Neon has acquired Steven Soderbergh’s latest film, The Christophers, which had its world premiere at TIFF this past September. The chamber comedy stars Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel and was penned by Men in Black writer, Ed Solomon.

Of Coel and McKellen, RogerEbert.com‘s Brian Tallerico wrote,

Watching these two actors bounce off each other as Lori and Julian slowly discover what they have in common, too, gives “The Christophers” an intellectual life and curiosity that movies too rarely seek these days.

The feature also stars Jessica Gunning and James Corden who play the estranged children of McKellen’s Julian, an established artist. Having no interest in finishing his artwork that could be worth millions, the siblings approach Lori to complete it.

The Oscar-winning Soderbergh has been behind many acclaimed films including Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and Ocean’s Eleven. He most recently directed Black Bag, which starred Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender.

Oscar-nominated McKellen has appeared in celebrated films, The Lord of The Rings and Gods and Monsters. Coel rose to fame with her “astonishing, beautiful, thrilling” series I May Destroy You which explores the trauma of sexual assault.

Neon acquired both the domestic and international distribution rights. It will release the film theatrically in the U.S. in 2026.