Ian McKellen on How He Became Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings | BAFTA Insights

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Ian McKellen discusses his cult role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings series and how he coped with the success after the first film's release.
Produced in 2015.
#BAFTA #BAFTAGuru #IanMcKellen #LordoftheRings #Lotr #Gandalf #PeterJackson
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[@tonyjames7632]

How refreshing. An interviewer not constantly interupting and letting a guest actually relay his story!

[@ejanocrowsnatcher6785]

Yea, and lets the pauses exists.

[@melkormorgoth9022]

Candid

[@plebisMaximus]

The british seem to be much better at this than american interviewers.

[@DiegoMartinPintos]

Well... It's not T. V where the time is short

[@andrewtucker94]

@@plebisMaximus Don't let the laughter stop or the smiles fade, or people will see what's beneath

[@wheelsdeal]

I think him and Christofer Lee as Saruman was the absolute perfect casting

[@rosscop.coltrane2747]

Oh yes

[@ryanwalker8843]

Christopher Lee actually wanted Gandalf and was an enormous LOTR fan to the point he reread them on a yearly basis but it was absolutely right of them to say no youd make a better suraman because of course there is a chapter called the voice of suraman and no one could capture that hypnotic element of suramans voice and the power this gives him to manipulate quite the way that deep voice of Lee did. It was perfect casting.

[@kunfupapa8162]

him, Christopher Lee and Sean Bean in my opinion ! And now, given the circumstances, I would add Cate Blanchett (as the one and only Galadriel)...

[@codyvandal2860]

@@ryanwalker8843 Lee's age/health prevented him from doing a lot of the horse riding scenes and such very physical scenes with gandalf so he settled for sarumab

[@jamiecauldren7198]

Martin Freeman as Bilbo. Crushed it. Can't see anyone ever playing Bilbo again; it'll suck and it wont be their fault. I've always thought the same of I.M. and Gandalf, but, although I'm not over the moon with the "Rings of Power" Amazon series and at this time we are not certain of who he is, but the "Meteor Man" COULD pull off a young Gandalf. That would be awesome if they manage to not screw that one up.

[@mattg177]

Ian Mckellan is never late to a role he takes it precisely when he means too.

[@richardhart3442]

Nor is he early

[@Hastur876]

Elsewhere Ian has said this: "Peter Jackson comes from New Zealand, says to me, 'Sir Ian, I want you to be Gandalf the wizard.' And I said to him, 'you are aware that I am not really a wizard?' And he said 'yes I am aware of that, what I want you to do is use your acting skills to portray the wizard for the duration of the film.' So I said 'ok,' and then I said 'mmm - how would I do that?' And this is what I did: I *imagined* what it would like to be a wizard, and then I pretended, and *acted* in that way, on the day. And how did I know what to say? (whispers dramatically) The words were written down in a script!" Now of course this was a Ricky Gervais sketch....

[@Andriy_Sklyar]

@@Hastur876 That's the good one)))

[@marklodge8245]

He was born to play Gandalf.

[@adimaxanimeprojectathneron7390]

comment of the year

[@ytn675]

He is Gandalf

[@martins4781]

@@ytn675 but he is also Magneto

[@kamuelalee]

@@martins4781 Magneto should play Gandalf...oh, wait

[@mattjames4978]

You know he played MacBeth and Richard III, right? Among other great roles, decades before LoTR

[@gpeddino]

"Gandalf is not interested in sex, he's 7000 years old!" LOL

[@adomv05]

Closer to 50000 years tbh.

[@KougaJ7]

"He's gotten over sex looong ago!"

[@republikadugave420]

@@adomv05 as old as arda

[@corinnebowyer6786]

reason he's 2 old for sex is that he lost interest in it thousands to tens of thousands of years ago. plus he had more important duties & interests then having sex with anyone.

[@emilklingberg1623]

@@corinnebowyer6786 like smoking weed, and partying with hobbits

[@jettison27]

omg thank goodness he didn't do mission impossible

[@neonsolace2748]

@Bas Wenmakers not god iluvatar no i just kidding all hail god

[@JelloFluoride]

@@neonsolace2748 I lol'd

[@irlrp]

@poida yes, no one could've, this movie needed salvation from higher levels of administration, or way lower levels

[@gunslingingbird74]

@poida Meh. Could've been worse. At least it wasn't Green Lantern.

[@burnsZY85]

I know right, thank fuck that tom cruise is a control freak lol

[@Tom-ym2id]

"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us"

[@overcomer4226]

Best quote ever

[@zackiinu7194]

Over Comer It’s right there with: “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

[@TrevinoZen14]

I got a tattoo with this quote!

