Ian McKellen doesn’t tire of Gandalf

Sir Ian McKellen doesn’t tire of playing Gandalf in The Hobbit films.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug actor has played the famous wizard in six films, including the current Hobbit series and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he doesn’t think it’s a “chore” to play the character because the franchise is so wonderfully written.

He explained: “It sounds like a big responsibility. It hasn’t felt like that. The job has been a wonderful one for me in many, many ways, and it’s gone on for so long. Normally you play a part and that’s it. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get to repeat it. But it doesn’t feel to me like, ‘Oh, dear, I’ve got to go and do Gandalf again.’ It’s never felt like that. These stories are so wonderful and the productions and the cast are so varied and entertaining that I love going back to New Zealand where we film. So it’s not been a chore at all.”

McKellen – who also plays Magneto in the X-Men franchise – often gets recognised for his role as Gandalf and admits it has been a great way to gain younger fans.

He said: “The outcome is very pleasant because I get to meet so many people of all ages who have enjoyed the films, but particularly the young. There are lots kids and early teens and even younger who know the films backwards and they can’t wait for the next one. So Gandalf is always alive and present and there for them. That’s a lovely feature of my life since we started doing them.”

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is in cinemas now.

– TEAMtalk Media