James McAvoy’s directorial debut California Schemin’ has just released a first trailer, looking into the incredible real-life story of one of the music industry’s most entertaining hoaxes.
The X-Men and Atonement star directs this adaptation of autobiography Straight Outta Scotland, a memoir on the wild, “outrageous” ride of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains.
In 2003, members Gavin Bain, who penned the book, and Billy Boyd pretended to be American in order to be taken seriously by the record industry and things snowballed from there.
Premiered at Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, the film has confirmed a release date of 10 April next year.
Anticipated by the very apt tagline “Get rich… or try lying”, the film chronicles the highs and lows of Bain and Boyd, played by Séamus McLean Ross and Samuel Bottomley, respectively.
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Back in 2003, the two lads from Dundee started spreading a fabricated story about their supposed American background.
They would go around saying they were from LA in the hope this would shoot them to the top, ending up embarking on a journey that would take them to sign a record deal and tour with Eminem.
“How? Your accents are pure shite!” another character asks in disbelief in the trailer when Billy confirms that everyone thinks they’re actually from the States.
StudioCanal UK
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McAvoy doesn’t just sit behind the camera for this one as he stars as Anthony Reid, while James Corden also makes an appearance in a secondary role. Blue Jean’s Lucy Halliday and One Day’s Rebekah Murrell also feature.
Following its Toronto premiere, the film received favourable reviews, earning a rating of 95% from 22 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics have praised it as a “confident, entertaining, and deeply personal” movie that “gives Scotland’s underdog spirit its due” (via Collider), while The Hollywood Reporter described McAvoy’s direction of this “hard-to-resist” tale of rags to riches as “talented”.
California Schemin’ is released in cinemas on 10 April 2026.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.Â
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).Â