September 14th 2024.
It's not often that we hear about actors walking off a film set, but James McAvoy recently revealed that Joaquin Phoenix did just that years ago. This was long before Phoenix's recent departure from Todd Haynes' film set made headlines. McAvoy, known for his memorable performance in M. Night Shyamalan's Split, almost didn't get the chance to showcase his talent in the film due to Phoenix's last-minute decision to leave.
In an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McAvoy shared the details of how he ended up taking over the lead role in the 2016 psychological thriller just two weeks before filming began. He explained that Phoenix had exited the project only weeks before production was set to start, leaving McAvoy with very little time to prepare for the complex role of Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man living with dissociative identity disorder and possessing over 20 different personalities.
Despite the daunting task of stepping into a role under such tight conditions, McAvoy found that the urgency of the situation actually helped him focus. "Sometimes coming in last minute is the best way," he joked. "The script was well put together, so a lot of it was pretty clear what I wanted to do straight away."
McAvoy's performance as Kevin was a remarkable feat, with each of Kevin's distinct personalities requiring unique acting choices. Some of the characters, like Patricia and Dennis, came to McAvoy almost instantly. Others, like the childlike Hedwig, took longer to develop, and it wasn't until the table read that McAvoy felt he had truly nailed the role.
Despite the pressure, the actor's portrayal of the multiple characters was a success, and his performance in Split garnered critical acclaim, even as the movie received mixed reviews. McAvoy reprised his role in the 2019 sequel Glass, which concluded Shyamalan's trilogy that began with 2000's Unbreakable.
The news of Phoenix's last-minute exit from Split came as a surprise to many, especially considering his reputation as an amazing actor. McAvoy spoke highly of Phoenix's talent, saying, "I think he'd give a very different performance to the one I did, but I think he'd give an incredible performance."
Interestingly, this revelation about Phoenix's departure came on the heels of another newsworthy exit for the actor. He recently left Todd Haynes' upcoming gay romance film just before filming was set to begin in Mexico. The sudden departure has caused production to stall, and the film, which was also set to star Danny Ramirez, is currently on hold.
McAvoy, on the other hand, has had his own share of missed opportunities. He shared the experience of an early audition for a role in the Harry Potter franchise, where he was one of a handful of actors shortlisted during a lengthy seven-month audition process. Despite being offered a retainer to keep him from working on other projects, McAvoy turned down the offer and instead took a much smaller role that paid significantly less. Looking back, the actor has no regrets, stating that those earlier, lesser-known roles helped shape him as an actor.
McAvoy's rise to stardom has been a remarkable journey, and it's clear that his decision to turn down the retainer and take on smaller roles has paid off. Reflecting on his past decisions, McAvoy said, "It was part of the making of me. I was actually learning and doing all that." It's safe to say that McAvoy has proven himself as a talented and versatile actor, and we can't wait to see what he'll take on next.
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