James McAvoy’s Directorial Debut: ‘California Schemin”

For a brief period at the turn of the millennium, the Californian hip-hop duo Silibil N’ Brains captivated audiences with their fame, record deal and even an opening slot for D-12. The duo’s story took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that Silibil N’ Brains were, in fact, Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, two Scottish friends who reinvented themselves to gain recognition in the music industry. Now, their story is being brought to the massive screen with California Schemin’, a biographical musical film marking James McAvoy’s directorial debut.

The Story Behind the Hoax

Tired of being dismissed as the “rapping Proclaimers,” Bain and Boyd adopted American personas to overcome the skepticism they faced as Scottish rappers . For three years, they successfully maintained the facade, securing a record deal with Sony, appearances on MTV, and even sharing the stage with Eminem’s hip-hop collective, D12 .

The Film: ‘California Schemin”

California Schemin’ (stylized as California $chemin’) is based on Gavin Bain’s 2010 memoir, California Schemin’: How Two Lads from Scotland Conned the Music Industry . The film stars Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as Silibil N’ Brains, with James McAvoy also appearing in a role . The cast also includes Lucy Halliday and Rebekah Murrell .

Directed by James McAvoy, with a screenplay by Elaine Gracie and Archie Thomson, the film is a production of Patriot Pictures and Homefront Productions . Cinematography is by James Rhodes, and editing is by Joe Sawyer. The music is composed by Raffertie .

Release Dates and Distribution

California Schemin’ premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025 . It is scheduled for release in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2026, distributed by StudioCanal, and in the United States by Magenta Light Studios . The film has a running time of 107 minutes .

McAvoy on the Project

James McAvoy described the film as being “as rooted in the California rap scene of the early 2000s as it is in the working-class Scottish setting where our story begins.” He added that the film tells a story about friendship, rap, and “glorious failure” with the potential to move, shock, and entertain . He also highlighted the script’s ability to capture the “desperation, bravery, talent and sheer con artist genius” of Bain and Boyd .