The A-List Marvel Star Who Declined a Role in the Mission: Impossible Series

Ian McKellen Wanted To Read the Entire ‘Mission: Impossible II’ Script

Image via Paramount Pictures

Nowadays, McKellen is mainly associated with genre movies like X-Men or The Lord of the Rings. Interestingly, he was once considered for the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, thanks to his success as Gandalf. However, during a time when McKellen was pursuing less genre-specific roles, he was in contention for a supporting character in the Mission: Impossible franchise. Despite the fact that many characters in the franchise do not make recurring appearances, McKellen may have been fortunate to have missed out on this opportunity. Reportedly, he was offered the role of Mission Commander Swanbeck, which eventually went to Anthony Hopkins in Mission: Impossible II. This film is widely regarded as the worst installment in the long-running Tom Cruise series, and McKellen's decision to decline the role spared him from potential disappointment. Furthermore, this choice ultimately paved the way for him to explore other roles that have had a significant impact on his career. Surprisingly, McKellen decided against being part of Mission: Impossible II for a rather peculiar reason—because they would not allow him to read the script.

In a People interview, the actor disclosed that instead of the complete story, the producers only allowed him access to certain scenes from the movie. He explained that their reason for this was to prevent any spoilers. Consequently, this limited exposure to the script led McKellen to decline the role, a decision that not everyone in the industry could comprehend. Despite this, McKellen's fortunes quickly changed when he received a phone call the very next day from X-Men director Bryan Singer, who presented him with the opportunity to portray the character of Magneto.

Playing the role of Magneto in the X-Men films alongside Patrick Stewart's Professor X, McKellen has established himself as the definitive portrayal of the "Master of Magnetism" in the franchise. With the exception of Michael Fassbender, who portrays a younger version of the character in the X-Men prequels, it is now difficult to imagine anyone else embodying the role besides McKellen. By opting out of Mission: Impossible, McKellen not only made the right decision but also unknowingly avoided missing out on another franchise.

Ian McKellen Nearly Missed Out on The Lord of the Rings and X-Men Franchises

Image via New Line Cinema

After being offered the role of Magneto, McKellen was approached by Peter Jackson to play Gandalf in his upcoming adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Although he accepted both roles, a scheduling conflict arose when production for X-Men ran longer than expected. McKellen initially informed Peter Jackson that he could not play Gandalf due to his commitment to X-Men. However, Jackson insisted on holding the role for McKellen, and X-Men director Bryan Singer worked diligently to ensure the actor's availability for Lord of the Rings.

In the meantime, the filming of Mission Impossible was repeatedly delayed. McKellen shared that had he chosen to participate in that project, he would not have been able to be a part of both X-Men and Lord of the Rings. It is difficult to envision either franchise without McKellen's significant presence, especially as Gandalf in both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit prequel series. Fortunately, we were spared the need to consider another actor for these roles, as it quickly became evident that McKellen was perfectly suited for them, delivering outstanding performances.

McKellen himself acknowledges the opportunity with gratitude and attributes a significant portion of his triumphs in the science fiction/fantasy genre to sheer luck. "Luck is something you can't anticipate," he reflected. "I've understood that one must be prepared for when luck strikes, but ultimately, you need luck." We were incredibly fortunate to have him grace us with his presence as one of the most formidable mutants and esteemed wizards in the history of cinema. Let's hope he still has a multitude of outstanding performances in store for us in the years to come. Who knows? Perhaps we'll witness his captivating presence alongside Tom Cruise in an upcoming Mission: Impossible sequel!

The Big Picture

Sir Ian McKellen declined a role in Mission: Impossible II due to the producers' refusal to provide him with the complete script. Consequently, his choice resulted in the opportunity to portray Magneto in the X-Men franchise being extended to him.

McKellen almost missed out on playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings due to scheduling conflicts with X-Men, but director Peter Jackson held the role for him.