Sir Ian McKellen Is Not Ready for Retirement as He Expresses Interest in Returning to the Big Screen!

Sir Ian McKellen is best known for two roles. He played Magneto in the original trilogy films ‘X-Men’ (2000), ‘X2’ (2003), and ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ (2006), in addition to making a cameo in ‘The Wolverine’ (2013). He also appeared in different time periods in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014).

Sir Ian McKellen also played one of the most iconic fictional characters, Gandalf, in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy. Recently, there were some rumors among the fans whether the now 85-years old actor would return in Andy Serkis’ 2026 upcoming ‘The Lord of the Rings’ spin-off movie, ‘The Hunt for Gollum.’

The actor addressed those rumors in an interview with The Times:

“If you want to know that you are mortal you just have to look at your address book. And so when a script comes through, or the hint of an offer, you think, ‘This might be my last job. No. I’m not doing that.’ So if Falstaff is my last job, I’d better get it right, hadn’t I? (…) And I haven’t shaved in months. But there is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan. (…) If I’m alive.”

Furthermore, he spoke with Big Issue, saying:

“Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating. I can’t tell you any more than that. I’ve just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I’ll be playing him. When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So, they better be quick.”

Following his recent stage accident, some were worried that the actor might be too old to continue acting, but Sir Ian McKellen quickly dismissed that:

“It’s emotionally that I’ve got some residue that I’ve got to deal with. I said to myself as I tripped and slid off the stage, ‘This is the end’. These were the words in my mind, ‘This is the end’. And apparently I shouted out, ‘my neck is broken, I’m dying’. I don’t remember saying that, so there was a lot going on in my head as the body responded to the fall.

Of course, it’s emotional. We all trip all our lives, it’s just when you get to my age you can’t always get up again. I’m usually working or preparing to work, I’ve been doing a little bit of that, wondering what might be the best plan. I’m going to take the rest of the year off. Not because I need to, just because I want to.”

Clearly, Sir Ian McKellen is more than ready to return to the acting! Would you like to see him again as Magneto maybe? Let us know on Facebook and Threads!