Ian McKellen says he is fine but has ‘emotional residues’ after onstage fall

Ian McKellen shared that he has healed from the broken bones he obtained when he fell off the stage in June. However, he is still working through the emotional aftermath of the accident.

The senior actor, who is 85 years old, informed the BBC that he intends to keep working despite having to take the rest of the year off due to his fall.

The actor who has been nominated for two Oscars hurt his wrist and fractured a vertebra when he fell off a stage while playing John Falstaff in a production of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in June.

"I will continue to persist as long as my legs, lungs, and mind are still functioning," McKellen stated during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today show.

He said, "I'm feeling better physically. I broke my wrist, like any kid who falls off their bike, but now it's all good. I also chipped a small bone in my spine. I still have some minor discomfort, but no real pain."

However, he admitted: "I still have some lingering emotional baggage that I need to address... I believe there is something within me that needs to be settled. But overall, I am doing well."

He admitted that he was scared that his career was finished when he fell off the stage. McKellen stated, "I remember thinking to myself as I tumbled off the stage, 'This is it.' I apparently screamed, 'I've broken my neck, I'm dying.' Although I don't recall saying that. I had a lot of thoughts running through my mind at that moment."

He said, "It appeared to be the conclusion of something, however it marked the conclusion of Falstaff."

McKellen also verified that his fall was softened by using a fat suit. He explained: "I was portraying Falstaff, a character who is overweight, so I wore a padded fat suit to give me that appearance - no issues with my ribs or hips."

In another interview with the Big Issue, McKellen expressed his commitment to keep portraying Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings movies. He previously played Gandalf in the Hobbit trilogy and is set to reprise the role in The Hunt for Gollum, the upcoming addition to the series scheduled for release in 2026.

He mentioned to the magazine: "Interest in The Lord of the Rings is still strong. I might even return to portray Gandalf once more."

He said: "I don't have any additional information beyond that. I was informed that there will be additional movies and that Gandalf will be a part of them. They are hoping that I will reprise my role as Gandalf."

"When will it happen? I have no idea. What will the script be about? It hasn't been written yet. So, they need to hurry up."