Ian McKellen says Magneto “destroyed New Jersey” in Avengers: Doomsday

Ian McKellen, who played Magneto across the original X-Men films and is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, told Jake’s Takes that he “did destroy New Jersey the other day,” adding “Oh, I perhaps shouldn’t have said that.”

McKellen has handled the master of magnetism for 26 years and said he loves the character, noting, “I didn't realise how popular he was... I thought he was the villain, but no, I think people rather like his attitude.”

Reflecting on his first turn as Erik Lensherr in the 2000 X-Men movie, he recalled a practical effect: “I remember the camera behind me, my hands raised up, and as they did that, two police cars in front of me were raised up by cranes. When I, at a signal, dropped my hands, the cars dropped. These were not special effects.”

McKellen suggested modern effects may make such scenes easier now, saying, “Nowadays, I think things will become a little bit easier, though,” as he referenced the action he’ll be involved in for the new film.

It remains unclear exactly how or when the New Jersey damage he mentioned will feature in Avengers: Doomsday or what the sequence will look like on screen.

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