Whether they declined because of scheduling conflicts or due to those classic creative differences, here are 50 actors who turned down major movie roles and some of them probably regret their. Did sir ian mckellen and sir christopher lee get on well on. Its not yourself you offer to the world, but part of yourself. Ian mckellen turned down a major role in the bbcs new. Great roles actors have turned down yahoo movies uk. Mckellen made his film debut in 1969 with a small role in the promise, the same year that he caused a sensation on the stage with his portrayal of edward ii, which required him to kiss another man. Actors that turned down or had to drop out of roles page 3. Actors that turned down or had to drop out of roles page. According to imdb, some of the names who turned down the film s title role include johnny depp, kevin bacon, nicolas cage, kevin costner. Ian mckellen l as gandalf with elijah wood as frodo. While you cant now imagine anyone else playing gandalf other than sir ian mckellen, connery was in fact the first actor to be offered the role.
Why ian mckellen turned down role in the harry potter films. Catharines college, cambridge, where as a student actor he was often directed by john barton, later of the royal shakespeare company. Ten fun facts about ian mckellen fact 1 some of his most famous movies are the lord of the rings film trilogy, xmen films, the da vinci code and gandalf amongst others. Jackman, 51, who was nominated for best actor at the 20 academy awards after starring in director tom. Ian mckellen had no idea how popular beauty and the beast was. Mckellen also appeared in condons next film, beauty and the beast 2017 as cogsworth. Holmes 2015, the story of the great detective sherlock holmes battle against old age and dementia. Originally christopher lee was eyeing the role of gandalf however in the end we can all agree the final roles were perfectly cast.
Apr 04, 2017 ian mckellen explains why he refused dumbledore role i couldnt take over the part from an actor who id known didnt approve of me, the star said. He captured our hearts as gandalf the grey, but was sir ian mckellen almost one of the. Mckellen turned down less superior harry potter role. Lawrence in priest of love, but it was not until the 1990s that he became more widely recognised in this medium after several roles in blockbuster hollywood films. Heres why ian mckellen turned down a role in the harry potter. Sean connery turned down the role of gandalf in the lord of the rings trilogy. Ian mckellen full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Sir ian mckellen has said the musical cats is a ridiculous enterprise but he believes it will be a classic film. But it turns out the actor could have played a hirsute magician in yet another classic film franchise. Sir ian mckellen turned down a role in a bbc drama series about the.
Fact 10 in 2004, ian mckellen turned down the role of professor dumbledore in harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban. Join sign up keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. Why ian mckellen turned down harry potter role page six. Sep 25, 2019 they sure did during the filming of the lord of the rings. But the veteran scot turned down the role of jrr tolkiens. Hugh jackman reveals he turned down a part in cats movie. Did he ever turn down the part of albus dumbledore in the harry potter movies. Ian mckellen has revealed why he turned down the role of dumbledore in the harry potter film series after richard harris death in 2002. Alas, he turned the role down and the reason may surprise you. Ten actors who turned down legendary roles therichest. She, however, turned down the iconic role of black widow in the movie iron man 2. Did ian mckellen turn down the role of harry potters. When a twolettered word changed the course of cinematic history. Morgan freeman was offered a lead role in jurassic park, but he turned it down.
Culture film news ian mckellen reveals why he turned down major harry potter role. Mar 29, 2018 to find your local cinema and book tickets, please visit. Human beings, reflects sir ian mckellen in joe stephensons winsome new doc mckellen. Mckellens work spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Apr 04, 2017 why ian mckellen really rejected the role of dumbledore.
It was not until 20 years later that mckellen became recognizable to international film. An aged, retired sherlock holmes deals with early dementia, as he tries to remember his final case, and a mysterious woman, whose memory haunts him. The actor was approached to play dumbledore after richard harris passed away in 2002. His notable film roles include gandalf in the lord of. Ive spent most of my acting career in the theatre, mckellen notes. Nov 28, 2007 actor sir ian mckellen refused to take over richard harris role of professor dumbledore in the harry potter film franchise because his portrayal of wizard gandalf in the lord of the rings. The scottish actor has made a few film choice errors most notably passing on the chance to be in two of the biggest blockbuster series in recent history.
