Ian McKellen had nothing but positive things to say about the other guy who plays Magneto in the X-Men franchise.
According to Access Hollywood , the acclaimed actor recently discussed his role in the upcoming sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past . Since the film is centered around time travel, there’s a possibility the core characters may encounter older versions of themselves.
McKellen says he intends to give X-Men: First Class star Michael Fassbender a “run for his money” when and if the two appear on-screen together.
“First class I would say. I thought he was terrific,” McKellen said of Fassbender during a press junket for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey .
As for the older actors squaring off against their younger counterparts, the acclaimed actor said the newbies will have their work cut out for them.
“We’ll give him a run for his money when we get there,” McKellen joked.
According to The Star-Ledger , Ian McKellen didn’t stick to discussing the ins and outs of the X-Men universe. Since he was there to promote The Hobbit , the actor discussed what it was like to return to the world of Middle Earth after so many years.
McKellen had this to say about the character:
“Gandalf came back very easily. But then I haven’t forgotten him over the years. So many people want to say hello and talk about him, he’s never far from me. You do worry a bit – Andy Serkis said he was afraid at first his Gollum sounded like someone imitating him doing Gollum. But for me, once I get the makeup on again, and there he is staring back from the mirror, it’s not difficult to return to him.”
X-Men: Days of Future Past starring Ian McKellen, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence opens on July 18, 2014. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey treks into theaters on December 14.
