James McAvoy

James McAvoy to Star Opposite Jessica Chastain in Double Feature THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 8:44 pm

James McAvoy has signed on to star opposite Jessica Chastain in one of the most intriguing projects in development right now, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.  It is a double feature that explores “how a married couple in New York City deals with an emotional, life-altering experience, from two different perspectives.”  The perspective of the husband (McAvoy) is seen in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, while the story of the wife (Chastain) is told in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her.  (It used to be His and Hers, back when Joel Edgerton was attached to play the husband.)  This ambitious project is the feature debut of writer/director Ned Benson.  Hit the jump for the full press release.

Elton John, Rocket Pictures Get to Work on GNOMEO & JULIET: SHERLOCK GNOMES

by Matt Currie    Posted: March 8th, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Gnomeo & Juliet, the most gnome-filled Shakespeare adaptation to date, was a bit of lively if ultimately unsatisfying fun buoyed by a soundtrack of Elton John hits. As it did solid bank at the global box office, John (who was an exec producer on the film) and his production company Rocket Pictures are gearing up for a sequel called Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes (hey, you try coming up with a concept that rhymes with “gnomes.” It’s hard!).

Per Deadline, John is back in the studio composing new music for the film (the first one having featured only two new tunes mixed in with the classics), while Gnomeo writers Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil are working on the script. Original director Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2), meanwhile, will be sliding into a “creative consultant” role. This time around, the plot will see the titular protagonists (originally voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt) seeking out the renowned (but inept) gnome detective to solve a rash of gnome disappearances. Like its predecessor, this one will be available in gnome-tacular 3D.

Set Photos from NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, LOVELACE, DOG FIGHT, and FILTH

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 23rd, 2012 at 9:03 pm

In this edition of “Photos from the Set,” we have:

• Neighborhood Watch – Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, and Richard Ayoade star as a group of neighbors who form a local watch group and end up stumbling onto an alien plot to destroy the world.
• Lovelace – Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgard star as Linda Lovelace and her abusive husband Chuck Traynor in the biopic about the star at the center of the porn phenomenon Deep Throat.
• Dog Fight – Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis star as rival politicians running for a congressional seat in a small North Carolina district.
• Filth – James McAvoy, Jamie Bell and Alan Cumming star in the adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel about a malicious Scottish police officer.

Hit the jump for the set photos and more info on each movie.

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 22nd, 2011 at 2:36 pm

I’ve always been slightly perplexed when people ask “How does Santa deliver all his presents in a single night?”  It’s as if the possibility of a fat and jolly gentleman who lives in a hostile climate and has consumer goods made by an army of elves is completely plausible, but there’s no getting around the physics of the delivery.  And if that’s the hang-up, then why not simply answer back, “Magic,”?  Aardman Animation’s Arthur Christmas has fun indulging the question of “How?” but knows that it can be funny and heartwarming if you let Christmas night be magical.

James McAvoy Taks ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, Danny Boyle’s TRANCE, the X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Sequel, Showtime’s SHAMELESS, FILTH and More

by Christina Radish    Posted: November 19th, 2011 at 7:15 am

In the animated family film Arthur Christmas, hitting theaters on November 23^rd, actor James McAvoy voices Arthur, the awkward but enthusiastic youngest son to Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent). When the ultra-high-tech Christmas gift delivery system fails, missing one child out of hundreds of millions, Arthur embarks on a rogue mission, with the help of his rather naughty Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) and a giftwrapping-obsessed elf (Ashley Jensen), to deliver the last present before Christmas morning.

During this exclusive phone interview with Collider, James McAvoy talked about his desire to want to do more films for kids because they’re the best audience around, that he responded to the integrity and humor in the story, the challenge of voicing a character that is always so enthusiastic and nice, and that, if given the choice, he would likely go with the simple and classic ways of doing things versus the high-tech ones. He also talked about how freaky it was to watch even 10 minutes of the Showtime remake of Shameless (he starred in the original), his hopes for the X-Men: First Class sequel, which has not been greenlit yet, the amazing experience he’s had working with director Danny Boyle on Trance, for which he has one day left of shooting, how good the action-thriller Welcome to the Punch turned out, and shooting the fantastic but twisted script for Irvine Welsh’s Filth, starting in January 2012. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

Michael Fassbender Talks X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Sequel

by Christina Radish    Posted: November 11th, 2011 at 9:20 am

With A Dangerous Method hitting theaters on November 23^rd and the NC-17 rated Shame opening on December 2^nd, Michael Fassbender is busy promoting both films and his truly excellent performances in each. Although very different films, they each explore themes of sex and sexuality, and what is culturally accepted behavior in the bedroom.

