Actor Ian McKellen still doesn’t know how he could ever be cast as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings movies. The now 81-year-old actor told this during an interview.
McKellen played the role of Gandalf six times. Although he found the recording period tough, we know that he also looks back on his time in New Zealand on set very happily. But even twenty years after he was cast as Gandalf, he is still not sure how he could ever be cast.
How?
During an interview with GQ, McKellen said that he does not quite know it all. He thinks he may have gotten the part because the other actors didn’t want to live in New Zealand that long.
“I’m still not sure how Gandalf could roll my way,” said McKellen. “I think maybe because some of the actors who were offered the part didn’t want to live in New Zealand for more than a year. Too bad for them.”
By the way, we know that Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf. He did so because he did not understand the scenario. It is further known that Christopher Lee would have preferred to play the role of Gandalf himself, although he eventually became Saruman.
