California Schemin'

James McAvoy's 2026 film as director takes off from the true story of two young men trying to make rap music in Scotland at the end of the nineties. Not taken seriously because of their accents, they pass themselves off as Californians and start meeting record companies in London in that identity. The idea is a silent hierarchy in the music industry about who counts as authentic: the same songs become valuable when sung in an American accent. McAvoy builds the story as comedy while also showing what the lie costs. He appears in a supporting role. The film stays close to its template and the final section is predictable. Who it's for: viewers who like music stories and British comedy drama. Who it's not for: anyone wanting a story outside the template, or put off by profanity.