is a series of best-selling novels by JKRowling, which has been considered one of the most popular in the category for nearly a quarter of a century. The phenomenon of the adventures of the young wizard and his two friends is also demonstrated by film adaptations that have won the hearts of viewers around the world.
Ian McKellen could have played in Harry Potter. He refused out of wounded pride
One of the main characters of both books and films is Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the first two productions of the series, he was portrayed on screen by Richard Harris, but when he died unexpectedly at the end of October 2002, the producers faced quite a challenge. The search for his successor was not an easy one, and the list of potential candidates included many stars, including: Sean Connery and Christopher Lee.
A particular favorite was , who had already played the brilliant role of Gandalf the Gray in the cult film . However, when the producers called him with an offer, he refused and was not willing to negotiate. Years later, he confessed that he did it out of hurt pride. He felt disrespected by Harris’s previous statement, who, assessing his achievements as well as those of Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jakobi, said that they were “technically great but passionless” actors. – I couldn’t take over the role of an actor who I know wouldn’t accept me in this role – he explained in an interview for .
He didn’t play Dumbledore, but he was associated with him. McKellen shared a funny anecdote
Ultimately, Michael Gambon played the role of Dumbledore and he did it brilliantly, because today it is difficult to imagine anyone else in this role. Despite this, many still think that the famous wizard was played by McKellen. Over the years, actors have repeatedly received congratulations for productions in which they did not appear. In an interview with McKellen, he confessed that years ago he confronted these mistakes with a friend, asking if he also had similar stories. It quickly turned out that he was not alone in this experience. – So I asked him if they ever confused him with me. He replied, “All the time.” Then I asked what he did in such situations. He replied, “Oh, I’ll just sign your name,” he recalled with a laugh.
he died at the end of September 2023, but mistakes still persist and happen more often than you might think. McKellen took the opportunity to tell about one of the most recent incidents that had happened to him a few weeks earlier while he was waiting for his train back home. At the station, he was approached by two young women in their 20s. – One of them asked: “Are you Michael Gambon?” and I said Michael Gambon is dead – he recalled. Her reaction left him stunned. – She said, “Yes, I know, but are you Michael Gambon?” – the stranger continued, and he, still very surprised, repeated the information and left.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
