James McAvoy punched by stranger at Toronto bar during film festival appearance

James McAvoy was punched by a man at a Toronto bar while promoting his directorial debut at TIFF 2025.

Actor James McAvoy was punched by a man at a Toronto bar on Monday night while in the city for the premiere of his directorial debut, California Schemin’, at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

According to a source close to McAvoy, the incident occurred at Charlotte’s Room, a bar located two blocks from the TIFF headquarters.

The first-time director was spending the evening with the producers of his new film when an intoxicated man, who had been asked to leave by staff, struck him unexpectedly while passing.

The attack, described as having “caught him off guard,” took place at around 11:55 p.m. Witnesses stepped in to restrain the man, who was then escorted out of the venue. McAvoy had not interacted with the individual before the incident, and no provocation was reported.

The Scottish actor, best known for roles in Speak No Evil and the X-Men franchise, was in Toronto to showcase California Schemin’, which also stars him alongside Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Halliday, and Rebekah Murrell.

The film, which McAvoy has described as “the most creative thing I’ve ever done,” tells the true story of two young men travelling from Scotland to the United States to pursue hip-hop ambitions.

This marks McAvoy’s first feature as a director, though he previously produced Jon S. Baird’s 2013 film Filth. Reflecting on his new role, he said: “I probably fell into all the same traps as every director… I thought I would have a shorthand with actors after 30 years, and I did to an extent.”

California Schemin’ is competing for the TIFF People’s Choice Award against Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor The Great, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year.