He wanted to play Gandalf, but Sir Ian McKellen was cast
As such a big fan, he was desperate to have a role in the films once he found out they were happening.
His heart was set on the role of Gandalf. But as we know, Sir Ian McKellen was pegged for that role from quite early on.
He was instead cast as the wizard, Saruman
Peter Jackson explained in an interview with Entertainment Weekly how he and fellow screenplay writer and producer, Fran Walsh, had to break the news to Sir Christopher Lee:
“A very awkward 30 minutes followed, with Fran and I trying our best to explain to a rather peeved Christopher Lee that we were already talking to Ian McKellen about Gandalf — but what an incredible Saruman he would be!”
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