Buzz
Amid his packed schedule of starring in iconic Shakespearean performances, Sir Ian McKellen has also found time to feature in numerous Hollywood blockbusters, including two of the most monumental franchises in cinematic history—The Lord of the Rings and X-Men.
For countless fans, seeing him as Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy (and later, The Hobbit trilogy) inevitably brings to mind another wise, robe-clad wizard: Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter.
The striking parallels between the two characters fueled rumors for years that McKellen had declined the role of Dumbledore. In 2017, during a guest spot on BBC’s HARDtalk with Stephen Sackur, McKellen clarified the situation. Following the passing of Richard Harris, who played Dumbledore in the initial two films, McKellen was approached about joining the Harry Potter series. While the producers didn’t specify the role, McKellen assumed it was Dumbledore and declined to pursue the opportunity. He cited Harris’s past criticism of him—along with Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh—as actors who were technically skilled but lacked passion, and McKellen felt it inappropriate to assume a role previously held by someone who didn’t respect his craft.
However, CinemaBlend reports that McKellen has added a new twist to his confirmation of the rumors in a recent interview. While promoting The Good Liar alongside Helen Mirren, the duo engaged in a lively game of “Two Truths and a Lie” for BuzzFeed. McKellen presented three statements: “My debut film was never released,” “I declined the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films,” and “Kate Beckinsale once proposed to me.”
Mirren guessed that the Dumbledore statement was the lie, and McKellen confirmed her guess was right. While it may appear that McKellen is contradicting his 2017 remarks, he’s actually providing clarity: he never turned down the role of Dumbledore because he was never formally offered it. Instead, he had essentially ruled out the possibility of joining the Harry Potter movies altogether.
While the chance of seeing McKellen in a Harry Potter film may have passed, fans remain hopeful for his return as Gandalf in the upcoming The Lord of the Rings television series.
To uncover some behind-the-scenes insights from The Good Liar, check out what the stars revealed at the London red carpet premiere here.
