Ian McKellen on 'X-Men': 'I don't always understand the plots of these films'

Like we needed another reason to love Sir Ian McKellen. As if being completely awesome in everything he does is not enough, the man is also absurdly charming and, as it turns out, hilariously honest as well. We discovered this first hand when McKellen stopped by Entertainment Weekly Radio (SiriusXM, channel 105) this week. After an engaging chat about him reprising his role as Gandalf in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, talk turned to his other big franchise, X-Men, and what we might see in the next installment, Days of Future Past. Well, it turns out, the man who plays Magneto kinda, sorta, really has no idea — even though he was there making it. “I don’t always understand the plots of these films until I actually see them with an audience,” he admitted.

But the actor was at least able to figure out what he’s doing in the movie. “It’s all about going into the past, basically,” said McKellen. “And so I don’t get to go into the past. I don’t think I’m spoiling it by saying that. But we are there in the beginning when the plot is hatched.” Sir Ian was also quick to note that “Magneto is in very safe hands” with Michael Fassbender, who plays the younger version of the mutant.

McKellen also took a moment to compare his two famous characters. “The odd thing about a Gandlaf is that he’s good through and through,” he said. “Magneto is a bit of both. He’s well-intentioned, but he perhaps politically is not very sound, and I’m not sure that I quite agree with his tactics.” Well, that’s comforting. And it’s also comforting to know that Sir Ian McKellen is as awesome off-screen as he is on it. To hear a clip of our interview with the man behind Gandalf and Magneto, click on the video player below. MAGNETO COMMANDS YOU!