‘The Christophers’ to Open April 10 with McKellen, Coel
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- Ed Solomon said his previous collaboration with Steven Soderbergh was the HBO series “Full Circle,” which featured dozens of speaking roles across six episodes.
- The Christophers is a 100‑minute feature film starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, focusing on just two main characters.
- The script was written on spec with McKellen and Coel in mind, even though Solomon had never met either of them.
- The rehearsal process involved Solomon and Soderbergh reading the script line‑by‑line with McKellen and Coel, which Solomon described as “a master class.”
- Neon will release “The Christophers” in select theaters on April 10.
- The film evolved from an initial conventional heist concept into an “emotional heist” that explores betrayal, art, and identity.
- Jessica Gunning plays one of McKellen’s greedy children, alongside James Corden in a supporting role.
Why it matters: The film’s tight two‑character focus and intensive line‑by‑line rehearsals give Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel a rare platform to deepen their performances, while Neon’s April 10 theatrical release brings a dialogue‑driven, “emotional heist” drama to audiences seeking a departure from Soderbergh’s usual large‑scale ensembles.
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