Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen Team Up to Forge Paintings in “The Christophers” Trailer

Jack SmartThu, February 26, 2026 at 5:01 PM UTC

0

The Christophers, from director Steven Soderbergh, is in theaters April 10

The British comedy-drama stars Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, Jessica Gunning and James Corden

A new trailer shows McKellen and Coel as artists grappling with completing a famous series of paintings

Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel make an unlikely duo in their latest movie.

In the newly released trailer for The Christophers, McKellen, 86, spars with Coel, 38. The former plays Julian, a once-prolific artist whose children (played by Jessica Gunning and James Corden) hire another painter (Coel) to complete his series of famous paintings.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh with a script by Ed Solomon, The Christophers is so titled over the paintings in question. Coel’s character quickly surmises that she’s been hired to commit forgery, replicating McKellen’s famous style.

Advertisement

Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen in "The Christophers"Credit: Courtesy of TIFF

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“What makes you think that you could do it?” the Oscar nominee can be heard asking Coel after she comes clean to him. “I guess that’s where the art of it comes it,” she responds.

It's a busy year for McKellen, who stars opposite Johnny Depp in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol (in theaters Nov. 13) and will reprise his role as mutant Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday (in theaters Dec. 18). Coel, meanwhile, also stars with Anne Hathaway in Mother Mary (in theaters April 17).

Following rave reviews for its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Christophers is in theaters April 10.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”