English actor Ian McKellen has addressed long-standing rumours that late music icon David Bowie may have auditioned for the role of Gandalf in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.
In an interview with The Guardian, McKellen revealed that director Peter Jackson never confirmed which actors were considered or turned down the legendary role before he was cast.
The speculation resurfaced after actor Dominic Monaghan previously claimed he once saw Bowie in the casting office during auditions for the fantasy films.
Responding to the claim, McKellen said, “I’ve never managed to persuade Peter to confirm who turned down the wizard part of a lifetime.”
McKellen famously portrayed Gandalf across the three blockbuster films, namely: ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, ‘The Two Towers’, and ‘The Return of the King’.
Speaking further, the veteran actor appeared to suggest that Bowie, despite his fame in music, may not have achieved the same level of success in film.
“As for Bowie, he was not alone among radiant music stars who would have liked to have been equally successful in the movies but never quite were,” he said.