[@joeydrummer7929]

I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing Gandalf. He just killed that part .. Greatest movie ever made in my opinion

[@jmitterii2]

Neither can I. I thought of Gandalf as the cartoon 1977 Hobbit movie. And he takes it and makes that mysterious awesome wizard come to life with an even better voice and presence. I was very happy with their pick for him. I did sometimes think... oh its Magneto! But they change his nose, and of course Gandalf is a good guy instead of a bad guy.

[@komkwam]

The movie's couldn't exist without Tolkien's books. So most credit should go to Tolkien.

[@Jtgagemac]

I wouldn't have minded Christopher Lee playing Gandalf, though he killed it as Sauruman. Lee actually had permission from Tolkien to play him if they ever made a movie. Pretty cool.

[@carlcd103]

Fun fact: Sean Connery was supposed to be Gandalf but he didn't understand the script and turned it down.

[@sunny34571]

That I can agree on both of your points.

[@ytn675]

He just simply is Gandalf.

[@Zesrii]

thanks arthur

[@Txepsiyu]

McKellen has that quality of all great actors: He is humble, but carries great power.

[@bobmarvin7341]

hmmm yes. Much like Gandalf, likely the reason he played him so well

[@BrandoCommando793]

Props to the interviewer for getting him talking and not interrupting

[@aiden3373]

Let's all take a moment to grieve for the alternate universe where he chose to do the Mission Impossible role

[@andrewaronson3364]

Anthony Hopkins as gandalf

[@EchthelionII]

@@andrewaronson3364 That doesn't sound that bad in my opinion.

[@andrewaronson3364]

@@EchthelionII Tru but his head is too round

[@EchthelionII]

@@andrewaronson3364 What does the shape of someone's head have to do with it? And now I can't unsee it.

[@andrewaronson3364]

@@EchthelionII it just doesn't seem as wizardly

[@Nightgaunt88]

Every pause in his response is pure poetry. Only a theatre man could hold a live audience in the palm of his hand like that.

[@kennethperry7160]

He IS Gandalf. No other human could have embodied that character the way he did. Probably the best casting choice of all time. The whole cast was brilliantly chosen.

[@oskarfunes2505]

And also bringing Magneto to life as no other could.

[@RuberDildo]

Dumbledore could.

[@kroneexe]

@@RuberDildothey are nothing alike

[@Mayan_88694]

@@RuberDildo they are nothing alike pal. there is no one like gandalf

[@pierreo33]

@@RuberDildo stop liking your own comments

[@ananomaloussmell5043]

The best casting decision. Ever.

[@vladdrakul7851]

The entire LOTR is the best set of multiple casting decisions since Lawrence of Arabia and it is not even second best to that epic (Credit to Fran Walsh, her script and her casting). Viggo as Aragorn, Theodan, Denethor, even the unknown actors were brilliant. And lets not forget Andy Serkis's GOLLUM! I consider only Russell Davis's 'Dr Who' (2005 to 2009) to be in the same class but as the best TV series and like LOTR filled with brilliance, human insight, compassion, great scripts and actors and a deep love for humanity at it's best DESPITE it's failings. Along with QOTSA 'Songs for the Deaf' it is one of the few great works of art in an century of awful mediocre franchises pumping out mindless REBOOTED tween entertainment.

[@khatack]

True, but only because the role of Saruman was cast as an obvious fact of life and not as a decision.

[@eduardoperez3855]

I’d say that Game of Thrones has the most accurate translation of characters from book to screen. Virtually all castings were perfect.

[@thomasmulhall4873]

They wanted Connery first.

[@Candlelighter]

The interviewing here is actually great. Like at 1:40 where he basically cudve asked something else but stayed silent. Shutting up is a key skill that most interviewers dont have

[@thejuke7988]

Nobody else could have played Gandalf

[@kamuelalee]

Somebody else could have played Gandalf...but McKellen was the best choice, no doubt.

[@jesperburns]

They asked Sean Connery before Ian. Imagine that.

[@mrwho256]

@@jesperburns I know, that would've been horrible

[@herrakaarme]

@@jesperburns McKellen: "Gandalf is 7000 years old. He's well past being interested in sex." Connery: "Hold my vodka martini and watch this."

[@GreenFalcon926]

@@mrwho256 Sean Connery would have been a great Gandalf wtf you talking about? Sure Ian was made for the part, but Sean would have done a great job. He wouldn't have done the Hobbit though.

[@b00i00d]

You can see why he's such a great actor: because he's a naturally gifted story teller! And it's also cool that he tells it like it is, rather than mythologising as many stars do

[@beth12svist]

He's also "mythologising" a little by saying "like a pair of hobbits" and "we invented blogging" and stuff like that. But yeah, it's a different sort of mythologising. :D

[@Sir_TophamHatt]

I think everyone who was on the internet in the early 2000’s thinks they were the one who invented blogging lol

[@iamalpharius9483]

He read the Hobbit when he was young. ......He was never young. He was created witht all of the Aunir and will endure until it is all undone and the world is broken. .......he is Olórin.

