'Why Would I Stop Doing It, Really?' — 86-Year-Old Lord of the Rings and X-Men Star Ian McKellen Insists He's Not Giving Up Acting Any Time Soon

At 86 years old, you’d deliberation The Lord of the Rings and X-Men prima Ian McKellen would privation to enactment his feet up. But it sounds similar helium has nary volition of retiring immoderate clip soon, insisting helium volition proceed acting until he’s forced to stop.

McKellen, celebrated for playing Gandalf successful The Lord of the Rings and Magneto successful the X-Men movies (and soon, besides successful Avengers: Doomsday), was injured successful 2024 aft falling disconnected signifier during a show of Player Kings astatine the Noël Coward theatre successful London. But since recovering, the seasoned histrion has bounced backmost into work, starring successful The Christophers alongside Michaela Coel and James Corden, the upcoming Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol alongside Johnny Depp, and this December’s Avengers: Doomsday, alongside scores of Marvel superheroes.

And let’s not hide that McKellen volition reprise his iconic relation arsenic Gandalf for adjacent year’s Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — and possibly adjacent further The Lord of the Rings movies aft that. In 2024, helium said helium didn’t similar the thought of anyone other playing Gandalf, truthful it seems the relation is his arsenic agelong arsenic he’s acceptable and able.

So, it’s a engaged clip for Sir Ian. And, speaking to Variety, it sounds similar it volition enactment that way. “I similar enactment truthful much,” helium said. “I find it fulfilling and gratifying, and it gives maine a batch back. It keeps maine energetic. It gives maine a crushed to get up successful the morning. Why would I halt doing it, really? If the legs springiness mode and the caput gives way, past I’ll person to stop. But successful the meantime, I’m loving it really.”

Apart from loving work, it seems McKellen is enjoying promoting his work, excessively — and helium doesn’t look to attraction astir sticking to strict non-disclosure agreements either. He’s spoken openly astir actors appearing successful The Hunt for Gollum up of their authoritative confirmation, and, successful February, appeared to driblet a immense Magneto-related Avengers: Doomsday spoiler, adding: "Oooh, I possibly shouldn't person said that..."

Will McKellen besides look successful 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars? There's a schoolhouse of thought that says Magneto and the remainder of the Fox-era X-Men volition beryllium killed disconnected successful Doomsday, perchance adjacent aboriginal connected successful the film. If this is true, McKellen's Magneto whitethorn not beryllium agelong for this world.

Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].