Theatre artists, beware. Ian McKellen is in the audience, and he's brought his notepad.

Watch the new trailer for the forthcoming film The Critic, which casts Tony and Olivier winner McKellen as a feared theatre critic, above.

Written by Patrick Marber and directed by Anand Tucker, the thriller is set in 1930s London and will be released in U.K. cinemas September 13. McKellen is joined by Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai, and Lesley Manville.

READ: Update: McKellen Isn't Returning to Player Kings Following Onstage Fall

In the film, vicious theatre critic Jimmy Erskine (McKellen) finds himself suddenly in the cross hairs of the Daily Chronicle’s new owner David Brooke (Strong). He strikes a sinister Faustian pact with struggling actress Nina Land (Arterton) who is desperate to win his favor.

Bill Kenwright and Jolyon Symonds produce the film, which is based on Anthony Quinn’s Curtain Call novel.

McKellen is currently recuperating following an onstage fall while performing in London's Player Kings. He's expected to make a full recovery, but was forced to sit out the remainder of the West End performances and drop out of the production's planned U.K. tour.

Click here for more information.