Frank and Percy Premieres at BFI London Film Festival 2026
Ian McKellen and Roger Allam star in the romance film Frank and Percy, which will have its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2026.
The romance film Frank and Percy will have its world premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 13, 2026. Sir Ian McKellen and Roger Allam reprise their stage roles in this story of a late-life connection between two older men.
During their dog walks on Hampstead Heath, two older gentlemen find their conversations about everyday aches and weather growing into an unexpected connection. Frank, played by Allam, is a retired history teacher whose wife died of cancer a few years ago. McKellen plays Percy, an openly gay academic in his 80s. Their casual friendship gradually develops into a romance after Percy asks if he can kiss Frank over a drink. Frank agreed. After the kiss, Frank said, "I felt like I did when I had a cataract removed." He later questions whether he is bisexual. Their growing connection offers both men the possibility of a new chapter, suggesting it is never too late to fall in love.
Cast and creative team
Directed by Sean Mathias and adapted from Ben Weatherill’s stage play, the film features Ian McKellen and Roger Allam in lead roles with a notable supporting cast. Mathias directed both the original two-hander play and this film adaptation, with the screenplay written by Martin Sherman. The supporting cast is a roster of British acting talent.
Producers on the film include Naomi George, David Gilbery, and John Gore. Executive producers are Jamie Anderson, Richard Batchelder, Carl Moellenberg, Jenny Seagrove, and Hilary Strong.
Supporting roles and tonal details
The film includes cameos from Ncuti Gatwa and Hugh Skinner, a performance by Stephen Fry as Percy’s waspish ex-partner, and an autumnal woodwind score that complements its warm, reflective tone. Percy uses a niche dating website called Papa Search for age-gap dates, which leads to broad comedy cameos. The movie has an easy-going good nature that ultimately wins out despite flaws in its sitcom-cartoony characterisation for some supporting roles.
Festival premiere and release outlook
Following its BFI London Film Festival premiere, Frank and Percy is expected to arrive in UK cinemas in early 2027. An official release date has not yet been announced. The trailer shows the men's initial chance encounter while walking their dogs, with Percy introducing himself and Frank inviting him to a tea shop.
Character dynamics and key moments
Frank’s volunteer work at a charity shop contrasts with Derek Jacobi’s seated character, while Belinda’s lucid moment and Percy’s ‘Yorick’ reflection add emotional depth to the narrative. Belinda, Frank's sister-in-law suffering from early onset dementia and played by Joanna Lumley, has a moment of clarity. She tells Frank, "How lucky you are to have a broken heart at 77!" In another scene, Percy has a 'Yorick moment' looking at churchyard headstones. Frank and Percy is expected to arrive in UK cinemas in early 2027.
