Sir Ian McKellen has disclosed that he channelled his strong disapproval of former US President Donald Trump to enhance his performance in a destructive scene for the forthcoming Marvel blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday. The esteemed British actor, 87, who is reprising his role as the powerful mutant Magneto, shared this insight during an appearance at Il Cinema in Piazza in Rome, where he presented exclusive footage from the film to an audience of 2,000.
McKellen recounted filming a sequence where his character unleashes widespread devastation. When directors Anthony and Joe Russo encouraged him to appear more furious on screen, instructing him to make it look as though he truly hated what he was destroying, McKellen found his motivation. “So I stood there and I shouted: ‘Mar-a-Lago!’” he revealed, referring to Trump's private Florida estate, which the former president frequently uses as a residence and political meeting venue.
The actor has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump for several years, particularly concerning his administration’s policies on LGBTQ+ rights. In 2017, McKellen publicly condemned the Trump administration's rollback of LGBTQ+ protections, describing them as “appalling and quite unnecessary and very un-American.” He also criticised Trump's public speaking style in 2024, calling him “one of the worst public speakers there has ever been.”
Avengers: Doomsday marks the first instalment in the Avengers series since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which achieved immense global success, grossing $2.799 billion worldwide. The new project, announced in July 2024, is set to feature a reunion of characters from across the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four franchises. It is envisioned as the first half of a two-part narrative, concluding with Avengers: Secret Wars.
In addition to his Marvel commitments, McKellen also confirmed in Rome that he is soon to travel to New Zealand to film for another beloved franchise, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. He will once again portray Gandalf in the new film, joining Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins and Andy Serkis, who is also directing. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release in cinemas on 18th December 2026, with Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum following on 17th December 2027.
While specific streaming availability for these films in the UK has not yet been announced, major Marvel films typically become available on Disney+ several months after their theatrical release. Warner Bros. films, such as the Lord of the Rings franchise, often find their way to platforms like Sky Cinema or NOW in the UK after their cinema run.
Source: The Guardian