How come Ian McKellen didn't play Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies?

Lucian

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Nov-14-10 07:55 PM
Original message

How come Ian McKellen didn't play Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies?

Edited on Sun Nov-14-10 07:55 PM by Lucian

I think that part would've been perfect for him.

Or was it because he didn't want to be typecast as another powerful wizard? That would make sense.

:shrug:

Sorry. Just watching the movies on ABC Family until The Walking Dead comes on.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

MrScorpio

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Nov-14-10 08:03 PM
Response to Original message

1. That typecasting thing is a sumbitch to deal with

However, I will say that Michael Gambon does bring a certain air of open armed grandfatherliness to the role.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Ilsa

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Nov-14-10 09:36 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. M. Gannon has been great as Dumbledore.

Ian McK would have been good, but I can't imagine him in the role since MG made it his.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

tigereye

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 07:34 AM
Response to Reply #2

10. Gambon, I think

I still thought Richard Harris was better, but Gambon is an excellent actor.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Ilsa

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 11:06 AM
Response to Reply #10

12. I misspelled it -- probably the auto-correcting software on my iPhone. nt

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Rhythm

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Nov-14-10 11:16 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. Sir Richard Harris (in the first two films) was good, but...

the sinister undertones revealed in Dumbledore in the later books would have been unbelievable coming from someone who presented himself as so benevolent and grandfatherly.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Rhythm

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Nov-14-10 11:14 PM
Response to Original message

3. Because he was working on the X-Men AND LotR series?

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released in 2001, obviously the first of many films in a series.

Meanwhile, Sir Ian was working on two separate film series: "X-Men" released in 2000 -- a planned trilogy.
~and~
"Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" released in 2001 -- a planned trilogy.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Lucian

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 12:18 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. If you were to do your homework...

the LotR series was filmed between 11 October 1999 and 22 December 2000. He could've played Dumbledore after that.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Rhythm

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 06:12 AM
Response to Reply #5

8. He could have done a lot of things after that, i'm sure... but

Once again, he was already involved in two film series. This probably had more to do with it than anything.

The patronizing "do your homework" quip was really unnecessary, btw. :eyes:
I was simply pointing out his other ongoing projects.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Ilsa

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 11:09 AM
Response to Reply #3

13. Good point. And the travel would have been difficult. LOTR was

filmed mostly (or entirely?) in New Zealand, whereas HP is mostly filmed in Scotland and London. I don't know where X-Men was filmed.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

fishwax

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 12:18 AM
Response to Original message

6. b/c Richard Harris insulted his acting

Edited on Mon Nov-15-10 12:22 AM by fishwax

There were rumors that Ian McKellen was offered the role to replace Richard Harris while Harris was dying, but he turned it down because Harris (who had wanted the role of Gandalf) had attacked McKellen's abilities as an actor, so he didn't think it would be appropriate.

On edit -- here's an interview where McKellen discusses it: http://www.totalfilm.com/features/ian-mckellen-interview

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

hyphenate

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 12:40 AM
Response to Original message

7. I think perhaps

Edited on Mon Nov-15-10 12:41 AM by hyphenate

(though I'm not sure) that McKellen didn't want to do it, but also there were conflicts in schedules.

Michael Gambon was "understudy" to Richard Harris, and since he was already involved, he got the job.

Strangely enough, my hope was that Michael Caine get the job. I think he would have been outstanding. Gambon has never thrilled me. Richard Harris, OTOH, was quite perfect.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

tigereye

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 07:31 AM
Response to Original message

9. that's a good question

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

CBGLuthier

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Nov-15-10 08:02 AM
Response to Original message

11. Maybe because two silly fantasy roles is enough for a decade?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Mon Apr 29th 2024, 06:50 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.