McKellen talks Gandalf vs. Dumbledore
Sir Ian McKellen was recently interviewed by The Guardian where amongst other things he discusses Dumbledore vs. Gandalf, the character who he played in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.McKellen says that while he and Michael Gambon are close friends, the topic of "how to play a wizard" has never come up. And as far as if he would have taken over the role of Dumbledore from the late Richard Harris, McKellen said:
"People say to me, don't you wish you'd played Dumbledore? I say no! I played Gandalf! The original. There was a question as to whether I might take over from Richard Harris [Gambon's predecessor in the Dumbledore role], but seeing as one of the last things he did publicly was say what a dreadful actor he thought I was, it would not have been appropriate for me to take over his part." He smiles icily. "It would have been unfair."
When asked who would win the battle between Dumbledore and Gandalf, McKellen never hesitated, "Gandalf. Of course."
Posted by Micah on Nov 24th |
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Crossovers suck. X( The magic in the Wizarding World is so much different then the magic in Middle Earth. I don't see the point in putting two characters from different series into a duel. However, comparing who is the better character is valid. ------ "And if it was a case of Cameron Diez as Dumbledore against Gambon as Dumbledore it will be Diez...." That made my day... :D :D :D
"Plus, most people seem to have a much stronger emotional attachment to Dumbledore than to Gandalf. That proves a major difference in character." I can tell we're dealing with someone who has NEVER been to a Lord of the Rings convention. Sorry, 'xOphoeniXfeath3r,' but the only one who is 100% wrong is you.
UhsFethMalorn - That's true, I never have been to a LotR convention; I was just judging by the attitudes of people posting comments here but since this is Harry Potter site most people posting here are probably going to feel more strongly towards Dumbledore than towards Gandalf. I'm not 100% wrong, though. Just not 100% right.
what the heck??? Gandalf?? DUmbledore roxs gandalfs sox!! dumbledore would definatly win over gandalf!!m i mean, what kind of name is gandalf
Danlover - Gandalf Greyhame is a beautiful name, meaning 'elf with the staff,' and 'grey-cloaked one.' However, if that name does not suit, try Mithrandir, Olórin, Incánus, Tharkûn, or Stormcrow, all of which are names given to this same and most wonderful man.
DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDOREDUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE DUMBLEDORE IS SOOO MUCH BETTER!!! **--- Luna ---**
what is he talking about when he says gandalf was the "original"? there have been old bearded wizards for centuries, so gandalf is definately not "the original". Also dumbledore could definately kick gandalf's ass.
Dumbledore brought his own death upon himself by weakness and temptation. Gandalf brought new life to himself by becoming a martyr to a cause he saw as being greater than himself. Dumbledore is a weak and fallible human. Gandalf is intelligent, noble, infinitely strong and brave, and yet still manages to compassionate and able to have human traits.
Easily Dumbledore...he's so much cooler--oh and cheesecakians, I haven't been on lately cuz my computers got a virus :( Someone tell Emerson that thats why I haven't emailed him back!!!! Oh yes and also please STOP spamming MuggleNet. If you keep doing it, you will find yourself banned. Thank you.
i'm sorry, i may b a harry potter geek but i'm a bigger LOTR geek and Gandalf would completely own dumblrdore in a fight. Also, i think McKellan might b spelled wrong, oh well
cheesecakins?
This is a bit off topic but since this discussion is pointless anyway I don't htink it matter. Did anyone know that Sir Ian McKellan is in the Golden Compass movie? I was so happy when I found out because he is such a great actor. The Golden Compass is the next big hit in the fantasy genre to hit theaters. I can't wait!
i've always maintained that Sir Ian Mckellen wud have been THE perfect dumbledore, and when i read the books, thats who is Dumbledore in my head . . . but he also makes a perfect Gandalf =]] i just generally think the man's a genius hehe as for who wud win in a fight . . . DUMBLEDORE ALL THE WAY!! =DD
ugh AS IF!
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McKellen is an amazing actor and I'm confident that he would have portrayed Dumbledore as well, if not better, than Gambon. Gambon has yet to show us the softer side of Dumbledore and his ignorance of the novels has led him to portray Dumbledore much too harshly. McKellen has provided us with a kind Gandalf and a powerful Gandalf in LotR and has represented Gandalf accurately. Even in Macbeth, McKellen has been able to not only show power and strength, but also exhibit weakness and sadness. Hopefully, with the remaining movies, Gambon will get it right. He was appalling in OotP and GoF, imo. In a battle between Dumbledore and Gandalf, there will be a draw. Both characters have their strengths and weaknesses and are equal. However, if I had to choose, it would be Gandalf, a man who has not succumbed to power. He was open with Frodo from the start, telling him his mission and his purpose. He didn't tell Frodo more than he needed to know, but at least he never hid information crucial to the quest from Frodo.
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Also, Sir Ian has that twinkle in his eye that Dumbledore has, can be kind and caring but a fighter and protector [as we have seen with Gandalf] *sigh* too late for him to be cast as Dumbledore anyway no matter how much i want him to be. . it IS movie 6 after all . .
DUMBLEDORE wud soo totally win..!!!!!!!!!!!
hmmmmmm...a trilogy charcter against a (7)ogy. Dumbeldore deinfately! Gandalf has no personality at all. hes a flat chracter.
I think what Ian means about being "the original" is that Tolkien's books are the ones that truly started the fantasy craze. Before his books were published, nobody really wrote fantasy and after the sudden popularity in Tolkien's books, the genre grew like crazy. I think he means that Gandalf is the original when it comes to the modern fantasy writing.
I could never get through a tolkien book, it seemed kind of dry.
I, like quite a few of you others, agree that this isn't really a comparison that can be made. Both Dumbledore and Gandalf are great wizards for much different reasons. Therefore, it is not fair to undermine either of them and the excellent things they did in their respective journeys. And also, I notice that quite a few of the people "voting" for Dumbledore have not even SEEN Lord of the Rings and/or don't have the proper respect for the series. Not to mention this IS a Potter site, so there is going to be a bit of a bias. But this comparison, if for anyone at all, should definitely be left to people who have respect for and knowledge of both characters and both series.
Whoah, Richard Harris called Sir Ian McKellan a bad actor? That's awkward. :-/
uhhh DUMBLEDORE ALL THE WAYYYY
uhhh DUMBLEDORE ALL THE WAYYYY
but Ive seen the movie 8 billion times, I always thought sam was the real hero of the story :)
Dumbledore and Gandalf really aren't comparable. I know it's been said, but it's true. Sure, they're both 'Wizards', but that means entirely different things in each fandom. As for Richard Harris calling Ian McKellan a bad actor, wtf? Who the hell was Harris watching, because it can't have been the same Ian McKellan the rest of the world knows and loves!
i wonder why he called him a bad actor.......i thought he would be a good dumbledore! =[
I don't know really, they're both really powerful wizards - but in different ways as well. I'd have to say it would probably be a tie.
dumbledore would so pin gandalf down with his hands behind his back!!! i mean seriously!!! yes, their both the greatest wizards that ever lived, but dumbledore is MUCH MORE EXPERIENCED and BRILLIANT!!!! SO F--- YOU GANDALF AND GANDALF LOVERS!!!!
I wonder who's older........:/ Haha, anyway, I'm a really huge Harry Potter fan and I really don't like the LoTR trilogy or the Hobbt (:p) but when I read the books I sorta got attatched to Gandalf and liked him. But I still like Dumbledore better...A LOT BETTER...even considering his sexuality. I'm kidding.
Which Gandalf ? The Grey Pilgrim ? Well, came off second-best to the Greatest Wizard of HIS Age -- Saruman the White. So in a face off with Dumbledore Schoolmaster who defeated Grendlewald the undisputed Champion Wand Fighter of HIS age ... suspecting LOTR Wizards throw much heavier punches than Potterverse mages .....I make the proposition 6:5 either way -- But when Gandalph Grey returns from as Gandalf the White ... all bets are off. THAT Gandalf defeated Saruman with a word, a wand-wave and no sweat at all. Gandalf Risen over Dumbledore and Elder Wand ? by a knock out in the 1st round EVEN MONEY. Dumbledore over Gandalf, 5:1 against.
goodness you guys are still talking about this? this conversation has gone on forever...so are any cheesecakeians here? ack i cant find them..
'hmmmmmm...a trilogy charcter against a (7)ogy. Dumbeldore deinfately! Gandalf has no personality at all. hes a flat chracter.'..HA HA, don't make me laugh. There are more than seven books featuring Gandalf, especially if you consider that Lord of the Rings is actually six books, not three or one as it is usually published as, and the Hobbit, plus a number of other stories. Also, while I love Dumbledore, Gandalf has got a fabulous character, and I do prefer him to Dumbledore. I have immense respect for both series, but I think Tolkien's world is the father of modern fantasy, and even on that score, Gandalf wins. Not to mention his absolutely fantastic skills as a fighter. Dumbledore is brilliant, and top of his class in the world of Harry Potter, but as the world of Tolkien is on so much higher a level, Gandalf would win.
wow this is strange...there are no cheesecakeians on at all(well excluding me anyway lol)...normally theres at least one or two others, but theres no one. how weird.
Since gay people are cooler than straight people, they have awesome gay powers. And Dumbledore could use his awesome gay powers to kick Gandalf's ASS! ^________________________ _______________^
They are two different people. In each of their magical worlds, they are the ultimate power. I am at a crossroads as to who would win in a duel.
UhsFethMalorn - what makes the LotR world "on so much higher a level" than the HP world?
I can't decide! Gandalf did come back even more powerful after what seemed like his death, but since Dumbledore planned his death, you can't really compare them. I only know Gandalf from the movies, so I can't judge fairly. You wouldn't want people to judge Dumbledore based solely on Gambon's performance, would you? That wouldn't be right at all. Secretly though, I do hope that Dumbledore would kick Gandalf's arse if they had to fight, but who says that they need to fight? Put the two together, and they would be unstoppable. (Though that might be a bad idea, since power is Dumbledore's weakness)
I think Gandalf would win as well. Dumbledore is an amazing wizard, but Gandalf is more powerful. I disagree with Richard Harris in saying that Ian is a bad actor, because in fact he is fantastic.
Ok, to be fair. I love both of the series. But, I am leaning towards Dumby, since for some reason, HP is closer to my heart than LoTR. However, I would be somewhat afraid if Dumbledore won because, like catefinnigan said, Dumbledore's weakness is power.
"And if it was a case of Cameron Diez as Dumbledore against Gambon as Dumbledore it will be Diez...."
it didn't add the rest of my comment. I just put that it made my day too :} and that I completely agree. Hey, let's slap a beard on Diez, paint a few wrinkles, and challenge Gambon to a duel...
Dumbledore would so kick ass! He is a better wizard and a better man than Gandalf all the way. I miss Richard Harris. He was the perfect character to play Dumbledore, he WAS Dumbledore! I warmed up to Gambon by OOTP though. He's not so bad. Again, `Dumbledore FOREVER`LOTR doesn't hold a candle to Harry Potter. Not a One.
One more thing. I don't and no one should give a frick if Dumbledore is gay or not. It doesn't change my opinion of him at all. Oh, and hallowsaint, you know you're only supposed to post ONCE, don't you, and you know what else? GANDALF SUCKS!
How do you warm up to a person that isn't warm? I find it rather impossible, but maybe i'm tempermental. However that's spelled.
Dumbledore would totally win!!!!!!!!!! but i bet it would be very close!!!!! =]
I agree with xOphoeniXfeath3r: UhsF ethMalorn - what makes the LotR world "on so much higher a level" than the HP world?
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