James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain might be two of the friendliest, most jovial people in real life, but in their latest film, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, they’re in the middle of an especially unfortunate situation.  They play Conor and Eleanor, a loving couple who become strangers after their marriage disintegrates.  The film was originally split in two, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her in an effort to offer both perspectives on the situation, but come September 12th, we’ll get a combination of the two, Them.

In honor of the film’s release, we got the opportunity to sit down with McAvoy and Chastain to talk about the process of making the two movies and then see them turned into one.  We also discuss McAvoy’s improvising skills, X-Men: Apocalypse, if the way they work changes when moving from one director to another and the importance of the occasional life safety alarm.  You’ve got to see that one for yourself.  Hit the jump to check it out.

James McAvoy & Jessica Chastain

  • Having fun while making such a somber film.
  • McAvoy as “the king of improv.”
  • An improvised moment that made it into the final cut.
  • Seeing Him and Her come together to create Them.
  • Him vs. Her.
  • Did McAvoy read the X-Men: Apocalypse treatment?
  • On collaborating with Simon Kinberg.
  • “This is your life safety director speaking …”
  • Chastain on working with Guillermo Del Toro, Christopher Nolan and J.C. Chandor.

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James McAvoy Jessica Chastain The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby