In our recent trend of actors unabashedly dissing their own films (Paul Bettany & Hugo Weaving) - movies that fans love, we now have a similar yet happier story concerning The Lord of the Rings franchise and Gandalf himself, Sir Ian McKellen.
“It was a little like going back to something that wasn’t necessarily going to be particularly challenging. Gandalf is still inside me, as it were, so the business of getting to know a new character -- I was sort of going to be robbed of that," said McKellen. Combine those sentiments with a lengthy shooting schedule far from his home of England and it's pretty reasonable I think, for the 73-year old actor to have had reservations. However, it was when one of his friends asked him
'What would he say to all the fans when they find out he's not returning' that prompted McKellen to change his mind at the last minute. Another boon for McKellen is the fact that he doesn't have to play the serious
Gandalf the White but instead returns to the more affable
Gandalf the Grey. “Peter Jackson and I much prefer Gandalf the Grey, who was a man who did manage to enjoy himself," said McKellen. So in a world of 'Bettanys' and 'Weavings' remember that there are a few McKellen's out there doing it for the fans.
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Release Date: December 14, 2012
MPAA Rating: Unknown
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage, Hugo Weaving and Orlando Bloom
Directed by: Peter Jackson.
Written by: J.R.R. Tolkien (novel), Fran Walsh (screenplay), Philippa Boyens (screenplay), Peter Jackson (screenplay), Guillermo del Toro (screenplay)
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