Sir Ian McKellen shocks with transformation as play completes 101st performance after his injury

Sir Ian McKellen has shocked with a surprise transformation to mark the 101st – and final – performance of the stage play Player Kings.

The icon of stage and screen played Sir John Falstaff in this new version of the Shakespeare plays Henry IV: Parts 1 and 2, which had been adapted by writer and director Robert Icke.

To play the role, Sir Ian donned an inflated stomach and grew out his hair and beard. However, it was while playing Falstaff that disaster struck – and the national treasure fell off the stage.

Thankfully, the veteran thespian made a full recovery…. but was unfortunately forced to end his tour of the play due to his accident.

Even so, the actor still plans to be in attendance for the play’s final performance tonight – watching from the matinee audience in Newcastle.

Sir Ian celebrated the show’s end by shearing off his Falstaff hair and beard, marking a new day for the 85-year-old actor.

Posting to his Instagram account, Sir Ian shared a shot of his clean-shaven, freshly trimmed look – still apparently wearing the barber’s cape.

In the accompanying caption, the X-Men star wrote: ‘On the day of the 101st and final performance of Player Kings – without me – I celebrated by removing Falstaff’s hair, which has been growing for 9 months. I will be in the audience for the matinee in Newcastle.’

‘Photo by @fredericaranda Hair by Luke Davies @supply.91,’ he added.

A fresh new look for the Cats and Lord of the Rings star, but one that unfortunately gave a few followers the wrong idea.

‘Seeing just the photo without reading the description is one hell of a jump scare,’ commented mrjedabak.

‘You know better than to post a profile pic at your age! I do imagine with your sense of humor though, you’re laughing about this. Oh well, future rest in peace,’ laughed IainIv89.

‘Don’t scare us Ian! But I’m glad you’re doing well,’ wrote helljumper025.

‘Okay when we see photos like this y’all social media interns KNOW we assume he’s dead. STOP IT,’ said itskalyaclay.

Thankfully, Sir Ian seems to be doing well since his fall at the Noel Coward theatre at London’s West End in June.

He lost his footing during a fight scene involving the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy. He was said to have been heard crying out in pain as staff rushed to help, evacuating the theatre.

Following the fall, he recuperated in hospital for three days before a course of ‘physiotherapy, light exercise and a lot of essential rest at home.’

Not long after, Sir Ian announced that he would not be returning for the remaining London dates, but hoped to return for the rest of the tour.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be, and a statement from the production revealed that he would not be returning.

‘Following Ian McKellen’s injury during the West End run of Player Kings, his doctors’ advice is to take time off from work in order to fully recover. As such, he will not be returning to play Sir John Falstaff in the national tour of Players Kings (3-27 July 2024).

The role of Falstaff was continued by Sir Ian’s understudy, David Semark, who had stepped in following the initial injury.

‘Any actor will say that missing a performance feels somewhat shameful, even when he is not to blame. None of us ever wants to let down our audience. But Robert Icke’s masterful production remains intact,’ the Olivier award-winning actor said as he confirmed the sad news.

Later, speaking to Metro.co.uk, he thanked everyone for their ‘many messages of support,’ and for helping to aid the ‘speedy’ healing process.

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