Ian mckellen is tired of hollywoods obsession with. Twice nominated for the oscar, and recipient of every major theatrical award in uk and us, ian mckellen is widely regarded as one of the worlds finest actors. Rowling to release 4 more harry potter books this year. Sir ian mckellen who is famous for bringing gandalf in the lord of the rings to life on the big screen almost played another fictional wizard. Turned down the role of albus dumbledore in harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban 2004.
Til ian mckellen was offered the role of dumbledore after the. Ian mckellen and peter otoole, who had a longtime friendship with harris. Be sorted, earn house points, take classes with our fine hogwarts staff, debate which actor portrayed dumbledore the best, and finally get some closure for your post potter depression. Visit ian mckellens personal website, with full biography and thousands of photos including lord of the rings, xmen, hobbit and da vinci code. Sir ian mckellen refused to play dumbledore in harry potter.
Why ian mckellen turned down dumbledore in harry potter. Ian mckellen posts fascinating lord of the rings diary entries. Ian mckellen is tired of hollywoods obsession with straight. Wait, its a lie that ian mckellen turned down playing harry. Fans are loving ian mckellens critique of fantastic beasts. Curious to know why sir ian mckellen originally turned down the. Apr 04, 2017 ian mckellen played a famed wizard from middleearth in the lord of the rings films, but he could have almost been headmaster of hogwarts in the harry potter franchise as well. Harry potter trivia, quizzes, and brain teasers mental floss.
Ian mckellen explains why he passed on playing dumbledore. Rowlings first four harry potter books top 190 million. Though a vagabond with a soft side, he isnt always laughs and fireworks, as he nimbly bounces between the roles of friend, advisor. Ian mckellen will show readers what makes a great actor tick. Sir ian mckellen rejected the role of professor dumbledore in the harry potter movies because richard harris didnt respect him as an actor the 77yearold star was offered the chance to replace.
Widely regarded as one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native great britain and. Apr 04, 2017 sir ian mckellen has said he could never have taken over the role of professor dumbledore in the harry potter films after the death of richard harris because he knew harris disapproved of him as. Sir ian mckellen, renowned for playing gandalf in lord of the rings, has revealed he turned down an offer to play albus dumbledore in the beloved harry potter. My own participating in that campaign was a focus for people to take comfort that if ian mckellen was on board for this, perhaps it would be all right for other people to be as well, gay and straight. Dec 09, 20 sir ian mckellen has hit back at damian lewis after the homeland star said he did not want to end up a fruity actor known for playing wizards mckellen, who reprises his role as gandalf in the. Their portrayal reflected what happened to the character in the books too. May 30, 2018 leave it to ian mckellen to spill some tea and get the internet buzzing.
Gambon won our hearts as the replacement dumbledore in the next 6 harry potter films. Rowling announces harry potter at home site with magical crafts and activities for everyone stuck inside. Add to all this his tireless political activism in the cause of gay equality and you have a veritable phenomenon. Harry potters original dumbledore actor, richard harris, had made some comments about various actors, including ian mckellen, saying. Apparently not everyone is a fan of sir ian mckellen richard harris, who played albus dumbledore in the first two harry potter films before his death in 2002, once said that mckellen was.
When actor richard harris, who played hogwarts headmaster albus dumbledore in the first two harry potter films, died in 2002, the filmmakers needed to find a replacement fast for the third. But sir ian mckellen turned down harry potter producers when they asked him to play dumbledore. Sir ian mckellen didnt turn down dumbledore after all. Though his role in the film adaptation of lord of the rings introduced him to a new audience, mckellen had a thriving. An archive of our own, a project of the organization for transformative works. These popular actors probably regret turning down harry. He turned it down because harris once described mckellen as technically brilliant, but passionless. Why ian mckellen turned down harry potter role page six. Harry potter is the quintessential hero who will appeal to adults as well as young children as he battles his way through a magical world of evil villains and befriends a host of unique and colorful characters. Section 28 was, however, enacted and remained on the statute books. Apr 04, 2017 ian mckellen has revealed why he turned down the role of dumbledore in the harry potter film series after richard harris death in 2002. From the stage to the screen, sir ian mckellen has played a number of. Jul 25, 2006 harry potter is the quintessential hero who will appeal to adults as well as young children as he battles his way through a magical world of evil villains and befriends a host of unique and colorful characters. In speaking with bbc hardtalk during a recent interview, the 77yearold actor revealed that he was contacted about taking on the role of dumbledore in the harry potter franchise.
Ian mckellen sir ian murray mckellen, ch is an english actor. Otoole was a heavy favorite as not only was he a close friend of the late richard harris, but harriss family also publicly expressed their. Why ian mckellen didnt play dumbledore in harry potter. Sir ian mckellen reveals the real reason he didnt appear in. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, a screen actors guild award, a bif award, two saturn awards, four drama desk awards and two critic. Sir ian mckellen turned down offer to play harry potters. Harry potter trivia, quizzes, and brain teasers mental. Sir ian mckellen reveals the real reason he said no to playing dumbledore sir ian mckellen has revealed why he did not take up the role of albus dumbledore in the harry potter series. Mckellen was recently interviewed on bbc news hardtalk, and spoke about how he was approached to play dumbledore in the later harry potter movies, but declined. Ian mckellen the definitive biography of sir ian mckellen from an acclaimed biographer in 2001, ian mckellen put on the robe and pointed hat of a wizard named gandalf and won a place in the hearts of tolkien fans worldwide. Why ian mckellen turned down dumbledore role in harry. Fans of both harry potter and ian mckellen will be aggrieved to learn that the actor was actually considered for the role of professor dumbledore following the death of richard harris, but he. Apr 04, 2017 apparently not everyone is a fan of sir ian mckellen richard harris, who played albus dumbledore in the first two harry potter films before his death in 2002, once said that mckellen was. A biography probes the heart of the actor, recreating his greatest stage roles and exploring his personal life.