[@yadiracamacho499]

Oh, than name. In Spanish Olorín can mean stinky (olor=smell), so I'm forever grateful he's not called that in LOTR. I don't think I could take seriously a character with that name XD

[@melkormorgoth9022]

He's playin for the wrong team,Halflings dropped that stone down the Well my little cousin thought it was a raid..Big misunderstanding:(

[@aaronswords404]

Mithrandir!

[@adomv05]

@@yadiracamacho499 I'm Spanish and I've never heard the word "olorín" used with that meaning (or any other, truly).

[@yadiracamacho499]

@@adomv05 You never watched the dubbed version of ren and stimpy, I guess XD Olorín was a character that was called Stinky in the original, but I guess I should have said that it sounds like it could mean smelly, I just didn't want to write too much, but you're right in that is not used like that. My bad. El sufijo -in es un diminutivo, como en colorín. Olorín suena a olorcillo, me imagino que por eso le pusieron el acento al nombre de Gandalf en a traducción al español, Olórin.

[@jomonticristo5696]

they should be asking Gandalf when he decided if would be fun to play Ian McKellen

[@b.a.rieber2758]

Brilliant comment...

[@alejandromorinigo9951]

Yes. Absolutely. I hear his voice but i imagine him dressed as Gandalf the whole time.

[@MechaBorne]

You heard it here first, Gandalf invented blogging. Ian is such a wonderful man, I'm glad everything worked out for him to play Gandalf and Magneto.

[@RogerERodriguez1k]

Actually the bjork stalker did.

[@ironbellystudios]

@@RogerERodriguez1k Well he coined the term but Links.net had been around since 1994 which acted as a blog for Justin Hall

[@thisisreallyverysilly]

@@ironbellystudios He coined the term blogging? Why would you lie about a stupidly easy fact to dispute. He invented nothing. Weblog was coined in 1997. Blog was coined in 1999. Neither by Ian McKellen.

[@drwatsonca6945]

I followed his posts from the start. He was not that regular but he was interesting.

[@jayson42056]

McKellen as Gandalf is one of the most iconic characters in any fantasy movie ever. He played the part so well.

[@MorganTDaniels]

He is quite humble. A huge part of the success of the LOTR movies was due to his portrayal of Gandalf. He was so perfect in presence, and performance, I can think of no one on the planet who was more suited. It is such a key role. How could you have made them without Ian McKellen, impossible! They would have been nowhere near as good.

[@Rekaert]

I remember hearing the casting news, and I wasn't familiar with Ian McKellen at the time. I checked some pictures of him, checked his resume, and I was really none the wiser. I figured I'd have to wait until I saw him in costume and playing the part as he really hadn't done anything like Gandalf for me to get an idea how he'd be. By the end of the Fellowship's Hobbiton opening, I was sold on him. Whenever I read LotR now, I can't help but visualise McKellen as Gandalf. He fit the role about as perfectly as I could hope for.

[@mrs.schmenkman]

Rekaert dig up Cold Comfort Farm. That role is pretty much what got him the role of Gandalf.

[@dawnchristensen7492]

My heart was broke when Sean Connery didnt want to play Gandalf. yet, Ive followed Ian before so I was immediately intrigued that he would be Gandalf.👏

[@gfox9295]

I had seen Gods and Monsters when it was out. Maybe one or two other things he was in. And yes, there was X-Men, but I can't remember exactly what came out when. But I knew him a bit. Still... Gandalf. Gandalf now and forever.

[@rogerwilco2]

They did so well in casting for this trilogy.

[@Tawadeb]

He was Chauvelin in the Scarlet Pimpernel 1982. He’s so great in that

[@davidtimmer596]

Ian McKellen would make an excellent grandfather.

[@hammerkiller1254]

David Timmer the best.

[@zacharydickerson1255]

I don’t believe that classic procreation is his forte. But in the US he could certainly adopt some grandchildren

[@CrateCrasher]

@@zacharydickerson1255 definately 😊

[@JohnnyFreeze92]

Not to be rude or anything but I don't think gay people end up as grandfathers for obvious reasons lol

[@nymerie]

I think he's gay, isn't he? So no grandchildren...

[@Shadow77999]

"Thousands of people are responsible" So humble

[@christel6557]

Please be around for much more longer Sir McKellen :)

[@Evan490BC]

"Sir Ian" or "Sir Ian McKellen" is the correct way to address a knighted person.

