Ian McKellen Opens up About the Iconic Part He Didn’t Want Patrick Stewart To Have

Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are one of Hollywood’s most beloved duos, but they weren’t always on the same page when it came to career choices. In the late 1980s, Stewart was a dedicated theater actor who didn’t fully understand the appeal of moving into television. Many of his peers were making the switch, but he hesitated.

Eventually, Stewart was offered the lead role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He wasn’t sure about it and turned to McKellen for advice. “Ian was completely against it,” Stewart recalled. McKellen warned him that joining a sci-fi series could damage his reputation as a serious actor and urged him to stick with theater.

Despite McKellen’s concerns, Stewart felt the chance to play Captain Jean-Luc Picard was too rare to pass up. “Theater would always be there,” Stewart said. “This role might never come again.” In the end, he accepted the part, and the series went on to become a cultural phenomenon.

Years later, McKellen admitted that his initial judgment was wrong, something Stewart said he enjoys hearing more than once. The success of Star Trek not only made Stewart a worldwide icon but also opened doors for McKellen to join him in major film franchises.

The pair later became famous again in the X-Men movies, playing Professor X and Magneto. Their on-screen chemistry helped make the films a cornerstone of modern superhero cinema. Stewart has often spoken about how McKellen taught him lessons about living a good, generous, and thoughtful life both on and off the screen.

As of March, fans are excited for one of their biggest reunions yet. Marvel Studios confirmed that Stewart and McKellen will reprise their roles as Charles Xavier and Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday, set for release on December 18. The movie, directed by the Russo brothers, will include Robert Downey Jr.

as Doctor Doom and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Filming wrapped at Pinewood Studios in late 2025, with Stewart and McKellen expected to play key roles in the multiverse-spanning story.

Outside of film, McKellen continues to support theater. He recently performed a series of shows at Richmond Theatre to raise funds for the Orange Tree Theatre. He is also reportedly in talks to return as Gandalf for the upcoming The Hunt for Gollum, which is expected to start production later this year.

Their friendship and professional bond have grown stronger over time, proving that even the toughest disagreements can lead to some of the most iconic collaborations in entertainment history.

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