Sir Ian McKellen, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and actor, has expressed his displeasure with the Fantastic Beasts movies for not properly depicting Dumbledore’s sexuality. He stated that he was in dismay, despite J.K. Rowling’s declaration that Dumbledore is homosexual, his sexuality is not overtly depicted in the films.
The series’ newest film, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, does, however, officially recognize Dumbledore’s romantic connections. The film makes it very evident that Dumbledore and Grindelwald had a passionate love affair when they were youngsters and the plot has even received many positive critiques from reviewers and fans worldwide.
Sir Ian McKellen Was Upset With the Makers of Fantastic Beasts
Dumbledore’s sexuality is a topic that has been debated by fans of the Harry Potter series for many years. J.K. Rowling acknowledged Dumbledore’s homosexuality and even claimed that although she had never made it clear in the Harry Potter books, she had always planned for him to be homosexual.
Fans’ reactions to Rowling’s admission of Dumbledore’s sexual orientation were conflicting. Having what they had long believed confirmed made some fans thrilled, while others were dissatisfied that the author did not make Dumbledore’s sexuality more overt in the novels. However, Sir Ian McKellen raised his voice regarding this matter on multiple occasions.
During an interview with Time Out, McKellen opened up about the dispute surrounding the decision not to show the young Dumbledore as homosexual in the then-upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel. He even claimed that the industry is a very dangerous place and added,
“Well, nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they? They only recently discovered that there were black people in the world. Hollywood has mistreated women in every possible way throughout its history.
Gay men don’t exist. ‘Gods and Monsters’, 1998, I think, was the beginning of Hollywood admitting that there were gay people knocking around, even though half of Hollywood is gay.”
X-Men actor Ian McKellen was visibly angry and disappointed during the entirety of the interview as he went on to claim his support for the homosexual people out there in the world. However, McKellen has also said that he believes it is very important to show homosexual characters in films to broaden the genre of the Hollywood industry.
Ian McKellen’s Rise in the Hollywood Industry
Ian McKellen’s career in the industry began to take off in the early 1960s when he began working as a stage actor. He rapidly established himself as one of the most gifted and adaptable performers in the entertainment industry by participating in a variety range and genre of productions.
With his parts in the X-Men and The Lord of the Rings series, McKellen’s career reached new heights. He portrayed the renowned characters of Magneto and Gandalf, and his performances received praise from both critics and audiences.
Ian McKellen has been consistently working over the past few years, making appearances in movies including Mr. Holmes and All Is True. In addition, he has been a strong voice for LGBT+ rights and a role model for many young people from the community.
McKellen’s success in the field is evidence of his brilliance, adaptability, and commitment to his art. He is one of the most admired and well-known performers of our day, and audiences all over the world have found inspiration and enjoyment in his work.