Ian mckellen turned down less superior harry potter role actor sir ian mckellen refused to take over richard harris role of professor dumbledore in the harry potter film. Ian mckellen as himself, and richard harris as dumbledore in the harry potter films. Sep 11, 2019 reportedly, connery turned down the role because he just couldnt get his head around it. Ian mckellen, in full sir ian murray mckellen, born may 25, 1939, burnley, lancashire, england, british actor of great versatility, noted for his work with the royal shakespeare company and for his eclectic filmography mckellen attended st. Widely regarded as one of greatest stage and screen actors, both in his native great britain and internationally, twice nominated for the oscar and recipient of every major theatrical award in the uk and us, ian murray mckellen was born on may 25, 1939 in burnley, lancashire, england, to margery lois sutcliffe and denis. Will smith, who played agent j outstandingly, was not the first choice of the film producers. In hindsight, seeing any other actors in the iconic roles of some of our favorite films seems impossible yet that was almost the case since the only reason they snagged the part is because another big name celeb passed on the gig. Sir ian mckellen refused to play dumbledore in harry potter films as richard harris.
Fact 2 in 1979, he was made a commander of the order of the british empire. Whether due to personal reasons, financial disputes or the tried and true scheduling conflict, these big name stars turned down some ridiculously major roles. Ian mckellen has revealed why he turned down the role of. Ian mckellen has revealed why he never took on the role of albus dumbledore in the harry potter movies. Ian mckellen turned down a very english scandal role. Hugh jackman has admitted that he turned down an opportunity to star in the cats movie. Also on that movie, the part played by anthony hopkins was originally offered to ian mckellen who turned it down claiming he was too busy. Sep 28, 2011 the scottish actor has made a few film choice errors most notably passing on the chance to be in two of the biggest blockbuster series in recent history. The role got even bigger when it was included as one of the main characters in the avengers. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, a screen actors guild award, a bif award, two saturn awards, four drama desk awards, and two critics choice awards.
Sir ian murray mckellen ch cbe born 25 may 1939 is an english actor. Did sir ian mckellen and sir christopher lee get on well. Ian mckellen ended up playing the bearded wizard, earning an oscar nomination for his efforts. Plummer won tony awards for his performances in both cyrano and barrymore. His parents, denis and margery, soon moved with ian and his sister jean to the coal mining town of wigan. Wait, its a lie that ian mckellen turned down playing. Apr 05, 2017 hugh jackman turned down perhaps the most classic role of all time because, apparently, he didnt want to be boxed in. He was played by michael gambon for the remaining six films.
David schwimmer, the friends star, turned the role down as it did not match his style. Ian mckellen reveals he turned down a major harry potter role. Apr 04, 2017 culture film news ian mckellen reveals why he turned down major harry potter role. But when he was asked is there a role youve ever turned down. As for the hobbit, mckellen and lee never saw each other. Ian mckellen had no idea how popular beauty and the beast. While you cant now imagine anyone else playing gandalf other than sir ian mckellen, connery was in.
Mar 26, 2015 plummer also admitted turning down the role of gandalf in the lord of the rings films, a part played by sir ian mckellen. In an appearance on conan, the actor said that he wasnt exactly sure why he turned it down, but it sounds like the commitment was too much at the time. Ian mckellen on harry potter dumbledore role mental floss. Ian mckellen biography, movie highlights and photos. Ian mckellen explains why he refused dumbledore role i couldnt take over the part from an actor who id known didnt approve of me, the star said. This angered mckellens agent but the actor had the last laugh as the mi2 schedule overrunning would have prevented him signing up for the lord of the rings and xmen. Mckellen, known for playing gandalf in the lord of the rings movies, then joked that he was the real wizard. To find your local cinema and book tickets, please visit. Before she became buffy the vampire slayer, the star was almost the face of another iconic female character.
