caliber66 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I have never read a harry potter book or seen a harry potter movie, but there was an interesting (and long) profile in the Aug 27, 2007 edition of The New Yorker on Sir Ian McKellen. He is gay and out of the closet. In real life, I mean. The New Yorker doesnt reproduce all of its articles online. You have to buy it if you want to read it, otherwise I'd post it (or suggest interested parties check it out). Is this all a big coincidence?That's all well and good, but Ian McKellen played Gandalf, while Richard Harris and Michael Gambon have played Dumbledore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 McKellen's been "out" for about twenty years now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 That's all well and good, but Ian McKellen played Gandalf, while Richard Harris and Michael Gambon have played Dumbledore. So I guess what you are saying is that it's not all a big coincidence?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Funny, when I read the Potter books, I pretty much picture McKellen-as-Gandalf as Dumbledore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poppydawn Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 His sexual orientation was likely part of his character bio--the groundwork Rowling laid for each of the characters before writing the first book of the series. It's just part of who he was, and the fact that it never factored into any of the books in an overt way doesn't make it any less true. Every character has a rich background--the surface of which isn't even scratched in the actual work. So for her to acknowledge, after the fact, that he was gay just means that it somehow came up--maybe as suggested by the above post. She knows her characters in ways even the most impressive student of the series never will. That was my thought exactly. This is a pretty common thing that writers do. Without all that background, it's difficult to create characters that have some depth. Funny, when I read the Potter books, I pretty much picture McKellen-as-Gandalf as Dumbledore. Me too. I was actually surprised that McKellen wasn't cast as Dumbledore when Richard Harris died. I'm about halfway through the last book, so now I'm going to have the gay stuff in my mind through the rest of the book. Not that the news surprised me. I mean, the man wore purple robes ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 So I guess what you are saying is that it's not all a big coincidence?? I've made the same mistake, and I've seen the movies. Funny, when I read the Potter books, I pretty much picture McKellen-as-Gandalf as Dumbledore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kicking_Television Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Gay witches? Jesus is gonna be pissed. Haha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I'm with beltmann/happeningstone on this one. I never really considered Dumbledore's sexuality, but it doesn't particularly surprise me, and it makes sense that JKR would have his whole backstory in her head while writing these books. there would be no reason to mention Dumbledore's orientation before the seventh book because that's where his relationship with Grindelwald is revealed (along with practically everything else about D's background). it's very clear the two are taken with each other whether or not it extended into sexual relations. so there was a three month gap between the last book and Rowling's answer. maybe Rowling wanted enough time for people to read and digest the end of the series, or maybe this was the first time since she was asked a straightforward question about Dumbledore's romantic life. edit: i'm going to get some fresh air now that i've thoughtfully considered a children's book wizard's sex life.Oh, and I also agree with this post, particularly the part about now needing some fresh air. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Funny, when I read the Potter books, I pretty much picture McKellen-as-Gandalf as Dumbledore.Yeah, me too. When I surf onto one of the films on cable, I usually have that "oh yeah" moment when I realize that it's not McKellen. I prefer Gambon to Harris (RIP). He's got a more powerful voice, which is an asset for that character. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Yeah, Gambon brings this energy that Harris lacked (probably due to age, can't blame him). But I still think of McKellen/Gandalf when I read Dumbledore passages. I'm pretty sure the reason why McKellen didn't take the role when Harris died was because he didn't want to pigeonhole himself into the kind of "super-wizard" niche that playing both Dumbledore and Gandalf would have done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Did Gambon or McKellen sing "MacArthur Park"? huh? WELL THEN YOU BETTER ALL SHUT UP! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Yeah, Gambon brings this energy that Harris lacked (probably due to age, can't blame him).Yup, I don't mean to rip on Harris in any way ... I liked his interpretation, but he just didn't seem to have the vocal ability any longer to carry off a serious, ass-whupping wizard character like Dumbledore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 How long till "Dumbledore is gay" becomes a ratty punk song? I'm guessing it might have happened already. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Sooo, is he single then? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Yup, I don't mean to rip on Harris in any way ... I liked his interpretation, but he just didn't seem to have the vocal ability any longer to carry off a serious, ass-whupping wizard character like Dumbledore. Well, I think Harris pulled off the "sagely wizard" role better than Gambon, but it really fitted those two books only because by the time that Gambon took over Dumbledore took a more active role in Harry's education. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Kinsley Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Well, they did call him "Headmaster." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied Posted October 23, 2007 Author Share Posted October 23, 2007 ::pulls mrkinsley off the stage with a hook:: this does have broadway potential, possible show-stopper: "We're Dumbledore Men Through and Through (reprise)" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Well, they did call him "Headmaster." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Well, they did call him "Headmaster." Dumbledore, Snape, and Cornelius Fudge once staged their own "Tri-Wizard Tournament," if you know what I mean. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 So, does this change what that stuff in the pensieve is? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 You are nasty. Ewww! I can't believe I'm the first person to post these: Ten Other Fictional Characters Whose Outings Won't Shock Us That Much Fairy Tales: Radar outs closeted childhood icons (Credit to Trish, who sent them to me.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I don't agree that he's gay, but thanks to that mag, I think I just came up with my Halloween costume: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I can't believe that that one thing says they never saw what was so gay about Samwise Gamgee. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Kinsley Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Cornelius Fudge Huh. Huh huh. You said 'fudge.' Huh-huh-huh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 There is NO WAY that The Flash is gay. OK? NO WAY. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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