Sir Ian McKellen has pulled out of the Player Kings tour after he fell off stage during a West End performance. The acclaimed actor, 85, was playing the role of John Falstaff in the production.
The Hollywood star had been performing a fight scene when he lost his footing and fell into the audience on Monday 17 June. After his fall, Ian updated his fans with a tweet on X and said that his recovery would be “speedy.”
The actor confirmed that he would not be returning to his starring role for the rest of the London run, but was expected to perform at the show’s Bristol dates after he made a full recovery.
It has now been reported that Sir Ian will not be performing for the rest of the production’s tour.
A statement from the production said: “Following Ian McKellen’s injury during the West End run of Player Kings, his doctors’ advice is to take time off from work in order to fully recover. As such, he will not be returning to play Sir John Falstaff in the national tour of Players Kings (3-27 July 2024).
“Ian continues to recuperate very well, but he needs the time to rest and ensure a complete recovery. We continue to send him our best wishes.
“As it was for the final West End performances, the role of Falstaff will now be performed by David Semark, Ian’s brilliant understudy, for all tour dates of Player Kings.”
Ian McKellen is famed for his roles in The Lord of the Rings and in the X-Men franchise. He has also recieved 12 Olivier nominations during his successful stage career and won six for his roles in The Alchemist, Bent, Wild Honey, Pillars Of The Community, Richard III and Ian McKellen On Stage.
The award-winning actor stated: “Two weeks after my accident onstage, my injuries improve day by day.
“It’s with the greatest reluctance that I have accepted the medical advice to protect my full recovery by not working in the meantime.
“I had been so looking forward to bringing Player Kings to theatre-goers in Bristol, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.
“But I can assure them that, with David Semark now playing Falstaff, Robert Icke’s production and his acting company remain as dazzling as ever. Go see for yourself!”