Ian McKellen has “no plans” to retire from acting

Sir Ian McKellen has stated that he has no plans to retire from acting and that he does not want another actor to play Gandalf in the upcoming Lord of the Rings film.

The 85-year-old fell from the stage during a performance at Player Kings in London's West End in June, breaking his wrist and a splintered vertebra.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast about his desire to continue acting, Sir Ian said: “I'm just going to carry on as long as my legs, my lungs and my mind are working.”

However, the actor added that he wanted to “take the rest of the year off.”

Sir Ian played Gandalf in the hugely successful “Lord of the Rings” series, of which a new installment entitled “The Hunt for Gollum” is scheduled to hit theaters in 2026.

On the possibility of appearing in the new film, Sir Ian said: “If I can help it, I won't let anyone else wear the pointy hat and beard.”

Sir Ian played Gandalf in the first three films and in the Hobbit trilogy, all directed by New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson.

A new series of Lord of the Rings films is in the works, directed by Andy Serkis and starring Gollum.

“The enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating,” Sir Ian said in a separate interview with the Big Issue.

“I can't tell you any more than that. All I was told was that there will be more films and that Gandalf will be in them and that they hope I will play him.”

“When? I don't know. What's the script? It's not written yet. So they should hurry up.”

“A complete accident”

In June, the Oscar nominee lost his footing during a fight scene in “Player Kings” at the Noel Coward Theater and has been suffering from wrist and neck injuries ever since.

Sir Ian told the BBC that his fall was a “completely random accident” and had nothing to do with his age.

The actor explained that his foot got caught on a chair on stage and that he slipped off the stage while trying to kick it away.

In another interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday, Sir Ian said he was physically OK, but added: “Emotionally I still have some after-effects to deal with.”

“When I tripped and slipped off the stage, I said to myself, 'This is the end.' Those were the words in my head: 'This is the end.'”

“And apparently I screamed, 'My neck is broken, I'm dying.' I don't remember saying that, so there was a lot going on in my head as my body reacted to the fall.”

Following his accident, Sir Ian took a break from acting and was replaced by Player Kings for the show's UK tour.

Sir Ian told the Big Issue he was feeling “physically weak” and was doing exercises to treat the problem.

“Of course it's emotional,” he said. “We all stumble throughout our lives, but when you get to my age, you can't always get back up.”

He added: “I'm usually working or getting ready for work. I've been doing that for a bit and wondering what the best plan might be.

“I'm going to take the rest of the year off. Not because I have to, but because I want to.”

Sir Ian played John Falstaff in Player Kings – a production of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 adapted by Robert Icke – and had previously stated that the fat suit he wore for the role probably saved his “ribs and other joints”.