James McAvoy Allegedly Attacked in Toronto Bar While Premiering ‘California Schemin” at TIFF

James McAvoy was reportedly attacked in a Toronto bar on Monday while attending the Toronto International Film Festival to screen his directorial debut, “California Schemin’.”

via: People

The actor, 46, and his wife Lisa Liberati attended the world premiere of California Schemin' at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, Sept. 6.

While having a quiet night at the bar Charlotte's Room in Toronto on Sept. 8, McAvoy was hit by a man at about 11:55 p.m., and, caught off guard, the X-Men star tried to deescalate the situation as others intervened to remove the man.

"James was having a casual get-together with the producers of his movie and, as he later learned when speaking with the staff, there was a man who drank too much who was getting escorted out," a source close to McAvoy tells PEOPLE. "James' back was to him and the man just punched him."

Afterwards, the source says, McAvoy stayed at the bar and even laughed off the incident with other patrons and the staff.

PEOPLE reached out to Charlotte's Room for comment.

McAvoy's latest movie, California Schemin' is based on the true story of two Scottish men who pretend to be Americans in order to become hip-hop stars. The cast includes Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell.

While visiting the PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock studio at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 7, McAvoy told PEOPLE that directing for the first time was "stressful" but "amazing."

"I've loved telling stories as an actor for 30 years," he said. "It's an extension of that. I now love telling stories as a director because I get more tools with which to tell those stories. It was a privilege."