‘X-Men’ Star James McAvoy and Erin Doherty’s Eerie New Drama Just Landed a Major Toronto Premiere – Check out The First Look

Some of the most intriguing films on the festival circuit are the ones that keep audiences guessing right up until the credits roll, and this next project is shaping up to be exactly that kind of slow-burn mystery. With production wrapped and a prestigious festival slot now secured, fans are finally getting their first proper look at one of 2026’s most anticipated genre dramas.

‘Faith’ brings together James McAvoy and Erin Doherty for their first collaboration, pairing two of British cinema’s most acclaimed performers under the direction of Paul Andrew Williams. The film marks Williams’ seventh feature and follows his critically praised 2025 release ‘Dragonfly,’ continuing his reputation for dark, emotionally grounded storytelling.

New first-look images have now confirmed the film’s core premise, showing McAvoy and Doherty together in quietly tense, atmospheric scenes ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this September. According to the official synopsis, the story follows Gina, a devoted single mother whose life is upended when she meets Michael, a quietly enigmatic stranger whose true intentions remain frustratingly unclear.

That ambiguity sits at the heart of the film’s supernatural framing, with the synopsis teasing that Michael’s presence could be caring, romantic, or something far more sinister. When Gina’s life is eventually turned upside down and his real identity comes to light, she reportedly discovers a path back toward embracing life more fully, suggesting the film ultimately lands on a note of hope rather than horror.

Williams has described the project in deeply personal terms, calling it a story of strength and hope set within a familiar reality that’s quietly shadowed by something otherworldly and difficult to fully explain. He’s also spoken about feeling fortunate to work with a cast and crew who share his vision for what the film is trying to achieve.

For Doherty, ‘Faith’ represents a major creative step following her Emmy and Golden Globe-winning turn in ‘Adolescence,’ marking her first major lead role in a feature film. McAvoy, meanwhile, brings his own recent momentum to the project, having just stepped behind the camera for his directorial debut ‘California Schemin’,’ which also premiered at TIFF the previous year.

Rounding out the cast are Liv Hill and Smylie Bradwell, adding further depth to a project that’s clearly been assembled with awards-season ambitions in mind. The film is produced by Dominic Tighe and Danny Page, with Bankside Films and Logical handling international sales for buyers.

‘Faith’s’ inclusion in TIFF’s 2026 lineup places it among a stacked slate of Gala Presentations, sharing space with high-profile titles like Anton Corbijn’s ‘A Talent for Murder’ starring Helen Mirren, and Takashi Miike’s ‘Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo.’ The festival runs from September 10 through 20 in Toronto, giving ‘Faith’ its official world premiere platform alongside some of the year’s most closely watched cinematic debuts.

Given the strength of both leads’ recent work and Williams’ track record for emotionally rich genre filmmaking, expectations are already building for how ‘Faith’ will be received once it screens for festival audiences. Whether the film leans further into its supernatural mystery or grounds itself more firmly in Gina’s emotional journey remains to be seen, but the pairing of McAvoy and Doherty alone is enough to make this one of the fall’s most intriguing new releases.

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