Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, recently shared a behind-the-scenes story about how his final scene was filmed.
The wizard serves as a kind and insightful guide for the Hobbits—Frodo (played by Elijah Wood), along with his friends Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan), and Pippin (Billy Boyd).
The farewell scene between Gandalf and the four Hobbits at the Grey Havens in the 2003 film The Return of the King is considered one of the most moving moments in the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy.
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McKellen admitted he was completely lost during that scene because it was one of the very first things he filmed as Gandalf, long before working with the rest of the cast.
McKellen recalled recreating Gandalf’s iconic arrival from the first movie on his first day, riding a horse and cart as he entered Hobbiton, as he told Empire magazine.
However, the following scene I filmed was actually the very last one for Gandalf in the third movie. It’s the part where he sets sail and says goodbye to everything – including the Hobbits, who were kneeling to appear less noticeable.
I asked Peter Jackson if I was happy to be leaving, or if I’d regret it, and asked him to quickly explain how I was connected to everyone. I didn’t know any of them beforehand!
After the director clarified how the characters were connected, McKellen decided the most effective thing to do was simply not act – to remain still and let the moment unfold.
Jackson explained that his character had been through a lot and felt thankful for it. However, if you watch that scene, his face shows no emotion at all. He said that’s what he consciously did – when he’s unsure what to do, he simply does nothing. He admitted he was completely lost in the moment!
So, Sir Ian McKellen totally came back as Gandalf for The Hobbit trilogy. It was a prequel to The Lord of the Rings films, and Peter Jackson was back directing and helping write it too, which was awesome!
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2026-01-09 22:49