[@popland1977]

@@Evan490BC Only if you recognise that archaic silliness

[@Evan490BC]

@@popland1977 Archaic or not this is how things are. It's a title, like Ms or Dr. Your can call him "old chum" if you like, no one will sue you...

[@seikibrian8641]

@@popland1977 If you don't recognize it, then why not say "Mr. McKellan"? If one is going to use the title, then one should use the proper form.

[@BlackDiamond2718]

He knight do it. ;)

[@sosoarkitekturvisualiserin6624]

guy is 80 years old, not that age matters but to be in that shape requires a very strong attitude in life and I just admire that... and he's gandalf

[@ZachsMind]

"Fly, you fools!" Long before that he had already won me over but it''s the delivery of that one line which cinches it: there's not another human being alive at that time who could have played Gandalf. Sir Ian McKellen understood that character on an intrinsic visceral level. It's all in the eyes and that voice. The rest of it you can chalk up to costuming, props, make up, special effects, music. He's right, thousands of people also deserve credit but no one.. no one could have pulled off that line in that moment so convincingly. There's so much going on in that instant. Gandalf looks like he's about to die but he's more concerned about his friends. He's concerned about the mission. They must succeed, and if that means he's a diversion - that he is the line their immediate threat will not cross - so be it. Sacrifice? maybe maybe not. He's willing in those eyes and in that voice to be that sacrifice but that's not his plan A. So much going on there. I'm sure people have written dissertations on how Sir Ian McKellen played that role. There's videos about his performance. It's those three words. No one on this planet could have done it how he did it. It probably annoys him now if someone somewhere reminds him of that every day but I hope that every day he is reminded just how much he brought to something that millions of readers had dreamed of seeing achieve fruition: a live action version of Lord of the Rings that didn't suck. Such a very tall order, and McKellen did his part, with the help of thousands that made him look good, but he made them look like legends.

[@anthonykent00]

“I started work in the first week of the millennium... the internet had just been invented.” I love it. Also pretty accurate (if you count from 1995).

[@MLennholm]

The internet was actually invented in 1969

[@njfranck]

@@MLennholm well, I think he meant "the world wide web (www)". People never seem to know the difference. But it is charming that he thought that email was just invented back then ;-)

[@TheRagingStorm98]

He meant the search engine. Or WWW. So at that time the ability to surf the net was still new to many people around the world.

[@sir_john_hammond]

To a wizard, a couple of decades is basically yesterday.

[@aicarnie]

The World Wide Web began public life in 1991.

[@itsvoogle]

thank Ilúvatar they could work it out. i cant imagine another actor playing Gandalf

[@mcrettable]

He could've played dumbledore, can you imagine anyone other than mike gambin? xD

[@jesperburns]

@@mcrettable Yes, Richard Harris, who did a much better job portraying Dumbledore.

[@lespaul5734]

Beppe How was Richard Harris better than Michael Gambon? His roll was minor in the film series, and his character was not explored at all. It’s only with Michael Gambon that Dumbledore became actually important to the story.

[@jesperburns]

@@lespaul5734 Importance, or screen time, has _nothing_ at all to do with portrayal. It's either accurate or it's not, for however much he has to do. Gambon played Dumbledore much more stridently, intense and angry. As opposed to how Harris played him and as he's described in the books (calm, friendly, collected). Book fans (of which I'm not one) have made plenty of "memes" of how Gambon reactions are the complete opposite of how he's portrayed in the books. And, if I remember correctly, Harris was a fan, Gambon was not.

[@iamalpharius9483]

Tom Baker could have played Gandalf.

[@JohnDWJ]

Oh Sir Ian. Your humble nature humbles us all.

[@TwoHeadedDog]

Well said!

[@loukes116]

Notice how he never goes "umm, uhhh". He's such a wise man. No one else could've played Gandalf like he did.

[@Alitaf97]

''internet had just been invented'' I always forget how young the internet actually is

[@thorr18BEM]

I remember its rise. The WWW and HTML "Had just been invented" 9 years before he began filming but to a wizard that's a tiny drop of time. The internet actually existed for a couple of decades before the WWW but we won't split hairs.

