[mahranch]

The only cast member of LOTR to meet Tolkien. Tolkien also gave him permission to play a role if they ever turned his books into a movie.

He gave him permission to play Gandalf, funnily enough.

[bmj]

There was actually a fair bit of grumbling among some hardcore LOTR fans when it was announced that Ian McKellen would play Gandalf, mostly because of his political and cultural leanings.

Of course, Lee made a career of playing villains and monsters, so I find it completely unsurprising that he was cast as Saruman instead.

[jMyles]

> grumbling among some hardcore LOTR fans when it was announced that Ian McKellen would play Gandalf, mostly because of his political and cultural leanings.

Is there a way I can read some of this? Sounds fascinating.

[TylerE]

Wasn't a big bit of it that Lee didn't feel he was up to that much screentime/travel?