Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega find themselves at the centre of an increasingly bizarre situation in the newly released trailer for The Gallerist, an upcoming dark comedy from Birds of Prey director Cathy Yan.
Set against the extravagant backdrop of Art Basel Miami, the film follows Polina Polinski (Portman), an ambitious art gallery owner whose career and financial situation are hanging by a thread following a difficult separation. Desperate to establish herself in the competitive art world, Polina finds herself facing an unexpected opportunity after a bizarre accident threatens to derail her plans.
When an art influencer named Dalton Hardberry (Zach Galifianakis) accidentally dies after impaling himself on an elaborate sculpture, Polina and her assistant Kiki (Ortega) make an extraordinary decision. Rather than report the incident, the pair attempt to convince everyone that the body is actually part of the artwork.
What initially appears to be a desperate attempt to save Polina’s exhibition quickly spirals into an outrageous scheme, as the supposed artwork attracts attention from wealthy collectors, social media personalities and the wider art community. With growing public interest and the police potentially closing in, maintaining the illusion becomes increasingly difficult.
The film also features an impressive ensemble cast, including Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Sterling K. Brown, Daniel Brühl, Charli XCX, Zach Galifianakis and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Zeta-Jones reunites with Ortega following their previous collaboration on Netflix’s Wednesday.
Yan, who previously directed Dead Pigs and Birds of Prey, directs from a screenplay co-written with James Pedersen. The film takes aim at the eccentricities of the contemporary art industry, exploring the relationship between creativity, celebrity culture, money and the lengths people will go to achieve recognition.
The Gallerist previously premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival before securing distribution through Roadside Attractions and Vertical.
With an unusual premise, a stacked cast and plenty of dark comedic potential, the film looks set to deliver a rather unconventional take on the art world.
The Gallerist is scheduled to arrive in US cinemas on December 4, 2026.
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