A year after a horrific fall from a West End stage, Sir Ian McKellen has cancelled his appearance at Toronto Film Festival
Sir Ian McKellen has been forced to pull out of a planned appearance at the Toronto Film Festival on doctor’s orders, sparking new concerns over the actor’s health.
McKellen, 86, was supposed to attend the festival for the international premiere of his latest film, The Christophers, but ultimately was only seen via a pre-recorded appearance. The actor confirmed his doctors had told him he shouldn’t fly and added that it was “better safe than sorry”.
Starring McKellen, James Corden, Jessica Gunning and Michaela Coel, The Christophers is a black comedy following the children of a once-famous artist whose death has left some of his works unfinished. The children decide to hire a forger to complete the works so that they can be sold.
Filming took place in February this year and was the first project McKellen took on following his nightmare fall whilst on stage at the West End. In June 2024, the actor, whose career has spanned over 60 years, fell from the stage at the Noel Coward theatre whilst playing Sir John Falstaff in a production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV.
He was hospitalised following the fall and had to pull out of the rest of the play’s run due to a chipped vertebra and fractured wrist.
McKellen later said he felt “ashamed” for letting down West End audiences and admitted that he was “aware there isn’t much time left”.
On X, he also promised that he would be okay: “My doctors promise a complete recovery – but only if I avoid work over the next few weeks. Meanwhile the show goes on and the Player Kings company start their four weeks’ tour without me.
“Any actor will say that missing a performance feels somewhat shameful, even when he is not to blame. None of us ever wants to let down our audience.”
McKellen’s withdrawal from the festival has come around the same time that he has been announced he will be back on stage at the National Theatre for one night only in December. As part of a conversation with Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter and Oscar winner Dame Judi Dench, he will be discussing his career on stage and screen.
Speaking about the event, McKellen seemed excited, saying in statement: “Every time we meet up, I can look forward to love and laughter.”
His co-star Michaela Coel has said she loved working with McKellen this year and called him a “hero”. Variety reported that she spoke about working with the Lord Of The Rings star in a Q&A following the screening of The Christophers.
“He’s just the loveliest soul,” Coel said, adding, “He just had an upward spirit…I loved the idea of a character like Ian McKellen and me coming together and like loving each other.”
