James McAvoy recently shared how he ended up playing the lead role in M. Night Shyamalan’s film Split. McAvoy joined the movie only a few weeks before shooting began after Joaquin Phoenix, who was originally cast, left the project.
James McAvoy Replaces Phoenix in ‘Split’
In an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McAvoy talked about stepping into the role of Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with dissociative identity disorder who has 23 different personalities, including the fearsome Beast. Phoenix’s exit left McAvoy with little time to prepare for the role, but he quickly took over.
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McAvoy said, “It was really last minute. I had a couple of weeks to prep.” He noted that despite the rush, the well-written script helped him understand the character. Some personalities, like Patricia and Dennis, came easily, while others, like Hedwig, took more time to develop.
He admitted that he felt nervous during the table read, knowing he had to perform multiple characters while being watched by executives and producers. Despite the challenge, McAvoy felt confident about his performance and respected Phoenix’s acting skills.
Currently, McAvoy is also promoting his new film, Speak No Evil, where he stars as Paddy. The movie, which is now in theaters, involves a family discovering dark secrets during a visit to their hosts’ farm.
McAvoy’s experience with Split highlights his adaptability and talent in taking over challenging roles under tight deadlines.
