Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel Shine in Art Comedy 'The Christophers'

Steven Soderbergh's latest film is a razor-sharp meditation on art, legacy, and the right to critique.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:04am

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An extreme close-up of a cracked, glittering canvas surface in high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the unfinished paintings at the heart of the film's exploration of art, legacy, and critique.The unfinished 'Christophers' paintings at the center of the new art world comedy become a metaphor for the complex legacies and creative tensions explored in the film.NYC Today

In 'The Christophers,' a pair of wannabe heirs (James Corden and Jessica Gunning) hire a restoration specialist (Michaela Coel) to finish a series of paintings by their famous father (Ian McKellen), who wants nothing to do with them or the uncompleted works. But the film is not a typical heist movie - it's a thoughtful exploration of creativity, legacy, and who has the authority to judge art.

Why it matters

Soderbergh's film challenges conventional notions about art criticism and the relationship between artists and their work. It grapples with timely questions about generational divides, the commercialization of art, and the complex emotions that come with a long, acclaimed creative career.

The details

The story follows the restoration specialist Lori (Coel), who has her own motives for taking on the job beyond the promise of payment. She and the famous painter Julian Sklar (McKellen) have a complicated history, and Lori has been publicly critical of his later works. As they work together to complete the 'Christophers' paintings, tensions rise and the film teases the possibility of an art heist, before revealing itself to be more of a meditation on art and legacy.

  • The Christophers' will be released in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • The film will then expand to nationwide release on April 17, 2026.

The players

Ian McKellen

A legendary British actor known for his roles in films like The Lord of the Rings and X-Men, McKellen plays the famous painter Julian Sklar in The Christophers.

Michaela Coel

The acclaimed writer, director, and actress Michaela Coel plays the restoration specialist Lori, who has a complex history with McKellen's character.

James Corden

The British actor and TV personality James Corden plays one of the wannabe heirs trying to profit off of McKellen's character's unfinished paintings.

Jessica Gunning

British actress Jessica Gunning plays the other wannabe heir alongside James Corden's character.

Steven Soderbergh

The prolific American filmmaker Steven Soderbergh directed The Christophers, continuing his recent trend of smaller, more contemplative films.

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What they’re saying

“To judge art one must possess the skills to make said art.”

— Ian McKellen, as Julian Sklar

“Julian is both old and a devout rebel, with a lifetime's worth of wisdom, wit and burned bridges in his arsenal. It's a potent combination ripe for internet virality.”

— Critic

What’s next

The Christophers will expand to nationwide release on April 17, 2026 after its initial New York and Los Angeles openings.

The takeaway

Soderbergh's film challenges conventional notions about art criticism, using the complex relationship between an acclaimed painter and a restoration specialist to explore deeper questions about creativity, legacy, and who has the authority to judge art.