Sir Ian McKellen’s devotion to the craft of acting remains so profound that, even at 86, the legendary performer is prepared to revisit the massive cinematic universes that cemented his global fame. This December, he is set to reprise his iconic role as Magneto—a character he first brought to life in 2000’s X-Men—for the upcoming blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday. Beyond the Marvel multiverse, McKellen has also signaled his intent to return to Middle-earth, expecting to don the grey robes of Gandalf once more for The Hunt for Gollum, currently slated for a 2027 release.
Yet, as he revealed to Stephen Colbert during Wednesday’s episode of The Late Show, the technical spectacle of big-screen filmmaking pale in comparison to the electric, communal atmosphere of a live stage performance. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than acting… not so much in the movies, but in the theater,” McKellen noted, emphasizing the unique connection shared with a theater audience.
For many fans, witnessing McKellen’s celebrated stage work—which has spanned the West End and Broadway since the 1960s—is a rare opportunity. Theater is, by its nature, an ephemeral art form. While it is a privilege to see a veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company bring gravitas to high-fantasy blockbusters, his appearance on The Late Show offered something truly special: a live performance of a monologue from a Shakespearean-adjacent play he first tackled over sixty years ago. As the studio lights dimmed, the audience fell into a hushed trance, allowing McKellen to deliver a masterclass in classical acting.
The monologue originates from Sir Thomas More, a play that scholars largely agree features contributions from William Shakespeare. The scene depicts More confronting a mob of rioters who are demanding the expulsion of immigrants from London. McKellen’s delivery highlights the script’s startling contemporary relevance; More’s plea for empathy and human rights feels as though it could be addressed to modern policymakers. This connection to the present day clearly fuels McKellen’s performance, giving the centuries-old text a sharp, urgent edge.
Switching gears during the interview, McKellen shared lighthearted anecdotes about the physical demands of playing a mutant master of magnetism. He joked about being hoisted into the air and tasked with gesturing wildly to simulate telekinetic powers. Apparently, in Avengers: Doomsday, Magneto’s path of destruction leads through New Jersey. Whether that constitutes a major spoiler or just a bit of late-night wit, it is clear that McKellen’s energy remains undiminished. At 86, his ability to command both a Shakespearean stage and a Marvel set with equal fervor is nothing short of remarkable.
Source: Polygon
