Ian mckellen s journalblog for the lord of the rings. Some observers earlier in the year overreacted to the grey books news that peter jackson was making minimal adjustments to the. In 2001, ian mckellen put on the robe and pointed hat of a wizard named gandalf and won a place in the hearts of tolkien fans worldwide. Ian mckellen allows readers to get the scoop on the many roles that have made mckellen famous, such as the aforementioned salieri and iago in othello, which led to the realization that he enjoyed playing complex, tormented characters. Ian mckellen, who portrayed the great gandalf in the lord of the rings and the hobbit trilogies, has published a journal from his time filming the. The initial entries are organized into the grey book for gandalf the grey and later into the white book for gandalf. Ian mckellen releases journal written while filming lord. Ian mckellen being cast as gandalf the grey in the lord of the rings movies was a match made in heaven. Gods and monsters, of course, is the 1998 film that starred mckellen as james whale, an english performer in the 1930s who was openly gay. Starting in 1999 with his casting as gandalf and continuing through 2003, ian mckellan wrote a blog called the grey book. This was one of the earliest blogs, launched before the term came into. Ian mckellen the lord of the rings grey book filming. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, two academy award nominations, four bafta nominations and five emmy award nominations.
Widely regarded as one of greatest stage and screen actors, both in his native great britain and internationally, twice nominated for the oscar and recipient of every major theatrical award in the uk and us, ian murray mckellen was born on may 25, 1939 in burnley, lancashire, england, to margery lois sutcliffe and denis. Ian mckellen biography childhood, life achievements. In his october 3 grey book entry, actor ian mckellen gandalf reveals the behind the scenes secrets of two of middleearths most renowned horses. Critics call helen mirren and ian mckellens thriller underwhelming cydney henderson. Ian mckellen the lord of the rings the grey book casting. One of the earliest blogs on the internet began in august 1999. Wolverine and the xmen tries to save jean grey from becoming evil. Sir ian mckellen accidentally does another dame maggie.
Ian mckellen is a revered, awardwinning british actor of stage and screen known for his starring roles in the lord of the rings and xmen films. Ian mckellen publishes personal lord of the rings journal. Ian mckellen the lord of the rings gandalf return of. There is a general assumption that the main professional concern. Learn more about ian mckellen at with exclusive news, full bio and filmography as well as photos, videos, and more.
So with the lord of the rings, the whole venture across three movies and across the magical landscape of new zealand, is as invigorating as the opportunity to embody a legend. Sir ian murray mckellen ch cbe born 25 may 1939 is an english actor. Though his role in the film adaptation of lord of the rings introduced him to a new audience, mckellen had a thriving career a lifetime before his visit to middle earth. His career spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Ian mckellen answers your questions about lotr 20002008 the lord of the rings the hobbit more blogs by ian mckellen ian mckellen s home page. While filming the lord of the rings, i began recording my impressions in the grey book, o ne of the earliest blogs, launched before the term came into widespread use. Xmen the last stand by brett ratner brett ratner, hugh. But mckellens fresh reminder about their existence is timeless fodder for fans. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe. Ian mckellen is tired of hollywoods obsession with. Ian mckellen celebrity profile check out the latest ian mckellen photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Ian mckellen posts blog chronicling lord of the rings experience. Ian mckellen and peter jackson both hated gandalf the white.
Sir ian mckellen posts a link to his website, where he kept an online. As a citizen of planet earth im clearly clued up on who sir ian mckellen is, but im not aware of his work as gandalf in lord of the rings. Gandalfs equine faith lies other than in the likes of bill the pony and the chestnut clyde who dropped him off at bag end in the first films opening scene. The lord of the rings the grey book casting ian mckellen. The white book covers postproduction and his last days as gandalf from 2002 to 2003. Gandalf lord of the rings the grey book ian mckellen.
Ian mckellen as gandalf the grey in the hobbit movies j. As a child i was fascinated by books about theatre and cinema magic, so i sympathise with those who want advance information from the lotr magicians. Sir ian mckellen as gandalf in the lord of the rings. While filming the lord of the rings, i began recording my impressions in the grey book named for gandalf the grey, the wizard who leads the fellowship of the ring in its fight against sauron, the lord of the rings. Over the weekend, sir ian mckellen resurfaced the extensive blog that he produced while filming the lord of the rings in new zealand. It will be up to peter jackson to decide if and when the secrets are made public. He has been directing plays since the mid1960s, and has received the prestigious olivier award five times. Personal journal, commentary about his role as gandalf the grey in the fellowship of the ring. Ian mckellen gandalf lord of the rings the white book. Ian mckellen releases journal entries he wrote while. Sir ian mckellen contact info name, email address, phone number. Ian mckellens unearthed lord of the rings set diaries are pure gold.
