James Corden has been spotted back on set, confirming his return to acting. The actor was seen filming in London alongside Sir Ian McKellen and Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning, with BAFTA winner Michaela Coel also making an appearance.
The photos show the actors on a posh residential street, all dressed in casual yet high-end attire, sharing laughs between takes. James was seen sporting a tartan print long hooded coat with a khaki shirt underneath, accessorised with thick black-framed glasses.
He was captured sharing a smile with Baby Reindeer star Jessica, while Sir Ian looked delighted as he chatted with James, hinting at a great cast chemistry. Jessica was seen wearing a striking long red cardigan with a rose print and her brunette hair styled in loose curls.
In other shots, she donned a stunning long black coat with shearling trim detail, walking behind James who had switched his brown tartan coat for a navy blue jacket.
Sir Ian was spotted in two different outfits on set, first in a colourful striped jumper under a denim jacket, and later in an orange and yellow striped jumper. Michaela was seen sporting a vibrant long olive green coat with a satchel slung across her body, standing at the entrance of a house, reports the Mirror.
The group appeared to be enjoying their time together, all smiles during the busy day of filming. They are currently working on Steven Soderbergh’s new film, The Christophers. Soderbergh is also known for Hollywood successes like Traffic, Magic Mike and Ocean’s Eleven.
Little is known about The Christophers, but it’s a dark comedy centred around “the estranged children of a once-famous artist who hire a forger to complete his unfinished works so they can be discovered and sold after his death,” as reported by Deadline. This marks James Corden’s first return to filming following the success of the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special.
According to the BBC’s viewership figures, the finale of the popular show achieved the highest Christmas Day ratings since 2008, attracting an average audience of 12.3 million. The show’s 2019 Christmas special, which garnered an overnight audience of 11.6 million, was outdone by more than half a million viewers. Following the immense success of his new film, James has made it clear that Gavin and Stacey will not be returning.
For Ian McKellen, The Christophers signifies his comeback to acting after a harrowing injury at work forced him into a hiatus. In June 2024, Sir Ian suffered a fall headfirst into the audience at London’s Noel Coward Theatre when he tripped over a chair and lost his balance on stage during his performance as John Falstaff in Player Kings.
Sir Ian disclosed that the fat suit he donned for the role likely prevented more severe injuries to his back and ribs, although he still sustained a chipped vertebrae and a fractured wrist from the incident, necessitating a year-long break. “What I’ve been left with is not so much a physical injury, but a mental disturbance because I thought it was much more serious at the time that it was,” he shared with Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio Drivetime.
He recounted his initial fear: “I think I thought I was about to die, I thought I’d broken my neck I’d forgotten but apparently, I’d said, ‘I’ve broken my neck, I am dying’ and if I said it, I must have thought that I was. And I’ve just got to deal with that. I’m not dying, not just yet and I hope I’ll get back to acting again on stage.”
Sir Ian has previously expressed concerns that recovery from such injuries could be more challenging due to his age, but he remains determined to continue acting as long as he is physically capable.
Jessica Gunning, originally from Yorkshire, is set to return to the screen in The Christophers. She previously gained significant recognition for her role as Martha Scott, a stalker in the popular Netflix series Baby Reindeer.
The 2024 series bagged numerous awards, with Jessica herself winning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Martha. Richard Gadd, who played Donny – Martha’s victim – also received the award for Outstanding Lead Actor.