Ian McKellen warned best friend Patrick Stewart a role on Star Trek would end his career
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart attend the Amazon Original, Star Trek: Picard. (James Warren / Echoes Wire / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
Patrick Stewart was warned by Ian McKellen about picking up a role in the Star Trek series because it would spell the end of his career.
The 79-year-old was famously beamed across TV screens across the world as Jean-Luc Picard from 1987 to 1994, and has since reprised the role for an array of follow-up shows and films.
Including but not limited to: The TV show that screened last night to critics, Star Trek: Picard. In other words, the series centring his character decades on.
Speaking on the British talkshow This Morning today, the actor said his best pal McKellen once tried to stop him from taking part in a Star Trek movie.
Ian McKellen has ‘since admitted that he might have been wrong’.
After finding success in London’s West End, McKellen felt that bouncing to Hollywood would be tank Stewart’s career.
Host Phillip Schofield quizzed the actor about how one of his “good friends tried to talk” him out of pursuing the series.
But who was it? It’s…… Sir Ian McKellen.
“It became very public knowledge at our premiere,” Stewart said, “it was Ian McKellen.
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart kiss on the red carpet and we are so full of emotion right now. (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
“He was in Los Angeles at the time and I told him I had been offered this role in this series and he seriously warned me not to take the job because it wouldn’t be good for my career.
“I was doing quite well in London in the theatre and I shouldn’t abandon myself to this.
“He has since admitted that he might have been wrong.”
Maybe, just maybe he was a little off here.
Stewart swerved his buddy’s advice, signing up for six seasons of the sci-fi show. But he admitted that McKellen’s warnings haunted him.
“He [Ian] and I were very naive about Hollywood series, I didn’t realise I was signing on for six years.
“Everyone said you couldn’t revive and we’re be lucky to make it through the first season.”
“I was told to come to Hollywood have some fun and get a suntan.”
The American dream, truly.
It seems that the duo have developed a hobby of making headlines today after McKellen and Stewart shared a tender kiss at the premiere to Star Trek: Picard last night.