More from gina carbone only 3 lucky movies did not face a box office drop on this dismal. Ian mckellen biography, news, photos and videos page 6. Sir ian mckellen refused to play dumbledore in harry potter films as. Did ian mckellen turn down the role of harry potters dumbledore. Ian mckellen reveals why he didnt play dumbledore in the harry potter movies after richard harris death. This angered mckellen s agent but the actor had the last laugh as the mi2 schedule overrunning would have prevented him signing up for the lord of the rings and xmen. Oct 19, 2015 stars who turned down famous movie roles. Sir ian mckellen has revealed why he never took on the role of albus dumbledore in the harry potter movies the 77yearold english actor known for playing gandalf, another famous and bearded. Sir ian mckellen has said he could never have taken over the role of professor. But i do it because for so many years i felt like i couldnt. Whether they declined because of scheduling conflicts or due to those classic creative differences, here are 50 actors who turned down major movie roles and some of. Sir ian mckellen turned down role in jeremy thorpe scandal. Actors who turned down big movie roles lipstick alley. Now, were not sure what that feels like, but sir ian mckellen sure does.
The great ian mckellen has cycled through all of shakespeares greats onstage over the course of his 50year career to the point where, at the age of 76, the tony and laurence olivier award. Heres why ian mckellen turned down a role in the harry. But when he was asked is there a role youve ever turned down because it was too puerile, too silly, just. Apr 04, 2017 mckellen, known for playing gandalf in the lord of the rings movies, then joked that he was the real wizard. Nov 05, 2019 for years, harry potter fans have believed that ian mckellen turned down the role of dumbledore in the moviespartially fueled by comments the actor himself has made. Mckellen s work spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Sir ian mckellen turned down role in jeremy thorpe scandal drama a very english scandals director revealed the star refused the role to avoid comparisons with peter cook. Why ian mckellen turned down dumbledore in harry potter variety. I turned down the role of dumbledore in the harry potter movies, and kate.
He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, two academy award nominations, four bafta nominations and five emmy award nominations. Apr 04, 2017 ian mckellen as himself, and richard harris as dumbledore in the harry potter films. Ian mckellen first became intrigued with the idea of bringing a new interpretation of richard iii to the screen while still thrilling theatre audiences with his performance in the royal national theatres world tour of the play. Ian mckellen turned down less superior harry potter role. There is a fact about this film that was unknown to many movie fans.
His career spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Oct 30, 2015 the great ian mckellen has cycled through all of shakespeares greats onstage over the course of his 50year career to the point where, at the age of 76, the tony and laurence olivier award. Plummer also admitted turning down the role of gandalf in the lord of the rings films, a part played by sir ian mckellen. Mckellen turned down the role, telling the bbc in 2017 he couldnt take over the part from an actor who id known didnt approve of me. On may 25th, 1939, in the town of burnley in northern england, ian murray mckellen was born. For years, harry potter fans have believed that ian mckellen turned down the role of dumbledore in the moviespartially fueled by comments the. Feb 03, 2020 as it turns out, the legendary role of gandalf, the wizened wizard at the heart of peter jacksons lord of the rings trilogy, was offered to several actors before ian mckellen, and plummer was one. Ian mckellen explains why he refused dumbledore role. Why ian mckellen really rejected the role of dumbledore. Join us on sunday 27 may at 3pm for the uk premiere of mckellen. From the stage to the screen, sir ian mckellen has played a number of. He preferred to play a role that wouldnt typecast him quite so much, that would leave doors open in his careerwhich is why he decided to play the same character thats wolverine, from xmen, for those under a rock for 17. They sure did during the filming of the lord of the rings.
He also befriends a fan, the young son of his housekeeper, who wants him to work again. Blunt instead did a role in the box office flop gullivers travels. Ian mckellen has revealed why he turned down the role of dumbledore. And though mckellen turned down the role, gambon may as well be his. Mckellen had taken film roles throughout his careerbeginning in 1969 with his role of george matthews in a touch of love, and his first leading role was in 1980 as d. As it turns out, the legendary role of gandalf, the wizened wizard at the heart of peter jacksons lord of the rings trilogy, was offered to several. Fact 1 some of his most famous movies are the lord of the rings film trilogy, xmen films. Why ian mckellen turned down dumbledore in harry potter. For years, harry potter fans have believed that ian mckellen turned down the role of dumbledore in the movies partially fueled by comments the actor himself has made.
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