The man who cast a spell over movie-goers as the wizard Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy has returned to New Zealand in a different guise.
Sir Ian McKellen is in New Zealand with other stars from the Royal Shakespeare Company to perform King Lear and Chekov's The Seagull.
He tackled a huge role as Gandalf but King lear, it seems, is up there with the toughest.
"It's a cliche, but perhaps appropriate to say in this country that playing King Lear is a little bit like trying to climb Everest," says Sir Ian.
He has had a momentous welcome ahead of opening night - dinner with Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Asked how hopeful he was of returning to New Zealand to play Gandalf in The Hobbit, Sir Ian was tactful.
"Oh, I think that's a question for another occasion but I'm seeing Fran and Peter Jackson this evening and no doubt we will talk about that and other matters.
"But I have no news for you."
A spat earlier this year resulted in New Line Cinema boss Bob Shaye saying Jackson would never direct The Hobbit.
But it seems relations may be thawing - the director himself is still keen, and so is the wizard.
"I'm a generally optimistic person," says Sir Ian.
For now he says he is just "thrilled" to be back in New Zealand.
