When you think of James McAvoy, you think immediately of Professor Charles Xavier from X-Men. You think of him as Dr Nicholas Garrigan from The Last King of Scotland. And if you can stretch your mind that far back, you might even think of him as Steve McBride from Shameless.
And the thing each and every one of these roles has in common? He doesn’t need to be hench. In fact, his natural body shape is pretty slim.
But as anyone who’s ever dedicated some time and effort to the gym will tell you, it is possible to swell up, fill out and develop some bulging muscles.
That’s exactly what McAvoy appears to have done for his latest role in M. Night Shyamalan’s new film Glass, due for release in 2019.
McAvoy, starring alongside Hollywood legends like Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson, has needed to buff up as he plays Kevin Wendell Crumb/The Horde, a young man suffering from dissociative identity disorder.
His character possesses 23 personalities and his body chemistry changes with each personality resulting in a final personality, his 24th, called ‘The Beast’.
And boy did he become a beast.
Recent pictures have emerged of the Scottish superstar out in Philadelphia and naturally, the Internet has been unable to cope with his newfound buffness.
The polar opposite of Jonah Hill’s incredible drop in weight for certain roles, it appears McAvoy has decided to go the other way and pile on pounds of muscle at the gym.
Before we actually show you McAvoy now, let’s just remind ourselves what he looked like before…
Slim. Not skinny but by no means hench. No doubt about that.
Now, let’s take a look at the images that have got the Internet swooning…
We need to talk about James McAvoy.
I say we, I mean I. pic.twitter.com/l28DF0LqAt
— Jennifer Williams (@JenWilliamsMEN) December 5, 2017
Naturally, this tweeter wasn’t the only person to notice just how muscular McAvoy has gotten…
i can't deal with the thick james mcavoy
— thida (@porsporch) December 6, 2017
Friend: “I literally just googled new buff James mcavoy.”
— Sita (@sssssita) December 6, 2017
James McAvoy is the new anyone ? My knees are weak but I’m… pic.twitter.com/BhNdtTekOk
— Toby Kingslea (@Toby_Kingslea) December 6, 2017
Since when does James McAvoy look like this???!..holy moly ?? #thiccAF pic.twitter.com/UVzHAxpYsH
— Dray Freakin' Rizzo (@DrayaRizzo) December 6, 2017
i'm dead, y'all.. it's James McAvoy ? pic.twitter.com/R6v9RzOOlJ
— manda. (@kiwifthaz) December 6, 2017
I mean, I’ve always loved James McAvoy. I have since I was 13
But, seeing him all bulked up now has me all pic.twitter.com/jsJVGyNx87
— McAvoy (@SheOfJericho) December 6, 2017
Have y'all SEENT THIS?!?!?! WHAT IN THE WORLD?? JAMES MCAVOY BOOOYYYYY IF YOU DONT pic.twitter.com/hHXnjYKTLB
— yesen[ia] (@nesey__) December 6, 2017
Of course, whenever a Hollywood celeb buffs up or slims down for a movie role, it seems to come as a surprise to the wider public who may not follow the day-ins and day-outs of certain personalities.
However, there are those who’ve fancied McAvoy for a long time and see his ‘new attractiveness’ as a fad because well, they’ve loved him for a long time.
too bad for y’all i already wifed james mcavoy awhile back before he was thicc but it’s cool.
— kayla⚡️| december 17? (@ragncrok) December 6, 2017
everyone is so suddenly into james mcavoy now but hunny i was one hundred percent down for bestiality the SECOND i saw those furry fawn legs in the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe
— baby björk (@siltprophet) December 6, 2017
Whatever, y’all, I’ve been lusting over James McAvoy since Narnia, and then than tripled when he was in Penelope. Thicc or not, my man is delicious
— PokeyKristin (@chickenIittle) December 6, 2017
Everyone is obsessing over James McAvoy now but he has literally been my biggest celeb crush for the past 9 years ? don't try telling me how great he is because I KNOWWW
— Ciera✨ (@HeyItsCiera) December 6, 2017
Oh, so James McAvoy is suddenly attractive now that he's been working out and got muscles. Where tf were y'all before now? ?
— Tequila ❤ (@hypsterprincess) December 6, 2017
James McAvoy has been sexy since before he played Mr. Tumnus wtf are you all doing only realising him now pic.twitter.com/8n3qy9lT9t
— Denvereindeer ? (@dnvrky) December 6, 2017
As has been mentioned, McAvoy isn’t the only Hollywood A-lister to have changed their body dramatically for a new role.
Just look at Christian Bale following his preparation to play Dick Cheney…
And seeing as it gets mentioned every few months, what about Jonah Hill…
Celebrity fitness transformation – This week we want to change it up by presenting the biggest fitness and body transformations in the celeb world.
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#jonahhill makes the first cut with this amazing body transformation. pic.twitter.com/sqAMeDjVw7— Gooru Fitness (@GooruFitness) December 5, 2017
Incredible when you think about it. How much these actors and actresses have to put themselves through for our entertainment. Mind you, if I was being paid what they’re paid, I’d happily do it too.
Taking the idea of ‘being woke’ to a whole new level over a decade-long career in sport, court and online news, George has worked for titles and agencies including ESPN FC, Eurosport, LADbible and Court News UK. He may not have a degree but does have an unhealthy obsession with Lord of the Rings.