Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel Forge Unlikely Bond in 'The Christophers'
As screen presences and cultural figures, Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel could hardly be more different. Yet, in their new film 'The Christophers', they have crafted one of the most memorable on-screen pairings in recent years, blending McKellen's warm grandiosity with Coel's cool cunning.
An Unexpected Meeting and Instant Connection
McKellen and Coel met much like their characters do in the film, with a simple knock on the door. Coel, taking a break from writing her upcoming BBC-HBO series 'First Day on Earth' in Ghana, arrived at McKellen's London home to review the script with him and screenwriter Ed Solomon.
"I walked into your house," Coel recalls in a joint interview. "I knew who you were. You were like, 'Hello! What are you? What are you then?'"
"You looked interesting and beautiful," McKellen responds with a smile. "And you are."
The Dynamic Duo of 'The Christophers'
In the film, McKellen stars as Julian Sklar, a David Hockney-like artist who hasn't painted in years and spends his days grumbling in his dishevelled townhouse while filming personalised celebrity videos. Coel plays Lori Butler, an art restorer hired as Julian's assistant with the covert task of forging additional paintings of his famous 'Christophers' series.
The movie, described as crafty and charming, is almost entirely a two-hander, relying on the charged interplay between the two stars. They portray bitter foes, scheming co-conspirators, and fellow artists grappling with the erratic value of their work.
Bridging Generational and Artistic Divides
McKellen, 86, a titan of Shakespeare and Gandalf of the big screen, is more than twice the age of Coel, 38, the multihyphenate whose autobiography-tinged work has made her a voice for a younger generation. Despite these differences, they found immediate common ground.
"Guess what we've got in common," McKellen says. "We're neighbours." Both reside in East London, about a fifteen-minute walk apart. McKellen recalls his curiosity about the Catholic school Coel attended as a girl, while Coel jokes she might have been on a bus when he walked past.
Director Steven Soderbergh's Minimalist Approach
Steven Soderbergh, the director behind 'Out of Sight' and 'Ocean's Eleven', aimed to distill the film to its essence. "Two people in a room together is where life starts," he says. His guiding principle was not to interfere with the magnetism of his lead performers, serving as his own cameraman to capture their natural chemistry.
"There's something about the two of them together that adds up to more than the two of them," Soderbergh notes. "My job was to be sure I'm in the right place, always, to capture it and not indulge in any kind of trickery that would distract or diminish what they're doing."
Navigating the Mysteries of Film Acting
Both actors, in their own ways, are novices when it comes to film acting. Coel has only appeared in a handful of movies, including 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever', while McKellen, despite his extensive filmography, begins every movie by asking directors how to act in front of a camera—a question he says has never been fully answered.
"Having done so much theatre where the audience is present, you can hear them. You're controlling them in a sense," McKellen explains. "Making a film, they're not there. The real audience doesn't get there until the actors have gone on to the next job or died."
Themes of Artistry and Legacy
The life of an artist—craft, compensation, and legacy—is central to 'The Christophers'. Julian, nearing the end of his life, ponders what he leaves behind, prompting McKellen to reflect on his own career. "It's been the greatest delight of my life to know that there are people in whose minds my work has lingered," he shares.
Coel, at a different stage in her career, embraces the thrill of acting. "This is the cheekiest artistry," she says with a grin. The conversation even leads to a playful suggestion from McKellen: "I just had a thought that you'd be very good at playing Julian Sklar, my part in the film. And I'd have a crack at playing your part."
A Budding Friendship Beyond the Screen
Off-screen, McKellen and Coel have developed a genuine friendship. "We're a bit silly about each other," McKellen admits. Coel agrees, adding, "It's morning kisses. It's cuddles. It's 'Oh, should we have a nap?' We buddied up very much." Their bond mirrors the film's theme of artists from wildly different backgrounds finding understanding, proving that sometimes the most unlikely pairs create the most compelling stories.
