Ian McKellen Talks About Not Being the First Choice to Play Gandalf in THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Ian McKellen is a two-time Academy Award-nominee, known for his roles on stage as well as on screen, in roles historical and beloved like that of Gandalf in the adapted The Lord of the Rings films, but he almost didn’t play the role. If the studio had gotten its first choice(s), we could have seen some other great actor play the part, but it all worked out 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 chatted about his most recent film, The Critic. When it was first announced, Simon Russell Beale was cast in the role of Erskine. But after COVID delayed production, Beale was busy with other projects, and McKellen took on the part. When asked if it bothered the actor to be somebody’s second choice, he made a gesture as if to swat away any suggestion of offense, and replied:

“I don’t think you’re ever the first choice,” noting that a lot of other actors were offered his part in The Lord of the Rings before he got the call to journey to Middle-earth. “I certainly wasn’t the first choice for Gandalf. Tony Hopkins turned it down. Sean Connery certainly did. They’re all coming out of the woodwork now, and I hope they feel silly.”

They must feel ridiculous knowing now how successful those films ended up being, and how beautifully made they are. But it all turned out the way it was supposed to, with McKellen as Gandalf, which he played perfectly.