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Sir Ian McKellen is a versatile actor who achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including the titular role inRichard III, James Whale inGods and Monsters, and Gandalf inThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbittrilogies.
The actor really has done it all. But he got the most hype from fans by playing Erik Lehnsherr, aka Magneto, in Marvel’sX-Menfilms.
Also, McKellen could’ve been Dumbledore inHarry Pottertoo, but he turned down the role. The actor once revealed what ultimately led to his decision to turn down Dumbledore and the reason was an ‘insult.’ It was an insult that discouraged McKellen from joining theHarry Potterfranchise.
Also read:“I couldn’t do that and it got worse from there”: After Travelling to Romania and Learning Its Language For His Movie, Ian McKellen Received a Bad News From Director Michael Mann
Why Sir Ian McKellen Refused to Play Dumbledore inHarry PotterFranchise?
One of the most recognized roles ofSir Ian McKellenwas wizard Gandalf from theLord of the Ringsfilms. Gandalf is one of the most important characters in the entire series (whose power is his wisdom). However, there was another opportunity for McKellen to play the other most recognizable wizard in cinema — Albus Dumbledore.
The legendary Irish actor Richard Harris was cast as Dumbledore inHarry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.But he tragically passed away right afterThe Chamber of Secretswrapped filming.
After Harris’ death, legendary thespian Sir Ian McKellen was approached to take on the role. McKellen shared details about getting that phone call withBBCand his decision to pass on the offer. He went on to say:
“When they called me up and said would I be interested in being in the Harry Potter films, they didn’t say what part.”
But did you know why did he pass on the role? Because Harris disparaged McKellen and his fellow actors, Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh, calling them“technically brilliant, but passionless.”
So, McKellen felt like he couldn’t, in good conscience, step into the role after Harris threw shade at him and his fellows. In the same interview withBBC, the actor said:
“I couldn’t take over the part of an actor who I’d known didn’t approve of me.”
And that’s how McKellen passed on the opportunity to play one of the powerful characters.
Also read:“We’re…we got plans”: Sir Patrick Stewart Teases His Frenemy Sir Ian McKellen Will Return as Magneto in the MCU After the Former Was Asked to Stand By to Repeat Professor X Role
After Sir Ian McKellen Rejected to Play Dumbledore, Who Took on the Role?
After all this drama, the wizarding franchise brought Michael Gambon to take up the Dumbledore mantle after Harris, who portrayed the character for the rest of the films.
Even though McKellen passed on Dumbledore, Michael Gambon stepped up in 2004 to portray Hogwarts’ Headmaster from films three to eight of the series. And there was no bad blood as McKellen gave Gambon props, saying he did the job“gloriously.”Dumbledore’s legacy was in safe hands, for sure!
All eightHarry Potterfilms are currently available on HBO Max.
Also read:Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen Reportedly Being Sidelined By MCU For X-Men, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender Will Take Over as Professor X and Magneto
Source:BBC
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