[@siriusczech]

Internet has been around for many years before film, but it wasn´t as massive of use. No Wi-fi, less WWW. It was the time when a joke was going around "I´m selling complete internet database on 1089 CDs complet. 2CDs if you don´t need porn." The massive usage of emails have been on rise due to faster and cheaper connections and first messengers were starting to be popular, like ICQ, Miranda ...etc. LotR came out in 2001, 2002 and 2003. One year AFTER that a boy named Mark Zuckerberg founded his and his friends project "the Facebook", follow in 2005 by page called KZbin... that is most of internet for many of us, right? :D In times of Fellowship there has been around only fresh Wikipedia (2001 founded) and Google entered it´s kindergarden age (born 1998). That is a long way ago for many of us :)

[@sumez4369]

The internet had been a thing for quite a while at this point XD

[@siriusczech]

@@sumez4369 It has been, but only thanks to technological progress (connection issues and speed of it) in times around filming of LotR trilogy there started to be a massive usage of the internet and WWW. At times of filming, there were tons of downloadable content like screen savers and pictures of scenes. Why? Most of us weren´t able to watch video online, at least not in a good quality. And connection was expensive and much slower at the same time than few years afterwards. I believe him that when they started "blogging" and "invented it" - idea of blogs were new at that time, because - unlike today - just surfing the internet and read other people´s opinions (no matter if in youtube comment section or anywhere else) - too costly for too little outcome ;)

[@cipritom]

@@siriusczech Compared to Gandalf, everything is young

[@beamertoy]

I can't believe there were people who didn't want Ian to play Gandalf.

[@metalliholic]

Dumb people

[@Just_Call_Me_Tim]

I can't imagine anyone who could do it better! There's a lot of grief out there, and very little of it worth the energy involved. Who, the actual fuck, has the luxury of the energy required to even begin to care if he was gay!? I sure as hell ran out of fucks to give.

[@KaiserAfini]

Gandalf must have been really difficult to grasp. He is a trickster with a lot of vigor and energy. Yet he is also a caring and patient mentor. To reconcile both must have been challenging. Then as he was reborn, Gandalf the white embodied all that, but was also more stoic, stern and aggressive. He truly did an exceptional job.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

I love how Ian McKellen's personal humility matches perfectly with the 'real' Gandalf

[@GerryBolger]

As a Maiar, he was hesitant to become Gandalf because Olorin was openly afraid of Sauron. His humility became his greatest strength..

[@adamhockley8334]

I loved every aspect of LOTR. Mr. McKellen is exactly how I wanted Gandalf to be. I cannot picture anyone else in the role. he did such a great job.

[@00Kuja00]

The only thing they could have done "better" is how Sauron was portrayed. It was great in the Fellowship of the Ring, but got a little "too on the nose" in the other two films with the an eye at the top of Barad-dur.

[@bmcfad12]

“Peter Jackson comes to me and says “I’d like you to portray Gandalf the Wizard in this upcoming film” and I told him “You do realize I am, in fact, not a wizard?”

[@jonnybaynham1689]

How did he know what to say? The words were written in a script How did he know where to stand? People told him

[@bmcfad12]

@@jonnybaynham1689 “Right”

[@nickhenman7549]

“I turned up and behaved and acted like Gandalf on the day” “If I was to draw a graph of my process it would go like this. Sir Ian sir Ian sir Ian, Action. YOU SHALL NOT PASS. Cut. Sir Ian sir Ian sir Ian.”

[@TheMarkhopper]

@@bmcfad12”You’re confused”

[@alvarogonzalez9620]

"I started work on the first week of the millenium". Beautiful. I don´t know why it seems so fitting to me: that the greatest movie franchise of all time (my opinion) was created at the beggining of such a long time lapse. The way I see it, this is one of those artistic proyects that comes along once every generation or two. And boy oh boy, were we lucky to have lived it. Cheers, Sir Ian McKellen.

[@johngreener9784]

Scary to think he ALMOST was NOT in it!! Honestly, it is so hard to imagine anyone else doing the job he did! Thank you so much Sir Ian!!!

[@kunfupapa8162]

Christopher Plummer said no to that role but I think he would have been great. I can't think of anyone else ! (but I'm glad McKellen did it for he absolutely nailed it obviously)

[@CrippleX89]

I'm so glad that he got to play Gandalf against all odds, no-one could have portrayed him better than Ian McKellen! He portrayed him *exactly* how I imagined him when I read the books, including the voice and everything; and it's probably how many people would image a wizard in that context. Stunning performance.

[@likeicare1234]

Gandalf, my favorite character of all time. Perfectly portrayed by this amazing man.

[@christopher0530]

That was the best interview host of all time...didn't make a peep. Let guest do all the talking. ..most every other interview, the journalist interrupts, talks about themselves... please give this guy an award...and...Thank you Ian Makellan for being the greatest actor for 7000 years

[@piccolo_nz1142]

Thank you Ian McKellen for my childhood memories

[@MarsFKA]

In Oamaru, we were the first in the world to see the three LOTR movies, each of which which screened at midnight. At the time, Oamaru didn't have a dedicated movie theatre so the first two movies were screened in the Opera House - by the time The Return Of The King was released, we had a proper cinema. The LOTR project had caught the public imagination in a way that no other film project had ever done and there was standing room only at every show. In 1998 my wife and I made our first visit to the USA and found that New Zealand wasn't on the radar for a lot of Americans we spoke to - we were called Australians more than once, even South Africans - but that had changed when we went back five years later. The LOTR movies did more to put New Zealand on the map for Americans than Peter Blake winning the Americas Cup.

