Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen turns to voice over work

"X-men" villain Ian McKellen is set to provide the narration for Paramount's "Stardust," a live-action fantasy that has, apparently, already wrapped shooting.

"Starfust," directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring the likes of Clare Danes, Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfieffer, will be a "romantic fantasy" along the lines of the animated failure "Titan A.E.", which either featured the vocal work of Clare Danes or a Clare Danes proxy - can't remember.

Nothing too exhilarating here, but the news of McKellen taking an "easy" job like this post-production narrative, coupled with my recollection of the final shot of X3 (spoiler!) -- of the disempowered, feeble Magneto sitting in the park playing chess like a confused geezer, makes me feel like that really has happened to McKellen.

Like the days of seeing the stage vetern in anything resembling a physical role are far behind us -- no more midget wrestling in the 3rd aisle.

If he'd really wanted to revisit the Gandalf character in "The Hobbit," which I understand he had an interesting in doing, maybe he should have been more persuasive with Peter Jackson in the immediate aftermath of the LOTR films. Too late now: New Line says Jackson's out and they're going ahead with another director. Feeble McKellen may or may not have any juice left in the Gandalf tank.


Oh well-- at least we have three glorious Gandalfs in three pretty good films. - mj