James McAvoy has stepped up for a new acting challenge, after being chosen to play the lead character in the upcoming thrillerMy Son, which will be a remake of the french filmMon Garçon. The movie’s English adaptation will be produced by STX Entertainment with original French director Christian Carion reprising his duties.
My Sonis apsychological thrillercentered around a semi-absent divorced father (McAvoy), who one day receives a call from his ex-wife (Claire Foy) telling him that his son has gone missing during a camping trip. Fearing for his son’s life after the potential kidnapping, the father goes on an all-out hunt to find him before it’s too late.
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However, the unique aspect ofMon Garçonlies in director Christian Carion’s artistic choices, who originally kept his lead protagonist, French actor Guillaume Canet (Love Me If You Dare), completely in the dark about the story’s plot, providing no script and keeping him limited to only a brief character description and free pass for improvisation. If that all sounds a little crazy, then also be warned that the French version ofMy Sonwas shot in only six days.
It’s still not clear if Carion will aim to or even be allowed to fully replicate his methods, but Adam Fogelson, chairman of STX, made clear that “James will be doing the detective work of the film in real time, on camera, to create real tension for this thriller”.
McAvoy is of course no stranger to unconventional roles, as aside from his Professor X in theX-Menmovies, he isknown for his portrayal of all 24 personalitiesliving inside Kevin Wendell Crumb’s head in M. Night Shyamalan’sSplitandGlass. Suffice to say, the well renowned McAvoy is not only up to the task of improvising an entire lead character facing a thriller plot, but will perhaps relish the opportunity to do so.
WhileMy Son’soriginal French release was not a commercial or critical hit by any means, Christian Carion will be eager to seize his shot at nailing such a particular vision just right this time around. Englishremakes and adaptationsof successful films foreign films already have a hard time making a smooth creative and cultural transition, but with James McAvoy at his disposal Carion won’t have lack of talent to blame. Just maybe don’t rush the filming too much this time.
