James McAvoy punched at Toronto bar after TIFF premiere

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James McAvoy was reportedly attacked while celebrating the premiere of his directorial debut California Schemin’ at the Toronto International Film Festival this week.

According to a report published by PEOPLE, McAvoy was having a quiet night at Charlotte’s Room on King St. W. at Simcoe St. with the producers of his movie when he was hit by a man at around 11:55 p.m. Monday.

A source close to McAvoy told the outlet that the actor, who has starred in Split and Glass and played Professor Xavier in the X-Men movies, was hit from behind.

“James was having a casual get-together with the producers of his movie and, as he later learned when speaking with the staff, there was a man who drank too much who was getting escorted out. James’ back was to him and the man just punched him,” they told the outlet.

The source said that McAvoy hung back afterwards “and even laughed off the incident with other patrons and the staff.”

Postmedia has reached out to Charlotte’s Room and TIFF for additional comment.

McAvoy’s latest work behind the camera is based on a true story and centres on two aspiring rappers from Scotland who pretended to be Americans to achieve their dreams of hip-hop stardom in America.

In an interview at TIFF, McAvoy praised his film’s subjects, Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, saying they were “folk heroes” like “Robin Hood.”

“Nobody cares that they got caught,” McAvoy told Variety. “Nobody cares that they never made it. We just love that they f***ing went down there and played the system. When the system’s rigged against you, try to undermine it or circumvent it. Game the game!”

mdaniell@postmedia.com