James McAvoy reflects on replacing Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Split’ just two weeks before filming

James McAvoy recently shared details about how he replaced Joaquin Phoenix in the 2016 film Split, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, McAvoy revealed that Phoenix had dropped out just two weeks before production started, leaving McAvoy to step in last minute. The actor portrayed Kevin Wendell Crumb, a character with 23 distinct personalities, including “The Beast.”

McAvoy discussed the challenges of joining the project so close to filming but acknowledged that this situation had some benefits. “Sometimes, coming in last minute is the best way,” McAvoy explained. He credited the well-written script for helping him quickly understand most of the personalities, noting that characters like Patricia and Dennis came naturally, while Hedwig took more time to develop. McAvoy also shared how Shyamalan asked him at the last minute to give Hedwig a speech impediment during a read-through, which he said worked out immediately.

Despite the initial challenges, McAvoy's portrayal became a standout aspect of the film, which received widespread acclaim and revived Shyamalan’s directorial reputation. Phoenix’s departure could have been a major setback, but McAvoy’s performance helped make Split one of Shyamalan's best-received films in years.