Gandalf loses it! Filming the Hobbit trilogy with just green screens and stand-ins got to acting legend Ian McKellen, so much so that he ended up crying on set. Like, just imagine yelling lines into thin air? That was all McKellen was required to do while filming the trilogy.
A new clip shows the actor cracking under the pressure, proving even magic rings can’t shield you from a bad filming experience. Now we see why his meltdown wasn’t a diva moment, but a relatable frustration.
Gandalf’s Green Screen Struggles: McKellen’s Meltdown on The Hobbit Set
Remember the wise and ever-composed Gandalf the Grey from The Lord of the Rings? Well, it turns out filming his return in The Hobbit wasn’t quite as magical for Sir Ian McKellen. The legendary actor, known for bringing Gandalf to life, reportedly had a meltdown on set due to the heavy reliance on green screens!
McKellen, a classically trained stage actor, thrives on real sets and interacting with fellow actors. But The Hobbit embraced CGI technology, leaving him feeling isolated during solo green screen scenes. Imagine this: Gandalf the Grey, surrounded by…thirteen photographs of dwarves! His frustration became so intense that he reportedly cried out (via Contact Music):
All I had for company was 13 photographs of the dwarves. Pretending you’re with 13 other people when you’re on your own, it stretches your technical ability to the absolute limits.
Unfortunately for McKellen, his microphone was on, and the entire studio got an earful! This behind-the-scenes anecdote highlights the challenges actors can face with new filming techniques. The actor revealed (per NME news):
And I cried, actually. I cried. Then I said out loud, ‘This is not why I became an actor.’ Unfortunately the microphone was on and the whole studio heard.
McKellen, accustomed to the collaborative environment of traditional sets, clearly struggled with the isolation of green screen acting. “No wonder he broke down crying,” a fan commented on a LOTR blooper on IG.
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But McKellen’s experience offers a valuable lesson. While CGI allows for incredible visuals, it shouldn’t come at the expense of the actors’ craft. Finding a balance between technological innovation and the human element of performance is key to creating truly captivating films.
Ian McKellen on if he’d return as Gandalf in new LOTR movie: “If I’m alive”
The 85-year-old actor, known for bringing Gandalf to life, playfully responded to questions about reprising the role in a new Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum. Hinting at the awareness of his age, McKellen quipped (via Variety):
I’ve never been out of work, but I’m aware that any minute now something could happen to me which could prevent me from ever working again. But if I’m alive, why shouldn’t I carry on? I really feel I’m quite good at this acting thing now.
While there’s no official offer yet, McKellen did reveal he heard rumors of Gandalf appearing in the film. Luckily, for fans of the long beard, he also mentioned he hasn’t shaved “in months!”
This potential return comes after McKellen previously expressed his dislike for filming with green screens, something heavily used in The Hobbit trilogy. He thrived on real sets, while interacting with fellow actors. However, with no script or confirmed plans, fans will have to wait and see if McKellen dons the pointy hat once more.
Watch Lord of the Rings only on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Netflix.
