Ian McKellen to play Dumbledore

[Archbishop Kristjan <karnasaur@yahoo.com>]

I was hoping it would be Peter O'Toole, but can't complain.  This is 
from IMDB.com
   



British acting knight Sir Ian McKellen will replace the late Richard 
Harris as Professor Albus Dumbledore in the third Harry Potter movie. 
The 63-year-old star, who also plays wizard Gandalf in the Lord Of 
The Rings Trilogy, is set to appear in the third installments of both 
rival films - after signing to take on the role of the Hogwarts 
headmaster in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. McKellen 
takes over the role from Harris - who died of cancer in October. 
Movie bosses had hoped to cast Harris in the new film - which is due 
to begin filming in February - by using computer animation and film 
footage. But they found they did not have the required film 
available. Fellow Brit Christopher Lee - another Lord Of The Rings 
star - was among those tipped to replace Harris. A source on the 
Warner Bros movie set says, "Everyone has been sworn to secrecy about 
Ian McKellen getting the role of Dumbledore. One of the production 
staff let it slip and now it is spreading like wild fire. He got the 
part just before Christmas but Warner's won't announce it until the 
New Year. Bosses thought he was the perfect replacement for Harris 
and, as we all know, he is capable of playing the part of a wizard. 
They are not worried about people getting The Lord Of The Rings and 
Harry Potter confused. They are two very different films."