Sir Ian McKellen is the subject of a new profile in The Guardian, where the actor talks two famous wizards; Gandalf and Albus Dumbledore. In this candid interview, the actor who was nominated for an Oscar for his turn as Gandalf in the widely successful Lord of the Rings film trilogy, is asked if he ever gives any pointers or discusses the finer art of playing a wizard with his friend Michael Gambon, who currently portrays Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies. His answer: “Funnily enough, we never have.” He grins.” The article then continues, dispelling again the rumors that Ian McKellen was to take on the part of the beloved Hogwarts Headmaster after Richard Harris, who originated the role as Professor Dumbledore in the first two films, died in 2002.
“People say to me, don’t you wish you’d played Dumbledore? I say no! I played Gandalf! The original. There was a question as to whether I might take over from Richard Harris [Gambon’s predecessor in the Dumbledore role], but seeing as one of the last things he did publicly was say what a dreadful actor he thought I was, it would not have been appropriate for me to take over his part.” He smiles icily. “It would have been unfair.”
Finally, Mr. McKellen answers a question long debated in this and the LotR fandom: Who would win if there was a battle between Gandalf and Dumbledore. “McKellen puffs out his chest. “Gandalf. Of course.”
Cristy – I don’t find it hard to believe. Richard Harris was always … shall we say, a bit outspoken. I wouldn’t be surprised. It takes him down in my estimation, though.
McKellen’s performance in LotR was far, far better than Harris’s dull, sleepy, phoned-in “standard wizard” performance in PS and CoS. McKellen deserved his Oscar nomination.
Maybe it’s just good harris snubbed McKellen.
I will always see him as the Shakespearian Richard III, who is closer to Voldemort then Dumbledore.
Only Voldy doesn’t has the sarcastic, vitriolic sense of humor Richard III had. Besides I already had visualised Grindelwald looking like McKellen
( and it’s rather hard to find pictures of a young and strappy Ian, he isn’t that handsome after all)
The article btw is much and much broader then the
skimpy Dumbledore question.
Um, Richard Harris publicly insulted Ian Mckellan… wtf? That’s really a shame. I don’t think he would’ve taken the part anyway though. He’s said before that one bearded wizard is enough or something along those lines. Perhaps if they’d approached him from the beginning, before he ever played Gandalf…
And psh, whatev Mckellan, Dumbledore would totally win. :P
Well it all depends. On some giant empty room, Dumbledore would win shooting Gandalf from a distance. On tighter quarters like, say, a bridge, Gandalf would melee and thwack Dumbledore in the head while yelling ‘thou shalt not pass’.
I’m not sure Gandalf and Dumbledore would have taken an opportunity for a duel. Seeing as they were both on the side of Good, I think it more likely they would have sat around telling stories over a nice bottle of Ogden’s Firewhisky and some of the Shire’s best pipeweed. ;-)
[i]"Prefect...[/i] ickle Ronnie the prefect..."[br]"Oh, Mum's going to be revolting," groaned George, thrusting the prefect badge back at Ron as though it might contaminate him.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! Dumbledore the copy of gay Gandalf?
When will people realize that both wizards are modelled after the typical druid?
of course Dumbledore would win. Gandalf cannot even die properly.