McAvoy explained that he was offered a substantial sum, approximately £40,000 ($52,000), but faced a major drawback. Accepting the offer meant he would be on hold for about seven months, unable to take other acting jobs. Guided by his agent's advice, McAvoy declined the offer and instead chose a lower-paid theater role that he believes significantly shaped his acting career. During this time, he earned £275 ($360) a week and faced challenges, including a negative encounter with a member of the audience.
Despite this early setback, McAvoy went on to achieve significant success, starring in acclaimed films like "Atonement" alongside Keira Knightley and "The Last King of Scotland" with Forest Whitaker. While he showed little interest in the upcoming HBO reboot of "Harry Potter," McAvoy expressed a desire to explore more sci-fi and comedy roles. He acknowledged that although he has showcased humor in non-comedy roles, he feels he hasn't done enough in the sci-fi genre and comedy.