks, there’s a horde of characters waiting to be portrayed. McAvoy told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast how, on such short notice, he had to prepare for a whole roster of personalities—like a grown man playing dress-up, but with a serious twist.
Picture it: one minute you’re sipping on a latte and the next, you’re about to dive into the mind of a dude with, no lie, 23 different identities. Here’s McAvoy cracking jokes about it like a pro, saying, “No, definitely not weird at all! I’m confident enough to think that I’ll do it better anyway… just kidding!” Honestly, you’ve got to respect a guy who can jump into the chaos and still keep his sense of humor intact.
But here’s the kicker: he understood Joaquin is a top-tier talent and would’ve nailed a different vibe entirely. “He’d deliver an incredible performance,” he acknowledged. Like, can you even imagine? Two of the heavyweights of acting—who would have given us very different shows. Phoenix probably would’ve brought a brooding vibe, while McAvoy just infused that raw intensity we love him for. It’s the tug-of-war of acting styles right there!
McAvoy also had some solid reflection on the “last-minute” casting phenomenon. “Sometimes coming in last minute is the best way,” he said, though I’m left wondering who’s carrying the emotional baggage when this happens—because man, that sounds stressful! His quotes crack me up, though, particularly when he explained that he had just a couple of weeks—yeah, 14 days—to prep. The script was tight, so some characters popped into his head quicker than others. Patricia? Boom, got it! Dennis? Easy peasy! Hedwig, on the other hand? Yeah, that took a hot minute. I mean, can you imagine trying to differentiate between 23 personas? That’s not just a little work; that’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle featuring yourself as a comedic horror show!
And here’s a juicy little tidbit about Phoenix: it seems this isn’t the first time he’s done a last-minute exit. He even bounced from a gay romance movie with Todd Haynes just days before it was set to start filming. Cold feet? Yeah, more like colder than Antarctica! It makes you wonder if he’s secretly auditioning for the role of “Bailout King” in upcoming flicks.
But let’s not sleep on McAvoy’s latest work; he’s just been flinging his talent around the psychological thriller world again with Speak No Evil. The plot? Just your average American family meets a British family for a blissful vacation, and surprise! It morphs into a mind-bending psychological horror fest. Talk about family bonding, right? Tyler Nichols from Movie Critic Central raved about McAvoy’s performance. “Holy mackerel, this man is electric. He’s like a dog playing with a new toy—chaotic and untamed!” Now, that’s a compliment to ride high on!
So there you have it—a whirlwind of emotions, quick thinking, and a splash of humor as we dive into the casting mayhem of Split. Sharing is caring, so go ahead and spread the love for this article with your friends! They’ll thank you later for the inside scoop, and who knows, you might even find a new movie buddy for the next jam-packed film adventure! 🎬🍿
