by Sir Ian McKellen has given an update on his health after sustaining an injury in a fall from the stage earlier this year, saying he is unlikely to return to the stage for the next 12 months.
In June, the 85-year-old actor was performing in a production of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London when he lost his footing and fell off the stage during a fight scene.
The star of “The Lord of the Rings” suffered injuries to his wrist and neck and had to cancel his participation in the rest of the national tour of the series.
Sir Ian spoke about his recovery and plans to return to the theatre world during an appearance on Simon Mayo’s Greatest Hits Radio Drivetime show to promote his new film The Critic on Wednesday.
He said: “What I retained is not so much a physical injury but more of a psychological disorder because at the time I thought it was much more serious than it was.
“I think I thought I was dying. I thought I had broken my neck. I had forgotten, but apparently I had said, ‘I have broken my neck, I am dying,’ and when I said that I must have thought I was dying.
“And I just have to deal with that. I’m not dying, not at this moment, and I hope I can be on stage again.”
When asked by the broadcaster when he would know if the time was right, Sir Ian replied: “That’s a good point – I think I’ll know because the contract says I have to show up at a certain time! I don’t plan on working on stage for another year and I think everything will be fine by then.”
Since stage roles are currently out of the question, Mayo asked about recent rumors that he would reprise his iconic role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings.
Sir Ian said: “The possibility that I might go back and play a role that I thought I had finished nearly 25 years ago is not something you can be indifferent to. There are apparently going to be two films in which Gandalf might appear in some form, but until I read a script I don’t know if I want to do that – but I do have a certain sense of duty towards him…”You can listen to Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio Here or via the Rayo app
