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Before diving deeper into McKellen's passion for Gandalf, it's essential to unravel the story behind his decision to turn down another iconic role: Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. Following the tragic passing of Richard Harris, who portrayed Dumbledore in the first two films, McKellen was approached to take on the mantle for the subsequent installments. However, he steadfastly refused the role, citing respect for Harris and the latter’s previous comments regarding McKellen's acting.