Ian McKellen imagined Mar-a-Lago while filming 'Avengers: Doomsday'

Melina Khan, USA TODAYTue, June 16, 2026 at 4:54 PM UTC

0

Ian McKellen was magnetic about Mar-a-Lago while filming "Avengers: Doomsday," but not in the way you may think.

The actor, who is reprising his "X-Men" role as Magneto in the upcoming Marvel movie, revealed how he drew inspiration from President Donald Trump's Florida estate while filming.

While speaking at Rome's Cinema in Piazza festival on June 14, McKellen recounted a moment when during filming when he had to "destroy New Jersey."

"The director shouted to me, 'Ian, look more furious. More, more, more,'" he recalled of the moment, videos posted on social media show.

Then, McKellen said, the director told him to "make it look as if you hate what you're destroying" before urging him to "shout something."

"So I said, 'Mar-a-Lago,'" he said.

The legendary Brit has in the past publicly disapproved of Trump, calling him "one of the worst public speakers" in a June 2024 interview with The Times of London.

Ian McKellen referred to Mar-a-Lago as 'worst thing you could possibly think of'

Ian McKellen poses inside the Winners Room at The Olivier Awards 2026 with Cunard at the Royal Albert Hall on April 12, 2026 in London, England.

This isn't the first time McKellen has publicly recounted the on set moment.

During a February appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," the 87-year-old similarly discussed filming the scene where Magneto destroys New Jersey.

"I'm standing up pretending to do that, and the wind is blowing in my hair, and I'm putting on a fierce look and I'm trying to be magnetic and the director over the loud speaker says, 'Ian, look more furious,'" he began.

Advertisement

Again, McKellen recalled the director telling him to "shout something."

"I said, 'What do I shout?' He said, 'Shout the worst thing you could possibly think of.' So I said, 'Mar-a-Lago,'" McKellen continued.

After the late night show's audience erupted in response, McKellen turned to host Stephen Colbert and asked, "Will I be allowed back in the country?"

"No guarantees," Colbert replied. "I don't think I'm the right person to ask for that."

When does 'Avengers: Doomsday' come out?

Marvel lovers will have to wait several months to see Magneto wreck New Jersey in the upcoming film.

"Avengers: Doomsday" is set to be released in theaters on Dec. 18.

In addition to McKellen, the star-studded cast for "Doomsday" also includes Robert Downey Jr. playing Doctor Doom and, for the first time since 2019, Chris Evans returning as Steve Rogers.

The rest of the cast includes Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, James Marsden, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Winston Duke, Paul Rudd, Danny Ramirez, Wyatt Russell, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen and Lewis Pullman.

Contributing: Brian Truitt

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ian McKellen imagined wrecking Mar-a-Lago on 'Avengers: Doomsday' set

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”