Poor Tom Cruise thought she was going to be the cock of the box office walk this May with Emission: Impossible 3. But now that Memorial Day weekend has passed, it’s clear that Hollywood has a new sheriff in town.
That’s right. From Friday through Monday, $163 million worth of people paid to see movies starring Sir Ian McKellen.
Okay, fine. There’s no evidence that people flocked to X-Men: The Last Stand and The Da Vinci Code because of McKellen. And he only has third billing in both. But between these blockbusters and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, today’s youthful, comic book-loving fanboys have been exposed to so much McKellen that I like to think the whole generation will grow up with a strong appreciation for tastily delivered bons mots.
Seriously, folks. Ian McKellen is the best. Unlike most actors, he can maintain his dignity even while wearing a ridiculous costume, or speaking dialogue by Akiva Goldsman. He acted the paint off the walls in Gods and Monsters. His Richard III gave me nightmares.
And best of all, because he’s an openly gay man in his 60s, we don’t have to endure endless US Weekly stories about his burgeoning “baby bump.” He’ll never give birth to a child named Kingston or Shiloh. And if he ever has an affair with Brad Pitt, chances are we won’t hear about it.
So here’s to you, Ian McKellen. Consummate actor. Box office superstar. InTouch persona non grata.
Weekend Box Office: May 26 - 29, 2006 [Box Office Mojo]
So insightfully true.
Baby bump gossip damages my love for bitchy rumours.