Soderbergh and Solomon on "The Christophers," AI, and Artistic Legacy

Director Steven Soderbergh and writer Ed Solomon have discussed their new film, "The Christophers," in multiple interviews. The film, which explores themes of artistic legacy and mentorship, was released in a limited theatrical run on April 10. The discussions also covered the filmmakers' differing views on artificial intelligence, reflections on past projects, and their creative process.

Film Details and Concept

"The Christophers" began a limited theatrical release on April 10.

Key Personnel: The film is directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon. The two have previously collaborated on projects including "No Sudden Move," "Mosaic," and "Full Circle."

Cast: The film stars Ian McKellen as a painter and Michaela Coel as his assistant.

Origin: Soderbergh stated the project originated from a one-sentence pitch to Solomon about an older artist and a younger apprentice with potentially deceptive motives.

Development: Solomon stated he developed the story to incorporate themes of mentorship, insecurity, ego, and legacy. He noted drawing on observations of artists for whom fame became restrictive and incorporated personal elements, such as his mother being a painter.

Creative Approach: Soderbergh stated the film's development was guided by human behavior rather than genre conventions. He described the film as accessible but not a large-scale commercial production.

Casting and Performances

Soderbergh stated he cast Michaela Coel after being impressed by her performance in the series "I May Destroy You."

Regarding Ian McKellen's performance, Solomon noted that McKellen had expressed concerns about life without acting, which Solomon felt related to his character's themes of identity and anxiety. Soderbergh stated he observed no lingering physical effects from a stage fall McKellen experienced in 2024.

On the characters, Soderbergh stated the painter's adult children behave as they do due to a lack of parental approval. He also stated that McKellen's character, Julian, shows limited behavioral change by the film's conclusion, primarily altering his behavior toward Coel's character.

Statements on Artificial Intelligence

The filmmakers expressed differing personal approaches to using AI tools:

• Soderbergh's View: Soderbergh confirmed using AI to create surrealistic imagery for his documentary "John Lennon: The Last Interview," describing it as a cost-effective solution for a specific creative problem. He stated he plans to use AI on an upcoming project about the Spanish-American War.

  Soderbergh said he views AI as a tool for solving creative problems, is not threatened by it, and feels an obligation to understand new technologies.

• Solomon's View: Ed Solomon stated he is not interested in using AI as a writing tool, as he values the creative process itself.

Context: Soderbergh's recent comments on using AI have drawn criticism from some commentators on social media who believe the technology could threaten industry jobs. His documentary "John Lennon: The Last Interview" has been selected for the Cannes film festival.

Reflections on Other Projects

• "Black Bag": Soderbergh stated the commercial performance of his previous film, "Black Bag," led him to consider seeking future projects that have both artistic merit and the potential for a larger audience.

• Canceled "Star Wars" Film: Soderbergh confirmed a "Star Wars" film project he was developing, titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo," was cancelled. He stated he does not consider the development time wasted, as it provided valuable problem-solving experience.

• Influences: When asked for a film that set a tone for "The Christophers," Soderbergh cited John Schlesinger's "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" for its complex, non-judgmental portrayal of characters.

Themes and Creative Process

Soderbergh described a fear of creative decline, which he termed "the slackening" or "night sweat material," as a common concern for artists. He stated his focus is on creating environments for collaboration.

Solomon stated his writing process focuses on finding truthful and surprising character moments rather than adhering to a rigid plot structure. For "The Christophers," he stated the goal was for character changes to be internal rather than overt.