‘The Lord of the Rings‘ fans might have often wondered why Sir Ian McKellen, known for his iconic portrayal of Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien‘s epic novel adaptation, never got the chance to don the shoes of Albus Dumbledore in the ‘Harry Potter‘ film series. Both the character and McKellen’s appearance bear a striking resemblance, much like the two actors who previously portrayed Dumbledore, Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.
Years later, however, McKellen confirmed he was asked to take over the role of Dumbledore following Harris’ death in 2002. He, instead, chose to turn it down, and as we all know, the role eventually went to Gambon, who played the character from ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban‘ onward.
Why Ian McKellen Was Offered the Dumbledore Role
Harris, who first brought Dumbledore to life in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone‘ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets‘, passed away at 72 after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His gentle, grandfatherly presence had already made a strong impression, leaving big shoes for other actors to fill.
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At the time, the studio and director Alfonso Cuaron were looking for someone who could carry the role forward. McKellen, who was gaining worldwide attention as Gandalf in ‘The Lord of the Rings‘, was one of the actors they approached.
Ian McKellen Reveals Why He Turned Down ‘Harry Potter’
In a 2017 interview on HARDtalk, McKellen explained why he said no. He shared, “When they called me and said they were interested in having me take part in the ‘Harry Potter’ films, they didn’t actually say what the role would be. But I knew what they had in mind, and I couldn’t… I couldn’t take the role of an actor I knew wouldn’t approve of me.”
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Harris had once criticised McKellen, along with actors Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh, as “technically brilliant, but without passion.” While McKellen disagreed with that view, he admitted it stayed with him and influenced his decision.
The Richard Harris and Ian McKellen Connection
Ian McKellen and Richard Harris had crossed paths over the years in the British theatre world, but they were never close. McKellen, known for his work on stage and screen and for being open about his gay identity, felt it would not be right to take over a role from someone who had not thought highly of his acting.
He even joked while reflecting on it later, “When he died, he played Dumbledore, the wizard. I played the real wizard,” referring to his role as Gandalf in ‘The Lord of the Rings.‘
Even so, McKellen has said he has no regrets about turning down the part. At the time, he was already busy playing Magneto in the ‘X-Men‘ and did not want to be seen only as a wizard figure across two major franchises.
In the end, Michael Gambon stepped into the role and brought his own style to Dumbledore. His version of the character was more intense and unpredictable, which fit well as the story grew darker and more serious in the later ‘Harry Potter’ films.
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