Ian McKellen, who gained international fame for his portrayal of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series, as well as Magneto in the X-Men films, recently suffered a major mishap. The veteran actor was performing as Sir John Falstaff in a production of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre when he lost his footing during a fight scene and fell from the stage.
The unfortunate incident led to his withdrawal from the remainder of the show’s national tour. Despite the setback, Ian McKellen has been keeping his fans informed about his recovery and shared a hopeful updated on his health while focusing on his rehabilitation.
The devoted thespian says he will soon be as fit as a fiddle
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In a reassuring post on X, Ian explained to his fans how his recent fall resulted in injuries to his wrist and neck. The 85-year-old added that his physicians have given him a positive prognosis, assuring him that he will make a full recovery.
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However, he noted that his doctors emphasized the importance of taking time off work for a couple of weeks to allow his body to heal properly.
Ian McKellen gave another update and encourages his fans to keep watching ‘Player Kings’ despite his absence
Just two weeks after my accident onstage I want to assure my many well-wishers that the injuries (to wrist and neck) are on the mend. My doctors promise a complete recovery -but only if I avoid work over the next few weeks.
Meanwhile the show goes on and the Player Kings company…
— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) July 2, 2024
Ian affirmed that the production of Player Kings would continue even in his absence as his role would be passed on to David Semark, his understudy who will go on to portray Sir John Falstaff in the finale at the Noel Coward Theatre and other venues such as Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.
McKellen also encouraged his fans to keep watching the production as it promises to be highly rewarding with powerful delivery from actors Toheeb Jimho and Richard Coyle, who play the roles of Prince Hal and his father.