Jenna Ortega, Natalie Portman and Sterling K. Brown are among the stars featured in the first look at The Gallerist, an upcoming dark comedy that promises to deliver a twisted take on the contemporary art world.
The newly revealed images offer a glimpse of the film’s eccentric characters, including Portman as a struggling art gallery owner and Ortega as her assistant. Directed by Cathy Yan (Birds of Prey), the film combines the high-pressure world of modern art with an increasingly bizarre story involving an unexpected death and an attempt to turn tragedy into a headline-grabbing spectacle.
One of the first-look images features Portman sporting a striking platinum blonde bob as she examines a sculpture titled “The Emasculator.” Other images showcase Da’Vine Joy Randolph delivering a speech at the gallery, Ortega looking concerned alongside Portman, and Daniel Brühl and Catherine Zeta-Jones reacting to an apparent unfolding crisis.
What Is ‘The Gallerist’ About?
Set against the backdrop of Art Basel Miami, The Gallerist follows Polina Polinski (Portman), a gallery owner facing financial difficulties as she prepares for a major exhibition. Hoping to generate attention for her show, Polina invites art influencer Dalton Hardberry (Zach Galifianakis) to assess the work of emerging artist Stella Burgess (Randolph).
However, the event takes a disturbing turn when an accidental death throws the exhibition into chaos. Rather than allowing the incident to destroy her professional ambitions, Polina attempts to transform the situation into a sensational art-world moment, setting the stage for a darkly comic story about ambition, deception and the pursuit of fame.
Ortega plays Kiki Gorman, Polina’s assistant, while Brown portrays Tom, a canned tuna tycoon and Polina’s ex-husband. The ensemble also includes Charli XCX and Youssef Kerkour, alongside Brühl, Zeta-Jones and Galifianakis.
A Star-Studded Collaboration
The film reunites Ortega and Zeta-Jones, who previously played mother and daughter in Netflix’s Wednesday. Their return to the screen together adds another point of interest to an already impressive ensemble.
For Yan, the project follows Birds of Prey and continues her work exploring unconventional characters and offbeat storytelling. Portman also takes on a central creative role behind the scenes, serving as one of the film’s producers alongside Ash Sarohia, Sophie Mas, Jonathan King, Tom McCarthy, Rae Baron and Zola Elgart Glassman.
The Gallerist premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, earning attention for its unusual premise and darkly comic approach to the art industry.
With its high-profile cast, satirical edge and increasingly outrageous central predicament, The Gallerist looks set to offer a distinctive spin on the intersection of art, celebrity and spectacle.
The Gallerist is scheduled to arrive in US cinemas on December 4, 2026.
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