James McAvoy shines in Split, mastering multiple personalities after Joaquin Phoenix’s last-minute exit from the project.

M. Night Shyamalan’s filmmaking genius has produced several high-rated projects. The director, quite famous for his shocking twists and endings, created a masterpiece named Split all the way back in 2016. It featured James McAvoy, who plays a man with dissociative identity disorder. The movie broke several records and placed Shyamalan as one of Hollywood’s finest filmmakers.

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in Joker 2

However, before McAvoy was cast in the role, it was Joaquin Phoenix who was leading the project. The actor quit the project last minute, showcasing his usual habit of abruptly leaving movies.

James McAvoy Had Replaced Joaquin Phoenix in Split

James McAvoy in Split (2016)

In Hollywood, one actor leaving a project becomes another actor’s golden opportunity. In the same manner, when Joaquin Phoenix abruptly left M. Night Shyamalan’s American psychological thriller Split, it became James McAvoy’s golden chance to showcase his talents in a very different but darker role.

McAvoy did complete justice to the role. Further, during an interview with Josh Horowitz in his Happy Sad Confused podcast, he recalled what it was like to step into a role that originally belonged to Phoenix. He added:

He’s an amazing actor. I think he’d give a very different performance than the one I did, but I think he’d give an incredible performance. Sometimes, coming in last minute is the best way, not to overthink it all. I think he ditched it like two weeks before they started shooting. It was really last minute.

McAvoy was given only two weeks to rigorously prepare for the role. And given the straightforward nature of the script, he knew right away how he’d approach the role. While the characters Patricia and Dennis came naturally to him, he had to put in more effort when playing Hedwig.

But it was during the table read of the movie that the actor found his footing. To make matters more interesting, Shyamalan asked him to give his character a speech impediment, specifically a lisp, just before the table read. The actor did the same, and it perfectly blended with how they had imagined the character.

McAvoy had nothing but kind words for Phoenix. But it also brings forth a major issue with the Joker 2 actor, who’s known to quit projects at the last minute.

Joaquin Phoenix Abruptly Leaves Todd Haynes’ Movie

Joaquin Phoenix in and as Joker

In the midst of Joker 2, Joaquin Phoenix has stirred up a huge controversy after dropping out of Todd Haynes’ untitled gay romance movie. The shocking twist is that he did this just five days before the shooting officially began. Further, his sudden departure from the project has left the entire cast and crew in jeopardy and has left the actor open to facing several legal repercussions for the same.

The premise of the movie followed a gay romance set in the 1930s, and reportedly, the actor got cold feet exactly before the filming. While the exact reasons for his departure are unclear at the moment, the actor has a history of backing out of projects.

For example, he threatened to quit Ridley Scott’s Napoleon unless writer Paul Thomas Anderson was brought in for rewrites. Though he continued with the movie, the actor’s antics have apparently cast a sour spell on several Hollywood directors and producers.