{"id":239,"date":"2026-10-05T22:37:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T22:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/?p=239"},"modified":"2026-10-12T07:55:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T14:55:53","slug":"new-movie-old-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/new-movie-old-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Frank and Percy&#8221; \/ New Movie: Old Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ddbf6ee2 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<p class=\"wp-container-content-daa0d230 wp-block-paragraph\">When Stonewall UK was set on repealing all our antiquated anti-gay laws, <strong>Joanna Lumley<\/strong> and <strong>Stephen Fry<\/strong> were first in the queue to help raise funds and argue the case for law reform. Nearly 30 years on we are reunited. We all three were in John Schlesinger\u2019s masterly <em><a href=\"https:\/\/ianmckellen.us\/vault\/1995\/01\/01\/cold-comfort-farm\/\">Cold Comfort Farm<\/a><\/em> and now here we are again in anther joyful movie, <em>Frank &amp; Percy<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6acdb19a76775&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6acdb19a76775\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2013\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5.-DSCF0719.jpg\" alt=\"Joanna Lumley in &quot;Frank &amp; Percy&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-240\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dame Joanna is absolutely fabulous as ever, as Franks\u2019s sister-in-law. Photo by Frederic Aranda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6acdb19a76cfe&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6acdb19a76cfe\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2012\" height=\"2500\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/16.-DSCF1796.jpg\" alt=\"Stephen Fry &amp; Ian McKellen filming &quot;Frank &amp; Percy&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-242\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sir Stephen plays Percy&#8217;s ex-boyfriend. Photo by Frederic Aranda.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6acdb19a7710b&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6acdb19a7710b\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1871\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/16.-DSCF1769.jpg\" alt=\"Stephen Fry &amp; Ian McKellen filming &quot;Frank &amp; Percy&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-241\"\/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The first time we have ever shared a bed.  Photo by Frederic Aranda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Stonewall UK was set on repealing all our antiquated anti-gay laws, Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry were first in the queue to help raise funds and argue the case for law reform. Nearly 30 years on we are reunited. We all three were in John Schlesinger\u2019s masterly Cold Comfort Farm and now here we &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/new-movie-old-friends\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;&#8220;Frank and Percy&#8221; \/ New Movie: Old Friends&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-frank-and-percy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":287,"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions\/287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckellen.com\/wp3\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}