The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Ian McKellen (Extended) | File It Away
9 snips
Feb 5, 2026 
Ian McKellen, veteran stage and screen actor known for Shakespeare, Gandalf and Magneto, chats about his long career and current play An Ark. He recalls Lord of the Rings memories and confirms reprising Gandalf. He explains mixed-reality theatre and why live performance and originating a Shakespeare role still matter today.
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Meeting The Fellowship In Wellington
- Ian McKellen recounts meeting the cast and crew on his first day in Wellington for Lord of the Rings and first dinner with Peter Jackson.
- He recalls Christopher Lee joking he read the books yearly and fancied playing Gandalf, showing early on the film's fan devotion.
Ask Directors To Teach Camera Acting
- Ian McKellen asks every film director to teach him how to act for the camera and says none have.
- He highlights that actors should request practical on-set guidance rather than assume directors will provide it.
Directing Fury On Blockbuster Sets
- Ian describes filming as Magneto where the director told him to "shout the worst thing" and he responded with an expletive, joking about re-entry to the U.S.
- He admits not always understanding blockbuster scripts but focuses on performance choices like fury and magnetic posture.
