Ian McKellen to be the subject of a documentary

Over the course of his decades-long career, Ian McKellen has amassed some pretty iconic roles, from Gandalf and Magneto to Hamlet and Sherlock Holmes. Now, he’s tackling a new role: documentary subject.

The renowned British actor will be the focus of a new documentary from Joe Stephenson, titled McKellen: Playing the Part. Stephenson, who recently released his first film Chicken, conducted a 14-hour interview with McKellen reflecting on long career. The documentary will also include archive material from McKellen’s early film and theater performances, as well as the actor’s personal photography.

“To a whole generation of cinema goers Ian is known as Gandalf and Magneto,” Stephenson said in a statement, “but here is an opportunity to show them his incredible and inspiring trajectory from his modest childhood in the north of England to Tony winning star of the stage, from one of the first actors to speak openly about his sexuality to becoming an internationally recognized two-time Oscar nominee.”

In addition to earning two Oscar nominations — one for 1998’s Gods and Monsters and 2002’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — McKellen has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and become an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights. He’ll next appear in 2017’s live-action Beauty and the Beast movie, voicing the clock Cogsworth.