Ian McKellen has revealed a detail from the final Lord of the Rings movie, spilling the secrets behind his “very last scene”. The star plays Gandalf in the film adaptations of JRR Tolkien’s book directed by Peter Jackson.
His wizard is a benevolent, wise presence for the Hobbits, including protagonist Frodo (Elijah Wood) and his pals, Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd).
So much, in fact, that the scene where Gandalf bids farewell to the four Hobbits at the Grey Havens in the final Lord of the Rings film, 2003’s The Return of the King, is one of the most emotional in the trilogy.
McKellen, however, explained he “hadn’t a clue” what to do in the scene as it was the second he ever filmed as Gandalf, well before he got to shoot the other sequences with his co-stars.
Pierre Vinet/New Line/Saul Zaentz/Wing Nut/Kobal/Shutterstock
Related: Best streaming services
“Well, on my first day I did Gandalf’s entrance into the first movie, on the horse and cart going into Hobbiton,” McKellen told Empire.
“But the next scene I did was the very last scene that Gandalf has in the third movie, where he’s setting sail and leaving everything behind, including the Hobbits, who were all on their knees to make themselves look smaller.
“I said to Peter Jackson, ‘Am I pleased to be saying goodbye, or would I be regretting it? Can you give me a quick rundown on my relationship?’ Because I didn’t know them at all!”
New Line Cinema
Once the filmmaker explained the relationship between the characters, McKellen opted for the “best” approach, “do nothing”.
“And [Jackson] said, ‘Well, you’ve been on a lot of adventures and you’re very grateful to them.’ But if you look at my face in that scene, it’s absolutely blank. It’s the best thing to do: if you don’t know what to do, do nothing. I hadn’t a clue!” the actor said.
McKellen reprised the role of Gandalf in The Hobbit trilogy, a prequel trilogy to The Lord of the Rings movies, once again directed and co-wrote by Jackson.
The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating music icon Dolly Parton, is here! Buy Dolly at 80 in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.Â
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).Â