Posted in: Movies | Tagged: entertainment, film, Gandalf, ian mckellen, magneto, sherlock holmes

Ian McKellen Almost Missed Out On Playing Magneto And Gandalf

The thing that gave us Hugh Jackman as Wolverine almost cost us Ian McKellen as Magneto and Gandalf. In an interview with People Magazine, McKellen told the story of how he had just finished the film Gods And Monsters when he was offered a role in Mission Impossible II. The studio wouldn't give the actor the full script for fear of it being leaked, so he was only able to read his scenes. Not being able to get a feel for how good the movie was from just the scenes, McKellen told his agent he was going to pass. A day later Bryan Singer offered him the role of Magneto and Peter Jackson called about Lord Of The Rings shortly after.

Mission Impossible II got pushed back a few times causing actor Dougray Scott to bow out of playing Wolverine in X-Men… a role that then went to little known Jackman.

McKellen added that there was some question to whether he could do both X-Men and Lord Of The Rings but Jackson said he would hold the part for the actor and when Singer heard of the casting told McKellen he'd make sure to finish up the actor's scenes in time.

McKellen is currently doing press for his latest film, Mr. Holmes where he play the iconic detective in his later life.

[Source: People]

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