Ian McKellen slams Fantastic Beasts for not featuring explicitly gay Dumbledore

May 29 2018
Written by Jasmine Andersson

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Ian McKellen has remarked on the “pity” that Albus Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will not be an explicitly gay character.

Dumbledore, who will be played by Jude Law, will not make any allusions to his sexuality in the film instalment.

Although the actor and LGBT+ rights advocate remarked that the decision is frustrating, he is unsurprised.

Sir Ian McKellen at the Oxford Union (OxfordUnion/Youtube)

“‘Isn’t he?” McKellen responded to the news in an interview with Time Out.

“That’s a pity. Well, nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they? They only recently discovered that there were black people in the world,” McKellen told the publication.

“Hollywood has mistreated women in every possible way throughout its history. Gay men don’t exist. “Gods and Monsters” [1998], I think, was the beginning of Hollywood admitting that there were gay people knocking around, even though half of Hollywood is gay,’” he added.

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In spite of the film’s disappointing decision – after all, J.K. Rowling announced the professor’s sexuality back in 2007 – McKellen said the industry is looking up for young openly LGBT+ actors.

“Young actors in London now have all been out for years. That’s the future,” he told the publication.

“When I go to schools to talk about gay rights, the kids can’t believe it. It’s not an issue for them,” he added.

Jude Law as Dumbledore (Warner Bros)

Director David Yates attempted to justify the decision to straightwash Dumbledore back in January.

He said that fans are already “aware” of Dumbledore’s relationship with Grindelwald.

“But I think all the fans are aware of that,” Yates continued, speaking to Entertainment Weekly.

“He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other’s ideas, and ideology, and each other.”