Actor Ian McKellen revealed during a Rome film festival that he used thoughts of Donald Trump's Florida resort to fuel an intense performance moment in Avengers: Doomsday. The 87-year-old actor, returning as his X-Men character Magneto, said he shouted "Mar-a-Lago" during an action scene when directors asked him to appear more furious.
McKellen shared the anecdote while speaking to a crowd of 2,000 film fans at an open-air cinema in Rome on Sunday night. He described how the Russo Brothers, who are directing the film, instructed him to look angrier while performing a scene where Magneto destroys something. "They told me to look more furious: make it look as if you hate what you're destroying," McKellen recalled. "So I stood there and I shouted: 'Mar-a-Lago!'"
The upcoming Marvel film marks the return of X-Men characters to the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, with both McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart reprising their roles from the franchise. Avengers: Doomsday is set to release in December and serves as a sequel to the Russo Brothers' 2019 film Avengers: Endgame, which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
McKellen, who first played Magneto in 2000 and has returned to the role multiple times over the past two decades, spoke about his work on the film during promotional appearances at Rome's Cinema in Piazza festival. The event featured free open-air screenings and question-and-answer sessions.
The actor's appearance in Rome came as part of what has been a busy and eventful period for him. McKellen recently experienced a career resurgence following a serious injury sustained when he fell from the stage during a production of Player Kings in 2024. This year saw the release of Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers, which earned him critical acclaim.
Beyond his film work, McKellen has remained active in other endeavors. Last month he opened a performing arts center in County Durham and participated in a march advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Commonwealth countries. He also recently unveiled an English Heritage blue plaque commemorating Sir Laurence Olivier's former London home.
McKellen is preparing for additional upcoming projects as well. He revealed during his Rome appearance that he will soon travel to New Zealand to reprise his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The film is being produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Andy Serkis, who returns to play Gollum. According to McKellen, the film will explore a story that author J.R.R. Tolkien did not write.