[@dankiepoo5673]

correct. the only exposure we would have had to NZ at the time would've been the film The Piano, which won 3 Academy Awards.

[@jennij5773]

Who is Peter Blake

[@revpgesqredux]

i had admired your sailors and athletes prior, Olympic, Rugby, etc. i worked at the 1984 Olympics in LA, and those of us who were there met pretty much every team. We voted overwhelmingly in our unofficial votes for the NZ team as the most fun group. During the closing ceremonies, i had to stop them from letting me join them. they had me half way over a fence...one or two of the larger guys had jump/climbed it and were insisting. LOL Handsome and life-loving group.

[@kidragakas]

It is a shame how it caused so many issues for the NZ film industry (Google “Hobbit Law”)

[@parabolicazero2775]

When I was working in Edimburgh I met a guy from New zealand and he said to me: "Trust me, none of the people living there are normal people". He said that to me half serious half laugthing lol

[@flybeep1661]

The guy doing the intro has completely the wrong date. He says 2003 as the year when they came to Ian McKellen with the idea but 2003 is the year when the third movie was released. The first movie was released in december 2001 and filming took 438 days. Filming began October 1999 meaning it was probably around early to mid 1999 when they came to him.

[@arwenevenstar1741]

A true fan right here

[@simonlavender]

I did wonder why he didn't correct him

[@spikesya]

Im sure it was a slip of the tounge & Ian recognized that so let it go.

[@ColeEdits]

Fly Beep They filmed the first movie for 438 days???? Holy fucking Christ. I imagined it’d be a long shoot but over a year?! Damn.

[@ethanb9335]

They filmed all 3 back to back

[@BasePuma4007]

He embodied Gandalf's persona perfectly

[@Nkipker]

When Ian McKellen (Gandalf) took on the Bulrog! That was an awesome seen!

[@bradl8887]

Nkipker I think you mean he took on the bullfrog.

[@ordermind]

This is Bulrog: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIGkapWBr5egm6s

[@davidmcaninch4714]

It’s “Balrog!!!!!!!”

[@00Kuja00]

Valaraukar ^^

[@gcjaloto]

It reminds me of that interview with Sir Alec Guinness right after Star Wars proved to be a hit. It wasn't something he thought much about when making, but turned out to be a defining moment for him.

[@mikeydolman3926]

Wonderful human being and a truly legendary performance. Anchors the entire movie, along with Bernard Hill (Theoden) and Hugo Weaving (Elrond).

[@Kackbratze99]

There will be NEVER a better Gandalf than sir ian mckellen!!! Great actor and for me one of the greatest persons in film. I love how he played Gandalf - thank you for all that being!!!

[@lickedisplit]

"We invented blogging." Hahahaha!

[@NicolaLarosa]

"I don't think I can take any credit for the success of those films." I don't think it's false modesty: the best are always so very humble.

[@jonathanfraser6738]

It always annoyed me he didnt win the oscar. but he did win after LOTR.

[@shortallliam3142]

Indeed....

[@raisinbran3736]

older sages talking about their things, their work, it's the most endearing feeling. they're proudly humble, trying to sort well-worn details. listening to Ian is like putting on an old favorite coat that still fits perfectly every time.

[@jen43072]

Just the most lovely human being and an interviewer who didn't interrupt.

[@aaronharding2960]

A class act. Prolific actor with prolific roles. Stage trained, and it shows. We're blessed to have him

[@chaz32]

"bless his heart, Bryan Singer" - nice, nice

[@tierk4328]

chaz32 ikr i was like 😬

[@PeterSellers22]

Likewise 😨

[@heyjohna]

Yeah, definitely a cringeworthy moment

[@solna7214]

I saw McKellen playing in Pinter’s No Man’s Land on Broadway against Patrick Stewart. He is amazing - as is Patrick Stewart!

[@robitussinbrohan718]

solna72 xavier vs magneto again great

[@jamesrawlins735]

I love Patrick Stewart but sadly the one time I saw him on stage I was disappointed. He was in a two man play in London - A Life in the Theater by David Mamet - which he did with Joshua Jackson (from Dawson's Creek) at The Apollo Theater. The two actors didn't seem to connect (no real chemistry) and I think Stewart could sense it. I also think Stewart and Jackson were both miscast - even though Stewart loves the show (he did it again on Broadway several years later), I never got the sense that he was that character. Still he's a great actor and I would watch him (and McKellen - maybe they will do Godot one last time so I can catch it).

