Ian McKellen taking year off from acting after onstage fall

Sir Ian McKellen has decided to take the rest of the year off from acting after sustaining wrist and neck injuries from a dramatic fall while performing onstage.

The 85-year-old, who has been nominated twice for an Oscar, lost his footing during a fight scene in a play at the Noel Coward Theatre in June. Since the fall, he has been dealing with a chipped vertebrae and a fractured wrist.

In a recent interview, McKellen, best known for his portrayal of the wizard Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, mentioned that the incident has left him feeling “physically weak.” He reflected, “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.”

The actor, originally from Burnley, expressed concern that the fall may be tied to aging. He added, “I’m just trying to convince myself it was an accident.”

Despite his injuries, McKellen emphasized that taking time off wasn’t a necessity for his health. He stated, “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.”

McKellen mentioned that his decision to step back was made with the “greatest reluctance” following his doctor’s advice. Despite his disappointment, he took the time to support his understudy during the final performance of Player Kings, a version of the Henry IV part one and two plays, in Newcastle at the end of June. He shared, “On the day of the 101st and final performance of Player Kings – without me – I celebrated by removing Falstaff’s hair, which has been growing for nine months. I will be in the audience for the matinee in Newcastle.”

There have been reports of a new instalment of The Lord of the Rings films, with Andy Serkis directing and starring in the first instalment, titled The Hunt for Gollum. McKellen appeared enthusiastic about the possibility of reprising his role as Gandalf, a character he played in the original trilogy as well as The Hobbit series, all directed by Peter Jackson. He remarked, “Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating. I may even be going back to play Gandalf again.”

McKellen provided some insights into the potential project, stating, “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.”

Source: Big Issue, PA