Ian McKellen Says He Imagined Destroying Mar-a-Lago While Filming an Explosive Scene for “Avengers: Doomsday”
Ian McKellen Says He Imagined Destroying Mar-a-Lago While Filming an Explosive Scene for “Avengers: Doomsday”
Lily BrownMon, June 15, 2026 at 8:44 PM UTC
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Sir Ian McKellen attends "The Christophers" London Premiere on April 21, 2026Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage -
Ian McKellen reprises his role as Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday, marking a major crossover for Marvel and X-Men fans
McKellen revealed he improvised his motivation for a destructive scene by imagining destroying Mar-a-Lago
The actor will also return as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis
Sir Ian McKellen is giving fans a glimpse at his long-awaited return as Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday — and revealing the unexpected inspiration behind one of the film's biggest action sequences.
Speaking at an open-air film festival in Rome, McKellen, 87, shared anecdotes from the set of the upcoming Marvel blockbuster while presenting advance footage from the film, per The Guardian. Roughly 2,000 movie fans got an early taste of McKellen back as Magneto, helmet on once again.
The Oscar-nominated actor is reprising his iconic role as Magneto, one of Marvel's most complex and powerful villains, in what marks a major milestone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Doomsday, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, will bring several members of Fox's original X-Men cast into the MCU, including McKellen and fellow franchise veteran Patrick Stewart, who returns as Professor Charles Xavier.
During his Rome appearance, McKellen recalled filming a particularly destructive sequence in Avengers: Doomsday.
"They got me at one point to destroy New Jersey," he said.
Ian McKellen as Magneto in 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'Credit: Alan Markfield/FOX
The actor rose from his seat to reenact the moment for the audience, explaining that the Russo brothers wanted him to appear even angrier as Magneto unleashed his powers.
"They told me to look more furious — make it look as if you hate what you're destroying," said McKellen.
That's when the actor came up with his own motivation for the scene.
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"So I stood there and I shouted: 'Mar-a-Lago!' " he said, referring to President Donald Trump's Florida estate.
Ian McKellen as Magneto in 'Avengers: Doomsday'Credit: Marvel Entertainment
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For Marvel fans, the introduction of Magneto and Professor X into the franchise represents the culmination of years of anticipation following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox. McKellen first played Magneto in 2000's X-Men and remained one of the defining faces of the franchise across multiple films. His return alongside Stewart, 85, signals a new chapter for Marvel's mutant heroes as they officially become part of the MCU's expanding story.
McKellen's Marvel comeback arrives during a particularly busy period for the actor. After recovering from a fall onstage while performing in Player Kings in 2024, McKellen recently appeared in Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers.
And Marvel isn't the only franchise calling him back. McKellen revealed in Rome that he will soon travel to New Zealand to reprise another of his most beloved roles: Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is being produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Andy Serkis, who also returns as Gollum.
According to McKellen, the new film will "tell a story that I don't think Tolkien wrote."
Avengers: Doomsday in theaters on Dec. 18, 2026.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
