Ian McKellen is widely known as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings series, but he could have played another wise, magical mentor – Albus Dumbledore of Harry Potter fame.
The history of Hollywood is littered with projects that never materialized and roles that were originally meant for other actors.
Even then, some actors will have their hearts set on one role and have no interest in the part they get offered.
As it happens, the original Dumbledore from the first two films, Richard Harris, made some disparaging remarks about McKellen and some of his peers shortly before his death.