Late Christopher Lee and Sir Ian McKellen are two titans of the acting world who were brought together in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, helmed by Peter Jackson. Their roles as Saruman and Gandalf became iconic parts of the legendary fantasy franchise.
But beneath their commanding performances, even some of the most seasoned actors are prone to experiencing moments of vulnerability. Some actors aspire to relentless perfectionism and strive to have that one shot that perfectly encapsulates their character and the essence of the scene, and Christopher Lee was no different.
Ian McKellen on Christopher Lee in Lord of the Rings
In an interview for Independent, McKellen recalled his first meeting with Christopher Lee which took place at a dinner held by Peter Jackson. The Gandalf actor deeply admired Lee’s career and was surprised by his admission of wanting to play Gandalf instead of Saruman.
When I arrived in New Zealand to start filming as Gandalf, in the first week of the 21st Century, Peter Jackson held a dinner for some of the cast. I was happily next to Christopher Lee, who I had known throughout my actor-admiring life.
He’d been cast as the white wizard Saruman, but his opening line to me was: ‘I’ve always thought I should play Gandalf. I read Lord of the Rings every year – sometimes twice.
Lee had a deep love for Tolkien’s books and even though he wanted to play Gandalf, the actor was a natural fit for playing Saruman. Even though he was an experienced and renowned actor, he grappled with some pressure during the shoot.
Ian McKellen recounted how Lee was nervous by the number of takes that Jackson would require, as the director was known for his demanding and detailed directorial style.
Touchingly, he was a little nervous at the outset. ‘Peter made me do my first speech 10 times!!’ But I told him not to worry, as the previous day I’d had to repeat a scene 27 times. His dark eyes widened and glinted, but he didn’t complain again.
McKellen offered words of comfort to Lee which helped him settle into his role, even when he was slightly taken aback by the rigorous demands and the intense work required on set.
The camaraderie between the two actors only grew as they faced the challenges of shooting the movie together, and by the end, a friendship built upon mutual experiences and respect was formed.
Ian McKellen On Christopher Lee’s Cinematic Legacy
Christopher Lee embraced the opportunity to portray Saruman as the film progressed, he embodied the character of a fallen wizard whose dark ambitions became a matter of conflict in Middle-earth.
However, he wasn’t exactly pleased with the depiction of his death that paid homage to his Hammer Horror films. The scene was the brainchild of Jackson, who was a fan of Lee’s work.
Peter was tickled to have his Hammer Horror hero as the villain and devised a spectacular death to acknowledge his vampiric past – falling onto a spike which pierced his dastardly heart. Chris didn’t much approve, and I think the episode can only be seen in the extended Director’s Cut.
Despite the disagreement between Lee and Jackson, the former’s portrayal of Saruman remains one of the most iconic villain performances in cinema. His performance became a vital part of the trilogy’s success and recognition, and his collaboration with McKellen created some of the most memorable moments.
Lord of the Rings Trilogy is available to stream on Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