While Collider got to sit down with the ultra-busy actor to talk about those films, we’ll run the video interview closer to their release dates. However, in the meantime, we did want to share what he had to say about his return to the role of Magneto for the eventual sequel to X-Men: First Class, how he’s looking forward to working on ideas with James McAvoy and hopefully Matthew Vaughn, and that he’s interested to see how Charles Xavier turns into Professor X. Check out what he had to say after the jump.

5 Clips for ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: November 7th, 2011 at 8:25 pm

Aardman Animation—the studio behind Chicken Run and the charming adventures of Wallace and Gromit—has sent over 5 clips from their latest effort, Arthur Christmas.  The film reveals the answer to the age-old question: “So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?”

For more on Arthur Christmas, check out Steve’s thoughts on the first 30 minutes and interview with director Sarah Smith.  James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen comprise the voice cast in the November 23 release. Watch the clips after the jump.

New Set Photos from MUD and TRANCE Show Battered Reese Witherspoon and James McAvoy

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 5th, 2011 at 8:29 am

New set photos have gone online for Jeff Nichols’ Mud and Danny Boyle’s Trance.  Mud “centers on two boys who come upon a fugitive hiding out on an island in the Mississippi. Excited at the prospect of danger and adventure, they enter into a pact together to help the man escape and reunite him with his lost love.”  I’m not sure how that plan involves Reese Witherspoon getting punched in the face twice, but these new set photos show at some point in the movie that’s going to happen.  If you feel like trotting out the “Already told her twice,” joke, don’t.  Also, it could just be runny make-up from crying.  Ah, the magic of out-of-context set-photos.

The set photos from Trance show a beat-up James McAvoy and that is definitely not runny make-up.  The movie focuses on the mastermind of an art heist (McAvoy) who must go under hypnosis when he gets amnesia and forgets the location of the loot.  Hit the jump to check out the set photos.

Theatrical Trailer for ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 4th, 2011 at 11:45 am

The full theatrical trailer for Arthur Christmas has gone online. The film comes from the fine folks at Aardman Animation (the people behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run), and centers on Arthur, Santa’s son, and his quest to deliver the last Christmas present for a forgotten child on Christmas Eve. The teaser trailers were amusing enough, but we never really got a sense of the story. This full trailer gives us a good idea of the plot, and features the nutty humor that we’ve come to expect from Aardman. It’s goofy and doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it also hints at a good amount of heart sure to come through from the unassuming Arthur. We were shown a full scene from the film at Comic-Con (which Matt and I both really liked), and you can read my recap of that panel here.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer. The film features the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, and Imelda Staunton. Arthur Christmas opens in 3D on November 23rd.

James McAvoy, Jamie Bell and Alan Cumming to Star in Adaptation of Irving Welsh’s FILTH

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 4th, 2011 at 1:34 pm

A feature film version of Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh’s book Filth is on its way, and it sports quite the cast. James McAvoy, Jamie Bell and Alan Cumming are set to star in the film which centers on an evil Edinburgh cop who has a knack for bigotry and coercing sex from teenage Ecstasy dealers. The Playlist recently spoke with Welsh who confirmed that a feature film version of his novel is on the way, with McAvoy taking on the lead role, Bell playing his sidekick Lennox, and Cumming set to play McAvoy’s boss, Toal.

Welsh is probably best known for his 1993 novel Trainspotting which was adapted for the screen by director Danny Boyle. While I haven’t read Filth, it definitely sounds like some slightly insane material. This sounds like a rather meaty role, and McAvoy should have plenty of opportunities to really show his chops. Bell and Cumming are no slouches either. The plot hinges on a murder mystery that McAvoy’s character must solve, but the guy’s got so many quirks that this will most definitely not be your typical paint-by-numbers thriller. Jon S. Baird (Cass) is directing, with production looking to start in January 2012. Hit the jump to read the synopsis of Welsh’s novel.

Vincent Cassel and Rosario Dawson Join James McAvoy in Danny Boyle’s TRANCE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 27th, 2011 at 1:42 pm

Danny Boyle has found two more leads for his heist-thriller Trance.  Deadline reports that Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel will join James McAvoy in the film which centers on an art heist that goes sideways when its mastermind (McAvoy) gets amnesia and can’t remember where he stashed the loot.  Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson were previously rumored for the other lead roles, but now it looks like Cassel will play the leader of the heist team while Dawson will play the hypnotist tasked with recovering the mastermind’s memories.  The modestly-budgeted and harder-edged picture will be more in line with Boyle’s earlier films Trainspotting and Shallow Grave.