The grey book by ian mckellen 20 august 1999casting. Gandalf is also noted to have distinctly bushy eyebrows. I began reading the tolkien trilogy masterpiece 52 years ago and have probably read the books three dozen times over those years, only interrupted by the introduction of the movies which have become a family tradition to watch every year at christ. Ian mckellen posts link to lord of the rings filming journal vulture. Ian mckellen gandalf lord of the rings the grey book. As for the character he brought to live on screen, ian much prefers the grey variant than the wizard with shiny and clean clothes and that perfectly white beard. Ian mckellen is giving fans a closer look at the making of the lord of the rings trilogy. Sir ian mckellen booking agent, manager, and publicist contact info. Its rather that i invariably look at the job as a whole who will direct, who will be cast, how long will it take,do i want to work in leeds or toronto or now wellington.
Ian mckellen posts fascinating lord of the rings diary entries. On friday, the actor tweeted out a link to journal entries he. Jean grey to search for the teleporting mutant and discover the truth behind the assassination attempt. Mckellens work spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. I handed the book over to mr random to see if he agreed and like the good husband and voracious reader that he is, he. Ian mckellens first professional stage appearance was in 1961, and in 1965 he made his film debut, playing a gay character in a touch of love with sandy dennis. Jean grey returns from the beyond to become dark pheonix. It sets the play in an england of an alternate timeline, which clearly evokes 1930s fascism. Ian mckellen publishes personal lord of the rings journal cbr. Ian mckellen releases journal written while filming lord of the rings. Ian mckellen answers your questions about lotr 20002008 the lord of the rings.
Following his oscar nomination for gods and monsters, he became worldfamous in three recordsetting film. Ian murray mckellen was born on may 25th, 1939 in burnley, lancashire. The definitive biography of sir ian mckellen from an acclaimed biographer. Divided into the grey book and the white bookto denote the status of pre and postbalrog gandalf, of coursethe blog is a fascinating, warm, and supremely charming thing to read through, collecting mckellens thoughts on the wily wizard, his time in new zealand, and everything else that seems to filter through his thoughtful and inquisitive mind. The actor bought the full force of his considerable personality and a lifetimes worth of experience acting in shakespearean dramas to one of. While filming the lord of the rings, i began recording my impressions in the grey book named for gandalf the grey, the wizard who leads. Now, with his parts in the first two xmen films and the phenomenally successful lord of the rings trilogy, he is known worldwide. Some observers earlier in the year overreacted to the grey books. Ian mckellen writings blogs gandalf magneto grey book.
Magnetos lair and the grey book were among the earliest blogs anywhere on the internet, among the first few on nontechnical subjects, probably the first widelyread and most likely the first about entertainment. After his encounter with the balrog on 15 january t. To begin with i have never had a hitlist of characters whom i wanted to play. Mckellen starts the journals with an entry about the casting process, saying he looked forward to portraying j. What they get isnt just a diary, aptly titled the grey book, that muses about his daily life or what shenanigans he and patrick stewart were perpetrating although wed read that as well. This biography offers detailed information about his childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline. Book ian mckellen by joy leslie gibson book ian mckellen. People didnt want me in their movies thanks to his roles in the hobbit and xmen films, ian mckellen has become one of hollywoods most bankable stars.
The battle for middleearth ii the rise of the witchking gandalf the grey gandalf the white 2006. Sir ian mckellen has appeared in theaters, on television, and film screens since the 1960s. Was ian mckellens performance as gandalf accurate to how. The whole thing, separated into the grey book and the. I didnt until recently, and its a fact that has brought a lot of enjoyment ever since. The grey book recounts mckellens time filming the fellowship of the ring, the two towers and the return of the king between 1999 and 2001. The authors written style immediately started to vex me it was beyond irritating. Sir ian mckellen contact info agent, manager, publicist. After that i began a new volume of entries called the white book see links below. A friend has always wanted to play abraham lincoln but where. Ian mckellens unearthed lord of the rings set diaries are. Ian mckellen posts blog chronicling lord of the rings. Bloom thought sir ian mckellen was the greatest richard iii he had ever seen, and richard loncraines 1995 film is based on mckellens famous 1990 national theater performance. Ian mckellen releases journal entries he wrote while filming lord of.
What they get isnt just a diary, aptly titled the grey book, that. While chatting with sir ian mckellen about his next appearance in the hobbit the actor revealed what. There is a general assumption that the main professional concern of actors is the parts they play. Its a chronicle of his entire process of filming the famous series. Ian mckellen epost answers about lord of the rings. The grey book ian mckellens blog about lord of the rings. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, a screen actors guild award, a bif award, two saturn awards, four drama desk awards, and two critics choice. Grey gandalf is my favourite peter jacksons too, we always preferred gandalf the grey. Ian mckellens journalblog for the lord of the rings. Sir ian mckellens lord of the rings blog is the only good thing left. The grey book, the personal website of actor ian mckellen gandalf the grey in lotr has updated with another fascinating look behind the scenes at the lotr set.