[@joseph-zoramcbride4029]

Mm, haven't read/seen that one but pinter is amazing. Yeah I know they did a lot of beckett - with whom I'm obsessed. So I'd absolutely love to see them do Waiting!

[@reach2prasanna]

I'm of the firm belief that the charm Ian exudes can't be acquired or learned. You need be born with it. Absolutely love listening to this man.

[@STARSTyranT]

What a humble man. Oh Sir Ian. You have no idea how YOU ARE the narrative centre of these movies in many respects. My favourite actor performance in anything ever, is McKellen is Gandalf. I'd read LOTR years before they announced the movies. Ian McKellen literally felt like he jumped from the pages of the book. I never, ever thought I would see Gandalf represented as authentically on screen as we did. So grateful.

[@crockett888]

Amazing and talented actor.

[@marv5078]

He is so humble. That last sentence also always surprised me, that that many people are involved in making one movie

[@techgeek3366]

"Gandalf is 7000 years old. He's got over sex a long time ago"

[@krisfrederick5001]

This man never ceases to make me love him and his work. Apt Pupil to Gandalf is a leap. Also growing up loving X-Men no one else could have been Magneto, just like Patrick being the Prof.

[@chanandlerbong2477]

1:16 "mad keen" that's fantastic.

[@roninreturns]

Sir Ian: "I did my part...", as he created one of the most singular and remarkable roles of all time, essentially bringing the Tolkien series of books and decades of stage experience to film and to life as Gandalf. There are not enough acting awards for an actor of his caliber, I think J.R.R.T. himself would have been pleased with the portrayal, and to think McKellen wasn't even that familiar with the books, or much interested in the role. I agree with others in comments, after seeing his performance, I can't imagine someone else playing Gandalf. I'm not even a fan of fiction or fantasy, however when it is done as well as Peter Jackson and the cast and crew made it, one can only say that it enters the pantheon of greatest films of that genre for time immemorial. For a project of this proportion, which took so many years, it brings the story to life at an epic scale. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that Liv Tyler is gorgeous in her role, and the main cast are absolutely all star actors. Many thanks to New Zealand as well, for her beautiful land and scenery, the Shire and story could not have been set in a better place. It is so rare that books we read as youths or adults are brought to film, and manage to meet or exceed expectations, even at great cost and huge budgets. Peter Jackson took on that challenge, and the dedication of those involved in this project shows in the movies, they are seamless, even for such a large series. Thank you for posting this interview!

[@TheCountofToulouse]

I was watching the Fellowship of the Ring again the other day and it really hit me that it really is an astonishing masterpiece of cinematic achievement. It just hits all the marks. Its SO hard to make a fake world feel authentic but this film nails it. Even the ending, that moment at the river...when Frodo wants to give up, cave to self pity...and then hears those words of wisdom that give him the strength to continue and press on. Gets me every time.

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

It was easy! He said to himself, "Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian--YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!--Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian...."

[@as368uk]

I entered the comments for this remark.

[@floatergirlae]

I have envisioned the books since I was a child with my mother reading to me again and again.Hes the perfect Gandalf.Such a wonderful actor.

[@bdonkulousgames8562]

His facial expressions especially with his eyes in the film are something few actors could have gotten right. SOOOO much is said with just a blink, or smirk...or when Frodo says he will take the ring, you can see Gandalfs hopelessness and sadness that his friend has taken on the journey. all with a blink

[@wrybreadspread]

2:15 Praise be to the Inscrutable, The Power That Be, that Sir Ian opted to be wooed by Peter Jackson instead of Tom Cruise

[@jonnybaynham1689]

That movie already ruined the career of Dougray Scott, who was supposed to play Wolverine

[@dankiepoo5673]

he wasn't wooed by Peter instead of Tom. he wanted to work with Tom, but got let down by the studio's decision to only give him a tiny scene to make a decision on. Peter also didn't impress him at all. Neither pitch was successful. In the end, it was some random meeting while he was eating a fish dinner that helped him finish X-Men in time to work on his next role. So much for the "Inscrutable" having anything to do with this.

[@klauspendolo1393]

wrybreadspread fuck Tom Cruise, LoTR is the way to go

[@TheChakraGirl]

"You shall not pass!!". I have used this quote many times trying to manifest that declaration moment in LOTR. 😊

[@FelipeSoares-id9zc]

Even just hearing Gandalf's voice brings peace and joy to my heart... Today was not a good day, but this small video made sleeping easier, thank you!

[@alinav11]

I could listen to him all day. He is so rhetorical and such a great storyteller

[@mindamccoy9689]

I was thrilled he was Gandalf. I was only 11 but by the time I'd heard of it was by the time the X-Men came out.

[@Sagittariuz912]

He hasn't aged a day

[@RobertWF42]

I remember reading Ian McKellen's blog posts from the set, wow it's been over 20 years.

