Advertisement

Ian McKellen to reprise Gandalf for charity show

The actor played the character in the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" movies.

By Annie Martin
Ian McKellen attends the New York premiere of "Beauty and the Beast" on March 13. The actor will reprise the role of wizard Gandalf of "Lord of the Rings" in an upcoming show for charity. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 3 | Ian McKellen attends the New York premiere of "Beauty and the Beast" on March 13. The actor will reprise the role of wizard Gandalf of "Lord of the Rings" in an upcoming show for charity. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

March 23 (UPI) -- Ian McKellen will reprise the wizard Gandalf in an upcoming show for charity.

The actor will return to the Lord of the Rings character and other famous roles for the one-man show Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others & You in July, the Park Theatre in London announced Wednesday.

Advertisement

McKellen will reprise Gandalf, Macbeth and other roles for nine performances July 3 through 9. The shows, which will be accompanied by a never-before-seen exhibition of posters, paintings and photographs from the actor's career, will raise funds for the theater.

"I'm performing at Park Theatre to help raise funds for the charity. In a short time the theatre has established itself on both the theatrical and local maps. But with no public subsidy for core costs they need to bring in donations of around £250,000 every year just to keep the doors open," McKellen said in a statement.

"Ian has been a staunch supporter since the building was a hard-hat site -- and I continue to be grateful for and humbled by his incredible generosity," artistic director Jez Bond added. "He has donated his time to help raise vital funds by performing this show -- and I am honored to be working with him to bring it to the stage."

Advertisement

McKellen played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings film series and The Hobbit movies. He said in an interview with Empire in January that he kept more than one souvenir from his years on set.

"[I have] eternal gratitude for being included in one of the great film adventures of all time," the star said before admitting, "I keep [Gandalf's sword] Glamdring in my hatstand and the pointy hat in the basement, often worn by visiting youngsters."

"Gandalf's staff is behind the bar in my Thames-side pub The Grapes, in East London," he added. "Don't tell [director] Peter [Jackson], but the keys to Bag End are hanging up at home."

McKellen is also known for playing Magneto in the X-Men film series. He recently voiced Cogsworth in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast, and will voice Horatio P. Huntington in the new movie Animal Crackers.

Latest Headlines