Ian McKellan could have made $1.5 million if only he had agreed to officiate Sean Parker’s “Lord of the Rings” themed wedding – dressed as Gandalf.
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McKellen was allegedly offered the money by Sean Parker, co-founder of the record-streaming service Napster and the first president of Facebook.
Sir Ian turned down the opportunity to reprise his famous role, telling Parker “Gandalf doesn’t do weddings”.
However, the “X-Men: Days of Future Past” star insists he had no idea who was behind the offer.
While the 77-year-old actor officiated his good friend Sir Patrick Stewart’s wedding, it turns out he couldn’t be persuaded…
He said: “He was a very rich man, that’s all I know”.
Speaking outside Newcastle’s Theatre Royal, where he played in front of a capacity crowd, he added: ‘I don’t go dressing up – except in plays and things at places like this’.
Parker, co-founder of music streaming site Napster, the first president of Facebook, and portrayed by Justin Timberlake in 2010’s The Social Network, Wednesday singer Alexandra Lena, surrounded by guests dress up as characters from the popular Tolkien film trilogy – including Emma Watson, and Sting. Guests were provided with Tolkien-style “modern and whimsical” costumes made especially for the ceremony by Academy Award-winning designer Ngila Dickson.
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In the end, the wedding was conducted by a Unitarian Universalist minister.
