Ian McKellen Jokes About Not Joining His X-Men Buddies in 'Logan'

Logan co-stars Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman were guests on the Graham Norton Show alongside their erstwhile X-Men franchise friend, Ian McKellen. Over the past 17 years, Jackman has played Wolverine, Stewart has played Professor X, and McKellen has played Magneto. Sometimes all three are in one of the X-Men movies, like 2014’s Days of Future Past; sometimes they’re not, which is the case with this year’s Logan. Host Graham Norton asked why McKellen was the only one of the three not in it.

“You know, I think you when you get to my age, you want to leave aside those tired old franchises,” joked McKellen. Turning to Jackman, he added: “I don’t know why I’m not in it, darling. Could you not do another one? Leave this one out,” he said, pointing at Stewart and telling him jokingly, “It’s time you died.”

While McKellen might not be in Logan, Jackman did make a point to talk about their first X-Men movie together all the way back in 2000. It was Jackman’s first big starring role, and McKellen wanted to make him feel at ease.

“I remember you pulling me aside and saying, ‘This at times is going to feel uncomfortable, it’s going to feel overwhelming, but you’re in good hands and everything’s going to be OK,” Jackman recalled. “And both of you were such heroes of mine. I was a little starstruck … it was first day I met you, and you saying that to me, I never ever forgot it.”

“I think I was in love with you,” quipped McKellen in response.

‘Logan’ Director Explains Why He Didn’t Put Hugh Jackman in the Wolverine Costume:

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