Sir Ian McKellen (come on now – you know who he is!) and Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You) are electric in this new black comedy, set in the London art world. It comes from acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Ed Solomon.
How to watch The Christophers in Australia
The Christophers is screening exclusively in Australian cinemas from June 4, 2026.
What is The Christophers about?
Elderly painter Julian Sklar was once the toast of the London art scene, thanks to two series of paintings called “the Christophers” based on his former lover. Now, living on past glories, he hasn’t painted in years, leaving a third set of works unfinished. As he approaches the end of his life, his children, Barnaby and Sallie, hire artist turned forger Lori to take on a job as his assistant. But her real job is to clandestinely finish the third series of paintings so that they can be “discovered” after his death and sold for a tidy sum.
What follows is an arch comedy about art, love, loss… and possibly redemption, as the cynical Julian and the desperate Lori find an unexpected connection through both their work and their shared past.
The cast of The Christophers
Ian McKellen is faded artist Julian Sklar, Michaela Coel is artist and forger Lori Butler, and James Corden and Jessica Gunning are Barnaby and Sallie Sklar, Julian’s adult children.
The Christophers trailer
Why we’re excited about The Christophers
Steven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon are something of a dream time, having previously collaborated on the noir thriller No Sudden Move, the kidnapping drama Full Circle, and Mosaic, an experimental mystery series also released as an interactive app. So their work is always worth a spin. Add living legend Sir Ian McKellen and rising star Michaela Coel to the mix, and The Christophers becomes unmissable.