Ian McKellen is a two-time Oscar nominee, known for his roles on stage and screen, in historic and beloved roles such as Gandalf in the adaptation The Lord of the Rings film, but almost didn’t play the role. If the studio had gotten its first choice, we might have seen some other great actor play the part, but everything worked as it should, and McKellen himself has no qualms about not being the first choice for the part.
In a recent interview with Variety, McKellen talked about his most recent film, The critic. When it was first announced, Simon Russel Beale he was cast as Erskine. But after COVID delayed production, Beale was busy with other projects and McKellen took the part. When asked if it bothered the actor to be someone’s second choice, he made a gesture as if to dismiss any offensive suggestion and replied:
“I don’t think you’re ever the first choice,” noting that many other actors were offered his part The Lord of the Rings before receiving the call to travel to Middle-earth. “I certainly wasn’t the first choice for Gandalf. Tony Hopkins turn it down. Sean Connery it certainly did. They’re all coming out now, and I hope they feel silly.
They must feel ridiculous knowing now how successful those films were and how beautifully made they are. But everything went as it should, with McKellen as Gandalf, which he played perfectly.
by Jessica Fisher
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
