Sir Ian McKellan wants to star in a musical.
The 76-year-old actor has had a stage, movie and TV career which has spanned over six decades and has included roles in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘X-Men’ franchises and numerous Shakespeare productions.
McKellen is now keen to challenge himself in a musical on the stage and sing in front of a live audience.
In an interview with ShortList magazine, he said: "It would be a challenge to be in a musical. The main challenge would be to make intimate contact with the audience and get their attention so they’ll enjoy the material you’re presenting as much as you do as an actor. That can happen anywhere and with anything. But by my age, you’re just glad you’ve got the energy and physical ability to act at all."
McKellen also has other theatre ambitions and is keen to appear in another pantomime – a type of children’s comedy show traditionally performed in the UK over the Christmas period.
He said: "I hope I do (panto again) because it’s very, very enjoyable. Everything the theatre can do is contained in pantomime."
McKellen’s next stage commitment will be in a new London revival of ‘No Man’s Land’ with his close friend Sir Patrick Stewart and he can’t wait to work with his ‘X-Men’ co-star again.
He said: "We did ‘No Man’s Land’ on Broadway about 18 months ago and knew it would work in London, so we decided to revive it."
Ian McKellan wants to star in a musical
