Who is Gandalf?
Who is it? Gandalf is a fictional character created by fantasy writer J. R. R. Tolkien and is one of the leading protagonists of his novels, “The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings”. He is considered a Maiar, similar to angelic beings, and is the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring. He has been portrayed numerous times, most famously by Sir Ian McKellen in the award-winning “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy. Fans have long asked whether or not Gandalf is gay, to which Sir Ian suggested the possibility of asexuality. While the books never give a definitive answer, Sir Ian McKellen has offered the possibility that Gandalf may be asexual.
What made Gandalf famous?
What made this personality famous? The fictional character of Gandalf, created by fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien, gained notoriety for being one of the leading protagonists in the novels “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen, one of the most acclaimed English actors of all time with six decades of experience, the character’s most famous portrayal was in Peter Jackson’s award-winning film trilogy and earned McKellen an Academy Award nomination. The wizard’s popularity is boosted even further by fans, as they read into the novel’s subtext and asked questions about the character’s sexuality. Although Gandalf is not written as having any romantic or carnal interests in the books, Sir Ian McKellen suggests the possibility that the character may be asexual.
Is Gandalf gay?
Is this personality gay? No, Gandalf is not gay but he may be considered asexual. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, it is safe to assume that the wizard has no romantic interest or carnal desires. While the author could have avoided having any sexual implications due to inappropriate connotations, Scottish poet Edwin Muir even commented that “hardly one of [Tolkien’s] male characters knows anything about women”. Hollywood actor Sir Ian McKellen, who has been playing Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s award-winning film trilogy from 2001 to 2003, may have a different story to tell. McKellen, who identifies as gay, prefers to keep the question open-ended and once said that “Who’s to say that Gandalf isn’t gay”. He also suggested that Gandalf may be asexual, meaning a lack of sexual attraction to others. Ultimately, the audience may never know, but the possibility of Gandalf’s asexuality is still up for debate.
