Raucous Full Trailer for ‘California Schemin’ Film from James McAvoy
by Alex Billington
February 12, 2026
Source: YouTube
“You know none of this is real, right?” 🎤 🏴 “This is what we wanted!” “This is not what we wanted…” Studiocanal UK has launched the full official trailer for the film titled California Schemin’, marking the directorial debut of Scottish actor James McAvoy as his first film. McAvoy directs and exec produces and also co-stars in the film, which premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival last year in the fall. Set to open in April 2026 in UK / Ireland, but still nothing on any US release yet. An irresistible, feel-good underdog tale about two Scottish men pretending to be Americans to achieve their dreams of hip-hop stardom. It’s based on an actual story that’s stranger than fiction. Inspired by outrageous real events, California Schemin’ follows two aspiring Scottish MCs who devise an audacious scheme to achieve their big dream of a record deal, by posing as Californian hip hop artists (under the name “Silibil N’ Brains”). As fame beckons and the lies pile up, their friendship is put to the test. Starring Samuel Bottomley & Séamus McLean Ross as the duo, with Lucy Halliday, Rebekah Murrell, & James McAvoy. Seems like it’s about some wild and crazy good times. A cautionary tale, for sure, but also an entertaining story about young Scottish dreamers.
Here’s the main official trailer (+ poster) for James McAvoy’s film California Schemin’, from YouTube:
And here’s a trailer for a 2013 documentary about the real “Silibil N’ Brains” rappers – also from YouTube:
You can watch the teaser trailer for James McAvoy’s California Schemin’ film right here for more footage.
Via TIFF: “Inspired by the real-life saga of Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, a.k.a. Gavin Bain (Séamus McLean Ross) and Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley), the film follows the unexpected journey of two lifelong friends from Dundee who dream of hip-hop superstardom. There’s just one problem: nobody takes two white guys with thick regional accents seriously in the UK’s early 2000s rap scene, especially not the London gatekeepers who laugh them out of an audition. Back home and humiliated, the pair hatch a plan so absurd it just might work: they’ll reinvent themselves as hard-partying MCs from Southern California complete with fake backstories & convincing-enough American accents. Against all odds — and with sharp commentary on image, identity, the music industry’s obsession with authenticity — they take off, conning even one of the industry’s top producers (McAvoy). But keeping up the lie without losing sight of what’s real becomes harder as stakes rise, and as cracks beneath the bravado & between friends begin to widen.“
California Schemin’ is directed by Scottish actor / filmmaker James McAvoy, directing his first ever film after producing the film Filth previously. The screenplay is written by Archie Thomson and Elaine Gracie; based on the story of Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd. Produced by Danny Page, Paul Aniello, Simon Kay, Michael Mendelsohn. This initially premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival. Studiocanal will release California Schemin’ in UK & Irish cinemas on April 10th, 2026 this spring. Still no US release date set – stay tuned.
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