‘The Critic’ Trailer: Ian McKellen Eviscerates the West End’s Theatre Crowd in Journalism Drama

Sir Ian McKellen is now the most feared drama critic on the West End thanks to his turn in “The Critic.”

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McKellen leads the adaptation of Anthony Quinn’s 2015 novel “Curtain Call,” which centers on an aging — but iconic — journalist who teams up with an actress (Gemma Arterton) to exact revenge on his newspaper’s new owner (Mark Strong). The film is set in 1934 London.

“The Critic” is written by Academy Award nominee Patrick Marber (“ Closer, ” “Notes on a Scandal”) and is directed by Anand Tucker (“Hilary and Jackie,” “Shopgirl”).

The official synopsis reads: “Jimmy Erskine (McKellen) is the most feared theatre critic of the age.  He lives as flamboyantly as he writes and takes pleasure in savagely taking down any actor who fails to meet his standards. When the owner of the Daily Chronicle newspaper dies, and his son David Brooke (Strong) takes over, Jimmy quickly finds himself at odds with his new boss and his position under threat. In an attempt to preserve the power and influence he holds so sacred, Jimmy strikes a Faustian pact with struggling actress Nina Land (Arterton), entangling them and Brooke in a thrilling but deadly web of desire, blackmail, and betrayal.”

Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai, and Lesley Manville co-star.

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McKellen himself is a famed theater actor who most recently played Falstaff in the West End production “Players King,” which combined Shakespeare’s “Henry IV – Part 1” and “Part 2.” McKellen was hospitalized in June 2024 after falling off the stage at the Noël Coward Theater in London.

The “Lord of the Rings” alum issued a statement at the time, saying, “I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support. Since the accident, during a performance of Player Kings last night, my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists and nurses working for the National Health Service. To them, of course, I am hugely indebted. They have assured me that my recovery will be complete and speedy and I am looking forward to returning to work.”

“The Critic” premieres September 13 in theaters from Greenwich Entertainment. Check out the trailer below.