Ian mckellen has revealed why he turned down the role of dumbledore in the harry potter film series after richard harris death in 2002. Sir ian mckellen official home page acting activism. The first time is a bit heavy going but read it again and you pick up things you may have missed. Give these books to the most unenthusiastic readers and you are guaranteed to create faithful potter fans. For most of the series, he is the headmaster of the wizarding school hogwarts. I be interested in being in the harry potter films, they didnt say what part, but. Apr 04, 2017 mckellen was recently interviewed on bbc news hardtalk, and spoke about how he was approached to play dumbledore in the later harry potter movies, but declined. At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in harry potter. Apr 05, 2017 sir ian mckellen, renowned for playing gandalf in lord of the rings, has revealed he turned down an offer to play albus dumbledore in the beloved harry potter series because the actor he was.
The original lord of the rings books, and xmen comics, both feature a character named sauron, and a book entitled the return of the king. Sir ian mckellen has hit back at damian lewis after the homeland star said he did not want to end up a fruity actor known for playing wizards mckellen, who reprises his. As part of his backstory, it is revealed that he is the founder and leader of the order of the phoenix, an organisation dedicated to fighting lord voldemort, the. This article is about the headmaster of hogwarts during harry potters tenure at the school. May 23, 2018 ian mckellen has never been shy about slamming the film. Why ian mckellen turned down dumbledore role in harry potter. Did he ever turn down the part of albus dumbledore in the harry potter movies. He used the phrase old friend in both the xmen film series and the lord of the rings trilogy. Gandalf voted more wiz than potter media the guardian.
Be sorted, earn house points, take classes with our fine hogwarts staff, debate which actor portrayed dumbledore the best, and. Section 28 was, however, enacted and remained on the statute books until 2000 in scotland and 2003 in england and wales. Ian mckellen played a famed wizard from middleearth in the lord of the rings films, but he could have almost been headmaster of hogwarts in the harry potter franchise as well. The harry potter movies comprise the third highestgrossing film franchise of all time.
Widely regarded as one of greatest stage and screen actors, both in his native great britain and internationally, twice nominated for the oscar and recipient of every major theatrical award in uk and us, ian murray mckellen was born on may 25, 1939 in burnley, lancashire, england, to margery lois sutcliffe and denis. One man nearly played two of fictions most popular wizards. The odyssey, homer, narrated by ian mckellen posted on december 29, 20 december 30, 20 by dana if you have an audible membership, you should totally use one of your credits to purchase the odyssey read by ian mckellen. Fans are loving ian mckellens critique of fantastic. As such, spoilers will be present within the article. Sir ian mckellen has said he could never have taken over the role of professor dumbledore in the harry potter films after the death of richard. Sir ian mckellen refused to play dumbledore in harry potter films as. Why did ian mckellen decline the invitation to play. Til ian mckellen was offered the role of dumbledore after the death of richard harris. Gandalf is portrayed by english actor sir ian mckellen as the mentor with a warm, if sometimes scolding, grandfatheresque demeanor. Ian mckellen aka gandalf in the lord of the rings almost played another. Ian mckellen reveals why he didnt play dumbledore in the harry potter movies after richard harris death.
When harry potter was released to the world the first three books we went to. Sir ian mckellen reveals the real reason he didnt appear. Visit ian mckellen s personal website, with full biography and thousands of photos including lord of the rings, xmen, hobbit and da vinci code. Albus percival wulfric brian dumbledore is a fictional character in j. Ian mckellen l as gandalf with elijah wood as frodo. Why ian mckellen passed on harry potters dumbledore.
Widely regarded as one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native great britain and internationally, twice nominated for the oscar and recipient of every major theatrical award in the uk and us, ian murray mckellen was born on may 25, 1939 in burnley, lancashire, england, to margery lois sutcliffe and denis. Ian mckellen has confirmed what many fans have long believed to be true. Like, for instance, his extremely wholesome and compelling. Welcome to rharrypotter, the place where fans from around the world can meet and discuss everything in the harry potter universe. Sir ian mckellen has said he could never have taken over the role of professor dumbledore in the harry potter films after the death of richard harris because he knew harris disapproved of him as. I have just read all the harry potter books and i love jilly cooper, and many more, but i also love all the classics. Sir ian mckellen refused to play dumbledore in harry. Leave it to ian mckellen to spill some tea and get the internet buzzing. Til ian mckellen was offered the role of dumbledore after. Apr 04, 2017 ian mckellen reveals why he didnt play dumbledore in the harry potter movies after richard harris death. I didnt until recently, and its a fact that has brought a lot of enjoyment ever since.
In 2001, ian mckellen put on the robe and pointed hat of a wizard named gandalf and won a place in the hearts of tolkien fans worldwide. He was nominated in the same category in 1984 for ian mckellen acting shakespeare. In both cases to christopher lee as saruman in the lord of the rings and patrick stewart as xavier in xmen it is said to an ally who has become a nemesis and. Ian mckellen has never been shy about slamming the film.
408 948 1020 217 623 1356 253 127 169 567 160 616 954 753 380 1125 1522 492 1212 774 1130 343 1377 1444 1516 878 1090 76 1297 1318 318 1493 1497 1456 34