[@mr.bill.8236]

I'm so happy you did it. The movies would never have been the same without you. No one could have played Gandalf better.

[@abid5007]

What a cool guy

[@sidioushatesyou5856]

Lloydsenpai Daisuki and ur point is?

[@Bilboswaggins2077]

Jesus Christ and ur point is?

[@Bilboswaggins2077]

DAVID FILER the digital age allows for short versions for words.

[@Bilboswaggins2077]

DAVID FILER convenience and time, but in this case it was purely to catch on the comment chain of typing the same thing.

[@rogerwilco2]

Peter Jackson really allowed Ian McKellen to show how good of an actor he is.

[@makeyourself1988]

Watched the trilogy again during lockdown... he is just phenomenal in all of them. Great actor.

[@UltimateTrekkie1]

Thank you for saying yes to LOTR, Sir Ian! I'm so glad things worked out for you to be in it because you're Gandalf, sir!

[@thomasfevre9515]

The man not only is Gandalf and Magneto, he literally finished the Magneto part, hoped on the plane and when the plane landed, boom, he was Gandalf. What a f...ing legend. Not to mention Richard III and all the other epic parts he played. What an inspiration, also the charm and wit from his interviews... I discovered him with the popular stuff and he made me appreciate the classics. Same goes for Christopher Lee and Patrick Stewart.

[@theseageek]

No one could ever be able to replace Ian Mckellen as Gandalf and Magneto.

[@stephenleblanc4677]

Fantastic interview!

[@odiumimbues]

I just love that Tolkien and jackson and all the characters portrayed the fragility of goodness in their hearts in this movie and its like my go to movie that takes u down deep in some shit with bitter hope and you get a wise man to help you go deeper to get out. Long live these guys and much love.

[@MightiestArm]

I would love to meet this man one day, one of my favorite actors

[@Tawadeb]

I’ve met him. He’s charming. And very kind to children

[@daniellamcgee4251]

@@Tawadeb If you don't mind me asking, where did you meet Sir Ian? I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him, but my parents knew him a bit in the early 1960s.

[@sidioushatesyou5856]

He is such a lovely bloke

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

BTW : his hosting of SNL ( Saturday Nigh Live/NBC) was BRILLIANT and so funny ! Shows his range. He is such a class act and talented.

[@Autonova]

First interview I've seen from him - he strikes me as an absolute gentleman

[@CherrylMaree]

Only one actor could have given Gandalf life..Sir Ian.

[@davidsooley6548]

Sir Ian sir Ian sir Ian, action, wizard, “YOU SHALL NOT PASS,” sir Ian sir Ian sir ian

[@BlackDiamond2718]

David Sooley he did the opposite in last stand by moving the bridge to the impassable area.

[@dearthofdoohickeys4703]

Now that’s how you conduct an interview. You ask a question, and then you shut up! Major props to the interviewer.

[@josephcallahan1664]

I love Sir McKellen! His answers are so humorous and honest.

[@alexius23]

They first asked Sean Connery but he didn’t “get” the concept of the Lord of the Rings. Instead he chose to do league of extraordinary gentlemen. I think the year long commitment also didn’t appeal to Connery

[@willemverheij3412]

Christopher Lee had wanted to play Gandalf and actually received Tolkien's personal blessing to play that part of a movie was made, but he felt he was too old for such a physical role by then. Would have been interesting to see since Christopher Lee is good in everything he does, but no one could have played Saruman better. I don't think he'd have been better than Ian as Gandalf but it would have been interesting to see. It's also interesting how this mirrors the role of his great friend Peter Cushing when he was cast for the OTHER big trilogy. Seems Peter Cushing was first considered to play Obi-Wan Kenobi which also would have been interesting to see but he too played an amazing villain as grand moff Tarkin. Both went from being considered for the heroic wise mentor figure to playing a leading villain.

[@krashd]

Christopher Lee was only 49 when Tolkien died...

[@MrKKilroy]

@@krashd No he means when the movie was made, he felt that he was too old to play Gandalf

[@namiin3034]

Maybe you mean Tolkien son 🤔

[@-Pam_Guti]

@@namiin3034 Lee was the only cast member who actually got to meet Tolkien father.

[@namiin3034]

@@-Pam_Guti he said he met him in a pub when Tolkien was very old and had a small conversation with him but he did not mention acting in a film, it is on KZbin Lee talking about it,

[@Sadc0m]

When he speaks, you listen to every word he says. He has a gift for capturing the attention.

[@starwars910]

I was in south island NZ at the same time Ian was in north island.....I live in USA and was very upset that we couldnt return to the north Island during that excursion.....amazing person Ian Mckellen is....

[@Fengrad]

This man has been old my entire life.