The Lord of the Rings is an uber-successful franchise that gave us some of the most memorable films and in the recent past, even a television series on Amazon Prime Video. It would be safe to say that it is one of the most esteemed and widely-discussed pieces of fiction to ever exist.
English writer J. R. R. Tolkien and the wide expanse of his high fantasy narrative made it possible for a franchise of such a grand scale to be created in the first place. One can only be thankful for his storytelling brilliance.
Despite the gripping tale and extensive world-building, some Hollywood talents could not become a part of the endeavor—either of their own volition or simply because fate wouldn’t have it. One such name, famed for his roles within other notable franchises such as X-Men, Star Trek, and recently, the MCU, (specifically in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) is Sir Patrick Stewart.
What exactly is the reason behind the British actor’s absence from the epic, high-fantasy film series? Turns out that it was simply a matter of personal taste!
Why Did Patrick Stewart Turn Down The Role Of Gandalf?
The world has seen Sir Ian McKellen embody and be synonymous with the role of Gandalf in the LOTR trilogy as well as Peter Jackson’s three-part film adaptation of The Hobbit. However, before the part landed on his plate, it first found itself knocking on his close friend, Patrick Stewart‘s door.
The latter ended up turning down the role, as he did not enjoy the script. In a 2008 Star Trek Convention, in New Jersey, the X-Men alum revealed an intriguing tidbit from the time he had a meeting with Peter Jackson to discuss The Lord of the Rings. The director of the endeavor wanted Stewart to play the role of the archetypal high fantasy wizard, Gandalf.
However, the actor had other plans in mind. He initially wanted a different role in the film trilogy. What role exactly, you might ask? Despite popular demand, that was never quite disclosed by the Star Trek icon and remains shrouded under a mysterious veil. That was not the end, though. Stewart also recalls “criticizing” the script for The Lord of the Rings. He simply didn’t like it. And that was one of the primary reasons why he turned down the $5.8 billion franchise.
How Ian McKellen Came Into The Picture
A very close friend to Stewart and an actor who’s regarded and renowned for his diverse portrayal of characters across various media and genres, Sir Ian McKellen was ultimately cast as the franchise’s Gandalf, a wizard of the Istari order. According to him, the actor is still quite unsure as to how such an opportunity made its way to him.
He once said the following to GQ magazine:
“I still don’t quite know how Gandalf came my way. I think because some of the actors who would have been offered it before me were rather put off by the idea of having to live in New Zealand for a year. ‘Where the hell is that?’ Well, more fool them.”
Ironically enough, Patrick Stewart was not the only famed Hollywood talent who turned down the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Other actors, such as Sean Connery, Patrick Joseph McGoohan, and Christopher Plummer were also offered the role, which they politely rejected.
Call it fate or call it luck, Gandalf ending up being portrayed by Ian McKellen was, at the end of the day, the best outcome that anyone could have asked for. With his captivating charm and magnetic on-screen presence, we find it impossible to imagine anybody else who would have been best suited for the role. It can be ascertained without a doubt that McKellen’s Gandalf is what shaped The Lord of the Rings franchise into what it is today, as he embodies one of the most important and iconic characters of the series.
Fans of the famed franchise wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: TrekMovie