Filming on Trance is set to begin in September and then will be put on a shelf while Boyle directs the summer Olympics.  He’ll pick it back up again in August 2012 for editing and then release it in March 2013.  Both Dawson and Cassel will next be seen at the Toronto International Film Festival with Ten Year and A Dangerous Method, respectively.

New Teaser Trailer for ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 12th, 2011 at 11:36 am

A new teaser trailer for the family holiday flick Arthur Christmas has gone online.  It’s not as charming as the first teaser trailer and reminds me a lot of Disney’s recent holiday special Prep & Landing where the elves are soldiers in Santa’s army.  That’s right, kids.  Only with military might can you get your presents.  Since the flick comes from Aardman (the folks behind Wallace and Gromit), I’ll stay excited for it, and I’d certainly rather see this animated family flick during the holidays than the atrocious-looking Happy Feet Two.

Hit the jump to check out the teaser.  The film features the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, and Imelda Staunton.  Arthur Christmas opens in 3D on November 23rd.

Danny Boyle Eyeing Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson for TRANCE?

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 5th, 2011 at 9:59 am

Danny Boyle has settled on the heist thriller Trance as his next film, but it’s going to have an odd schedule.  He plans to shoot it in 2012, break to direct the Summer Olympics, and then edit it with an eye towards a March 2013 release.  Michael Fassbender was rumored for the lead role he shady leader of a heist team gang partners with an art gallery assistant who masterminds the crime but then gets amnesia and forgets the location of the stolen portrait.  Fassbender ultimately passed on the role, but James McAvoy started circling another role in the flick.

Twitch now reports that Boyle is courting Oscar-winner Colin Firth to replace Fassbender (not a step down by any means) and he’s also looking at Scarlett Johansson for a supporting role.  Presumably, the role for Johansson would be the hypnotist the gang hires to get into the assistant’s memory.  Twitch also reports that Zoe Saldana and Mélanie Thierry (Babylon A.D.) are also on his short-list for the part.  Hit the jump for a refresher on Firth and Johansson’s other projects.

James McAvoy to Replace Michael Fassbender in Danny Boyle’s TRANCE [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 23rd, 2011 at 1:52 pm

It looks like Professor X is taking over a job originally set for Magneto. Variety reports that James McAvoy is in early discussions to join Danny Boyle’s Trance in a role for which Michael Fassbender was previously in talks. The film is a remake of Joe Ahearne’s 2003 TV movie of the same name and centers on an art heist gone wrong. The mastermind of the heist suffers a blow to the head during the operation, and subsequently suffers from amnesia. When his team questions the validity of his claims, and given that he’s the only one who knows where the painting is hidden, a female hypnotist is hired to get into his brain.

Boyle plans to start production in September, and after filming wraps he will immediately move on to directing the opening ceremony for London’s 2012 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics conclude in August, he’ll return to Trance to begin post-production, with a March 2013 release date being eyed. So all-in-all, Boyle has a very busy year coming up. While Fassbender’s a fantastic actor and it would’ve been nice to see him team up with Boyle, McAvoy is no slouch himself, so the casting change doesn’t seem too drastic.

[Update: Variety has updated their story to say that the role McAvoy is taking on is NOT the role that Fassbender had been in talks for. So he's not taking over Fassbender's role, but Fassbender is still out of the project]

James McAvoy Talks X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Sequels

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 2nd, 2011 at 6:43 pm

While it continues to rack up wildly positive reviews, Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class doesn’t hit theaters until Friday but already the talk has turned to sequels. Vaughn himself isn’t exactly secretive, as he recently revealed that he’d like to open the sequel with the JFK assassination. Now star James McAvoy has joined in on the sequel talk, speaking about a possible trilogy:

“Ideally you have a story arc that lasts three movies and at the end of the third it leaves you ready for the story in X-Men 1. It would be nice to explore things in two more films.”

Now a Matthew Vaughn-helmed period X-Men trilogy is something I can get behind. While he didn’t necessarily spill important plot details regarding a sequel, McAvoy talked quite a bit about what he’d like to see in a follow-up and what he thinks makes First Class work so well. Hit the jump to check out what he had to say. And don’t forget to check out Matt’s review of X-Men: First Class here.

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