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Hugh Jackman and Tom Cruise, are two actors who hold onto some of the most iconic roles in cinema. From Wolverine to Ethan Hunt, there is a range that both of them have provided, bringing to them filmographies that are greatly valued by the fans. Individually, their careers are streams of success in their own paths. However, there is a way in which their paths cross.
Unusually so, it is not just Jackman whose career as part of the X-Men clashed with Cruise’s but also Sir Ian McKellen’s. Ironically enough, one of Cruise’s co-stars was interested in an X-Men character just as much as McKellen was interested in a role inMission: Impossible 2.However, neither could get the roles they wanted.
Also Read:“Gay men don’t exist”: Sir Ian McKellen Had Some Pretty Harsh Words for Fantastic Beasts Not Showing Dumbledore as Openly Gay
Ian McKellen Was Ready to Give Up Lord of the Rings for Tom Cruise
Ian McKellenrevealed during a talk at aBAFTA event in 2015that to him,Lord of the Ringswas nothing important. He stated that an offer had come from Tom Cruise himself regarding a small role inMission: Impossible 2.It was not something he was ready to skip. At the same time, however, he was offered the role of Gandalf in J. R. R. Tolkien’s franchise.
“I wasn’t mad keen, it was a year living in New Zealand…a year away from home, with a script that wasn’t quite complete, based on books that I didn’t know about. [I didn’t think it was the] huge, big chance of a lifetime that it turned out to be. I very nearly couldn’t do it because initially I was asked by Tom Cruise to be in Mission: Impossible 2.”
He admitted that there was very little he knew about the famous franchise and was willing to give up on the role because he did not realize just how big of an opportunity was presented before him.
Also Read:“Chris wasn’t hearing a bar of it”: Christopher Lee Forcefully Auditioned For Another Lord of the Rings Character Before Playing Saruman
Ian McKellen was Willing to Sabotage his X-Men Career
In the same BAFTA event, Ian McKellen ended up admitting that Tom Cruise’s offer was something he was so keen on that he would have rather played the part that ended up going to Anthony Hopkins than Gandalf. However, that was back then. The series took off almost instantly and it was a great opportunity he was glad he did not miss out on.
Interestingly enough, the role inMission: Impossiblealmost became the reason for his not choosing theX-Menmovies. Ironically enough, it was Dougray Scott, Tom Cruise’s co-star in the franchise who was first in line to play Wolverine, a role that eventually went to Hugh Jackman because of his schedule tied with the franchise.
Also Read:“He’s touched so many lives”: Sir Ian McKellen Says Hanging Out With One X-Men Co-Star is Like “Walking around with the Pope”
Adya Godboley
Anime Content Manager
Articles Published :1879
Adya Godboley is the Anime Content Lead at FandomWire with over 1800 published articles. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-certified critic with a background in literature. From The Case Study of Vanitas to Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, her anime knowledge is one she’s gathered with years of experience. She also enjoys Marvel, DC and Superhero media with her works having been recognized by prominent figures such as Dwayne Johnson, Abby Trott and the Blood of Zeus creators.
