Steven Soderbergh’s film, The Christophers, written by Ed Solomon, premiered on September 7, 2025, at the Toronto International Film Festival before receiving a limited release in U.S. cinemas on April 10, 2026, through Neon. The movie stars Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel in leading roles, focusing on a complex family drama involving art, deception, and desperate ambitions. The film’s uneasy tone reflects underlying tensions within a fractured family dynamic.
Plot Revolves Around Art, Legacy, and Deception
The story centers on Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen), once a celebrated figure in London’s 1960s and 1970s pop art scene, who has not painted in many years and struggles financially. His estranged children, played by James Corden and Jessica Gunning, are eager to secure an inheritance. They recruit Lori (Michaela Coel), an art restorer with a background as a forger, to impersonate a potential assistant to gain access to eight unfinished canvases that Julian has hidden away. Lori’s mission involves completing these paintings and returning them to storage, with plans for the works to be “discovered” only after Julian’s passing.
“Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen) was once a star of London’s 1960’s and 70’s pop art explosion, but he hasn’t painted in decades and has been broke for years. His two estranged children (James Corden, Jessica Gunning), desperate for an inheritance, hire Lori, an art restorer and former forger (Michaela Coel), to pose as a prospective assistant in order to access 8 unfinished canvases Julian has buried deep in storage. Her plan is to complete them, then return them to storage, where they are to be “discovered” upon Julian’s death.
– Ed Solomon, Screenwriter
The Film’s Atmospheric Impact and Future Anticipation
The Christophers maintains a subdued and tense atmosphere, fitting its themes of betrayal and blurred morality within the context of art and family conflict. Featuring strong performances by Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, the film highlights the complicated relationships among its characters while exploring themes of legacy and desperation. As the film reaches wider audiences, it is expected to spark conversation about the intersection of art, family expectations, and ethical boundaries in pursuit of personal gain.
