September 1st 2024.
Iconic actor Sir Ian McKellen has recently announced that he will be taking a break from acting until he fully recovers from a fall he suffered during a stage performance of Player Kings in London's West End back in June. The 85-year-old legend fell head-first into the audience, resulting in neck injuries that have been causing him trouble ever since.
Luckily, Sir Ian's "fat suit" helped cushion the fall and prevent any serious injuries, but he has been spotted wearing a neck brace and using physiotherapy to treat a chipped vertebrae and fractured wrist. Despite the shock and emotional impact of the fall, Sir Ian reassured his fans that he is "on the mend" and recovering well.
In a recent interview with Big Issue, Sir Ian shared, "Of course, it's emotional. We all trip all our lives, it's just when you get to my age you can't always get up again." He also revealed that he had been considering his next steps in terms of work, but has ultimately decided to take the rest of the year off to focus on his recovery. "Not because I need to, just because I want to," he added.
The fall occurred during a performance on June 17 and Sir Ian did not return for the remaining shows, which concluded on June 22. Despite not being able to finish the production, Sir Ian holds no hard feelings and even jokes about the incident. "I'm just trying to convince myself it was an accident," he said, with some audience members speculating that he may have tripped on a prop.
Sir Ian has been playing the role of John Falstaff in the Robert Icke adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, parts one and two, which ran for 12 weeks in the West End. Although the show is now on a national tour, Sir Ian will not be returning to his role.
However, he is still looking ahead to possible future roles, including a potential return as the beloved Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise. While the films may be over 20 years old, rumours have been circulating about a spin-off film called The Hunt For Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis. Sir Ian originally played Gandalf in the critically acclaimed series and it remains one of his most iconic roles, alongside his portrayal of Magneto in the X-Men franchise.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, won a total of 17 Academy Awards, with the final installment, Return of the King, winning 11 Oscars in one night. It shares the record for most Oscars with James Cameron's Titanic and the 1959 film Ben-Hur, directed by William Wyler.
Due to the continued popularity of the franchise, Amazon Prime is currently airing a prequel TV series called The Rings of Power, although it does not feature Sir Ian's character. However, the actor did tease in the interview that he could potentially return as Gandalf in the future. He said with a grin, "The enthusiasm for the franchise shows no sign of abating."
As for the future of the series, Sir Ian couldn't reveal much due to the secrecy surrounding it, but he did share, "I've just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved, and they hope that I'll be playing him. When? I don't know. What the script is? It's not written yet. So, they better be quick."
For now, Sir Ian is focused on his recovery and taking some well-deserved time off. "I'm going to take the rest of the year off," he confirmed. "Not because I need to, just because I want to." We can't wait to see what Sir Ian will bring to the screen once he has fully recovered.
Read the full interview with Sir Ian in this week's Big Issue, available now. And if you have a celebrity story or pictures to share, don't hesitate to reach out to The Agency entertainment team by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
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