James McAvoy Directs and Stars in California Schemin

James McAvoy has made his feature directorial debut with California Schemin, a biographical dark comedy about two Scottish musicians who disguise their backgrounds as aspiring American rappers to secure a record deal. The film opened in theaters across the United States on October 9, 2026, bringing a real-life music industry deception to the big screen.

According to BroadwayWorld, McAvoy both directed the film and appeared in it, balancing his performance with the logistical demands of managing a production. The cast includes Samuel Bottomley, Seamus McLean Ross, Lucy Halliday, and Rebekah Murrell.

The story follows Billy Boyd and Gavin Bain, two struggling musicians who worked at a call center in Scotland during the early 2000s. In real life, they adopted the identities of Los Angeles rappers under the name Silibil N' Brains, using American accents to conceal their origins while pursuing opportunities in the music business.

California Schemin draws on the events of their careers, including their initial attempts to attract industry attention, their eventual breakthrough and record deal, and the deterioration of their professional partnership. The screenplay was written by Archie Thomson and Elaine Gracie, with the filmmakers adapting the story while making limited changes to names and compressing events for dramatic purposes.

McAvoy discussed the challenges of directing himself during an appearance on TODAY, describing the competing demands of acting and overseeing production logistics.

"All I wanted to do was concentrate on my acting in that moment but I can't because I've got somebody whispering in my ear 'we can't forget the portable toilets' so it's a wild experience," McAvoy said.

The actor also explained that directing had been a long-standing ambition, developed over decades of working in the entertainment industry.

"I've wanted to direct since I was 16. After 30 years of working with and learning from some of the best in the business, that desire has only grown," McAvoy said.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before its US theatrical release. BroadwayWorld reported that the release schedule includes further theatrical expansion on October 16 and October 23, 2026.

A review published by Spectrum Culture on October 12 praised the film's ability to cover the musicians' full trajectory in slightly more than 100 minutes. The narrative moves from their working-class circumstances and early ambitions to the brief period of professional recognition that followed their deception.

The review also highlighted the performances of Bottomley and McLean Ross as Boyd and Bain, describing the central characters as distinctive figures whose personal flaws coexist with their determination to succeed. The film portrays the consequences of their scheme without substantially departing from the difficult realities of the original events.

In the story, manager Tessa, played by Rebekah Murrell, backs the duo and risks her professional standing by supporting their careers. Her prospects become tied to the musicians' success, with their record deal representing a significant opportunity for everyone involved.

The film combines the comedy of the pair's impersonation with the consequences of sustaining false identities over several years. Its theatrical rollout continues with additional expansion dates scheduled for October 16 and October 23, 2026.