New mural in Glasgow for James McAvoy's California Schemin'
The Drumchapel-born star’s directorial debut, California Schemin’, is set to be released in cinemas across the UK on April 10.
Ahead of this, the impressive artwork depicting Scottish rap duo Silibil N’ Brains, who the film follows, was unveiled on the gable end of Glasgow Collective on East Campbell Street.
California Schemin' mural on the gable wall of Glasgow Collective on East Campbell Street, Glasgow. Photograph by Colin Mearns 31 March 2026 (Image: Colin Mearns)
This is situated directly opposite the Barras Market and the Barrowland Ballroom, which plays a key role in the movie.
The mural features California Schemin’s tagline ‘Get Rich or Try Lyin’.
Images taken by our photographer show that people visiting the Barras will not miss it, as it sits in a prominent position.
California Schemin’ is based on the “outrageous” true story of Dundee rappers Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd, also known as Silibil N’ Brains, who posed as Californian hip hop artists in the early 2000s to secure a record deal.
California Schemin' mural on the gable wall of Glasgow Collective on East Campbell Street, Glasgow. View of the mural as seen from Kent Street in the Barras. Photograph by Colin Mearns 31 March 2026 (Image: Colin Mearns)
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The comedy and music film closed out this year’s Glasgow Film Festival with several sold-out showings.
Our reporter got the chance to chat with James about how he felt stepping into the role of director for the first time.
He explained that it had been “really humbling” to stand on stage and direct a crowd of 2000 people at the Barrowland Ballroom for one of the scenes.
(L-R) Rebekah Murrell, Samuel Bottomley, James McAvoy, Lucy Halliday and Séamus McLean Ross attends the "California Schemin'" premiere at Glasgow Film Festival at Glasgow Film Theatre on March 08, 2026 in Glasgow (Image: (Image: Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images))
The 46-year-old said: “There was a lot of planning, forethought, and social media involved in making that happen.
“We had an amazing team who put on an actual gig for people to come and enjoy themselves, and then also saying at the end ‘, we’re going to have our guys come on and do their bit’.
“We thought maybe the audience would stay, but they don’t have to. They could just start withering away and say ‘well, we’ve had our free gig’.
“But they stayed and gave it full welly. The Glasgow crowd was incredible. It was really humbling, actually standing on stage directing 2000 people and thanking them for doing it.
“I said it at the time, I’ve worked all over the world, and I’ve been really lucky to do that. I love that.
"But I just don’t know if there’s anywhere else we could have got that kind of response. I've never been in a film with that many extras.
"I think somebody told me it would cost about £350,000 to get that many, and we couldn't afford that with our budget.
"So to be able to rely on the goodwill of an entire city's gig-going public, we are very fortunate and massively grateful."
Scenes for the film were shot in a variety of locations across Glasgow, including Maryhill, Park Circus, and Glasgow Green.
This was despite the story taking place in Dundee and London. James hailed the city as playing a “massive part” in making the film possible.
California Schemin’ will be available to watch in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from April 10.
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