Working with Tom Cruise is a dream for many actors in the entertainment industry. And, then there was Ian McKellen who refused to work with a movie starring Tom Cruise. It’s obvious why several actors desire to work alongside the Top Gun: Maverick star. But in McKellen’s case what mattered most was the script.
With a career spanning over half a century, McKellen has delivered some of the most iconic performances. He has become famous for his role as Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. However, he said no to working with Tom Cruise.
Sir Ian McKellen Refused Mission Impossible Franchise Role for This Reason
Ian McKellen was offered a role in Mission: Impossible II, but he turned it down because the studio refused to let him see the whole script for fear of leaks. McKellen explained that he couldn’t judge what the film was like from reading his scenes, so he wasn’t comfortable saying yes.
Against the advice of his agent, McKellen turned down the role, despite the opportunity to work with Tom Cruise.
While promoting his film Mr. Holmes, McKellen told People magazine (Via Digital Fix) that he almost starred opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II, which would’ve changed much of his career as we know it.
“I got offered a part in ‘Mission: Impossible II’ with Tom Cruise, but they wouldn’t let me see the whole script because I might have spilled the beans,” the actor told the magazine.
As soon as the franchise declined his request to show him the full script he said:
“I’m sorry I can’t be in your film because I don’t know what it is.”
“Well, I couldn’t judge from reading just those scenes what the script was like. So I said no. And my agent said, ‘You can’t say no to working with Tom Cruise!’ and I said, ‘I think I will’,” he said.
The very next day, he was contacted by both Bryan Singer for X-Men, and by Peter Jackson for The Lord of the Rings. McKellen chose to take on both of those roles, and he has never regretted his decision.
Will Ian McKellen Return as Magneto in the MCU?
McKellen’s exceptional range as an actor was demonstrated through his roles in films such as X-Men, where he portrayed the complex Magneto. He last appeared in X-Men: Days of Future Past; ever since then, there has been no news about his return to the franchise.
One of the reliable movie leakers on X (formerly known as Twitter) said that Ian McKellen is set to reprise his role as Erik Lehnsherr, aka Magneto, in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Previously, his X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart claimed during an interview that “McKellen might be interested in coming back as well.”
While speaking with ET Online, Stewart said that he and McKellen “got plans” to return as their respective X-Men characters, and some insiders think they know when the comeback can be expected.
It’s thrilling to know that Magneto will finally mark its return. However, it is important to note that all these theories are based on rumors.
Mission: Impossible 2 is available to stream on Netflix.
