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Sir Ian McKellen answers personal, professional questions from fans - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

July 31, 2000 at 03:31:42

Ever the charming and discreet professional, Sir Ian nonetheless consistently manages to cross the barriers between fandom and celebrity with a grace many of his fellow actors sometimes lack.

In the latest e-post update Sir Ian addresses fan questions concerning his career, the theatrical and film industries, and the ever-touchy gay and lesbian issues that our society is wrangling with.

The only specific mention of Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" project merely points out that his work will keep Sir Ian in New Zealand for the rest of the year.

Shakespeareans, take note. Sir Ian has some interesting comments on some of the controversies surrounding the Bard, and he also addresses the issue of adapting a dramatic work to another medium.

X-Men fans will be glad to read Sir Ian's comments on July 21 where, among other things, he mentions that both he and Patrick Stewart are under contract for the proposed sequel to the immensely successful film adaptation of the Marvel Comics superhero story.

Sir Ian also mentions that he retained a prop from the set of Bag End, banking on the high probability there will be no sequel. People hoping for a "Hobbit" production should not be discouraged by the comment.

Fans can also enter a drawing for a signed photograph of Magneto to be held on August 23.