In the cinematic world, there are often amusing yet frustrating stories that arise, one of which involves the unfortunate confusion among fans between two iconic characters: Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series and Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
On the left is Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, on the right is Ian McKellen as Gandalf.
For devoted fans of these two beloved film franchises, it is common to notice the striking similarities in the portrayal of both Gandalf and Dumbledore. Both characters are wise mentors, tall and imposing figures, and share a deep, mysterious aura combined with vast knowledge and experience.
Michael Gambon, who portrayed Dumbledore, once shared a humorous anecdote: “There was a time when I was at a party and a young man approached me, claiming he recognized me from a film. He said, ‘You’re Ian McKellen,’ and I was quite amused. I understood at that moment the confusion happening, so I signed an autograph with the name Ian McKellen.”
The resemblance between the two characters has led many fans to occasionally get mixed up.
It appears that not only fans outside Vietnam experience this confusion; many fans within Vietnam also mix up the two actors who portray these iconic mentors.
A friend shared a nostalgic memory, stating that after watching The Lord of the Rings, they continuously confused the two actors until they grew older and realized that they were indeed two different individuals. Some even admitted that while watching The Hobbit, they still mistakenly believed that Ian McKellen, who plays Gandalf, was also Dumbledore.
These amusing moments of confusion have become a cherished memory for many fans.
In reality, it is understandable for fans to mix up the two actors as their portrayals of these mentors share many overlapping characteristics, leading to instances of humorous confusion that continue to remind us of these two iconic series: Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.
Let’s not forget, Gandalf is played by Ian McKellen, while Dumbledore is portrayed by Michael Gambon.
